How Do I Build My College List?
How Do I Build My College List?
Finding the perfect college begins with constructing the perfect college list. For each student, this will look different. But the most successful applicants take time at the beginning of the process to build a list that suits their needs and interests best.
With thousands of colleges and universities in the United States (let alone the world), the right school is definitely out there for you. Thinking beyond what’s most popular among your social group to focus on finding the places that suit you best will result in a more fulfilling application process for you. You will increase your likelihood of success because you’ll be better equipped to make a compelling argument in your favor, and you’ll also be more likely to be happy with your results even if you don’t get into your top choice.
Read on for more advice about how to approach building your college list.
Focus on Your Happiness Factors, Not the Name Brand
It is very easy to get caught in the game of clout chasing. And while there is nothing wrong with valuing prestige, a college’s name brand will not in itself make your personal campus experience more enjoyable or beneficial. Instead, focus on getting to know the qualities that will make you happy and start building your list from there.
Ask yourself the following:
· How important are size, setting, and location to you?
· Do you hope to be close to home or away from everything that’s familiar to you?
· What is your definition of school spirit?
· What core values do you expect your future school and peers to maintain?
· What kinds of academic options do you want to have the freedom to pursue outside of your chosen major?
Allow yourself time for honest reflection on questions like these. Your answers may be different from your best friend. Before you invest too much energy in looking up any specific school or committing to applying to it, develop as clear a sense of your own preferences as possible. And leave a little wiggle room for you to change your mind. You may discover new things about yourself in this process that influence where you ultimately decide to apply in ways you couldn’t have predicted before.
Search for Yesses Rather Than Nos
When you’re beginning to put your list together, search for reasons to say yes to a school. It can be easy to dismiss a college because the campus seemed dead on your visit, or the website was hard to navigate. But you don’t want to eliminate potentially great options too early. There will be plenty of time to narrow your focus.
For every school that you research and like, create a “pros list.” Leave out the cons for now. Then identify patterns in the positive traits between your potential colleges.
This is especially helpful for thinking about colleges that fall in your target or safe range . You will be able to evaluate them more easily on their own merit rather than comparing them to your reach schools, which are easy to love in part because they are so difficult to attain.
Keep Other People’s Opinions in Proper Perspective
As you build your list, other people (well-intentioned as they might be) will add in their own biases and thoughts. Keep these in proper perspective. Just because a school wasn’t a fit for your older sibling or trusted mentor doesn’t mean that it isn’t right for you.
Trust your intuition early in the process. By listening to your own ideas and preferences you’ll put together a list that feels more personal to you. Odds are, you’ll have a stronger connection to each of the schools you choose to submit an application to, and it will be easier to craft meaningful supplements.
Remember, you are the one going to college! You will have to live with the choices you make. So, lean into the opportunity to take ownership over your process. Working with an admissions expert can be helpful for navigating difficult decisions and conversations with family members who may have different ideas than you. But at the end of the day, your list is yours to create. Make sure it reflects the experiences you want to cultivate in your future.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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