It’s all about the list – tips & tools to build a great college list

Dane Copeland
Jul 3
3 min read

Updated: Jul 31

While numbers don't tell the entire story of what colleges look for in applicants, they provide clear information about what GPA you will need to be in the running for admission and what you need to consider when building your college list. There are exceptions to the admitted statistics, but the pool of exceptions is often nationally ranked athletes, legacies, and students with a particular talent. Beth Slattery, in her article, "List-Making and Loving The Child You Have," wrote,

"In Columbia's application, they ask about books you've read for pleasure over the past year. If your child doesn't read for pleasure (as mine doesn't), that child SHOULD NOT APPLY TO COLUMBIA. Columbia is telling you what matters to them."

While you may not look at each school's application and essay questions in the early phases of your college research, be sure to review them before you finalize your college list.

If you are a highly motivated student who didn't require tutors to scaffold your success in high school and are involved in activities on a national level, you may be a strong candidate for applying to some highly selective schools. Building a balanced list with a good mix of "best fit," "likely," and "reach schools" is still in your best interest. A good college list will have schools that provide a healthy range of opportunities while ensuring that achieving academic goals, whether through specific majors or flexible major options, is possible at each school. A college list heavily focused on "reach" schools is lopsided and will lead to eventual disappointment. Too often, "likely" schools get a bad rap and are associated with settling. When in actuality, a "likely" school may offer greater opportunities for success, providing one-on-one interactions with professors, smaller class sizes, an honors program, internship opportunities, merit scholarships, and a balance between academics and outside interests.

How to use college search resources:

Try to simplify your college research and maximize your time and productivity by focusing on two or three websites (like the ones below). Develop fluency in the information provided to be able to compare schools apples to apples. There are many resources available, but consistency will provide a clear picture of each college you investigate.

College websites are the true holy grail for college research. Keep in mind that colleges will be showing their best face and are a combination of marketing and information. Nevertheless, a college website is full of the information you want and where you can find the student profile, admission statistics, and student-specific details - majors, dual degree programs, campus life, location and surrounding area, clubs, community engagement, internships, career support, athletics, housing, food, and scholarships.

Still not sure which resources to use? This mix of online websites, books, and apps will help you get started.

Websites like CollegeXpress and College Scorecard will help you match interests and priorities (size of the school, majors, etc.) to colleges. In addition, if your high school offers Naviance, SCOIR, or another platform as a college search tool, it can help match your academic information and preferences to colleges that other students from your high school have applied to.

For bookworms, try the Fiske Guide or the Princeton Review's The Complete Book of Colleges. While not an exhaustive list of colleges, there will be plenty of colleges and information to sift through. Organized by state and indexed sections, these books will help you see the range of schools to explore as you build your college list. These books are weighty, both literally and figuratively, and easy to bookmark colleges you like and ones you want to return to for a closer look.

Want to do your research on the go? CollegeData and Niche are smartphone apps that provide easy-to-find statistics and college information, photos, and campus details. While great for a first look and helpful for college visits, again, make sure to visit each college's website to get the real scoop.

Building your college list takes time for self-assessment and research, whether involving a deep dive online, reading books, or using apps. Finding schools that make sense for you is all within your control with the right tools, game plan, and support.

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Have more questions or looking for more support? Email me at dane@collegeu.solutions

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