How Does My Student Create a Balanced College List?

Before your college-bound child completes the 11th grade, one of the most important things he can do is figure out what he wants in a college. There are lots of factors to consider, such as location, size, academic programs, extracurricular activities, and cost. Once he prioritizes what’s important to him in a college, he can think about researching colleges and begin to build a balanced list.

What does a “balanced list” mean? A balanced list contains colleges that meet his priorities and span the range of admissions probabilities. A student should include schools where he has a high likelihood of being admitted (often referred to as “safety” schools), as well as schools with a medium likelihood of admission (“target schools”) and a lower likelihood of admission (“reach”). An unbalanced list (all “reach” schools, for example), can create an incredible amount of anxiety and stress later on in the admissions season. Creating a balanced list ensures that your child will apply to colleges that fit her well, and he will have a good chance of getting some acceptances.

What are some of the factors to consider to begin to build a college list? There are hundreds, but have your child ask himself some questions about these 10 factors.

1. Fit: Does the college feel like a good fit for you? Thinking of what’s most important to you (and not your friends, family, or rankings), can you see yourself thriving there? Once you do some research and decide on schools to visit, campus tours and conversations with current students can help you determine fit.
2. Location: Consider whether you want to stay close to home, or if you’re open to moving to a different region or state. Try to picture yourself in that location for most of the year and how that would feel. How easy is it to get home? Is it drivable? If not, are there nonstop flights? What is the setting? Is it urban, suburban, small town, or rural? How does that compare with where you live now?
3. Size: Think about whether you prefer a large, medium, or small campus, and how many students are enrolled. Visit schools of different sizes near you if possible. Would it be easy to get to your classes? If there are a lot of students, do classes fill up fast?
4. Academic programs: Research the colleges’ academic offerings and make sure they have the major or majors you’re interested in. Explore a sample 4-year schedule of a student in that major.
5. Extracurricular activities: Look into clubs, sports, and other activities that align with your interests. How easy is it to join these activities?
6. Cost: Take into account the total cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, and other fees. Research the colleges’ financial aid and scholarship options, and whether they meet your needs.
7. First-year programs and retention: What does the college do for first-year students? Do they offer special programs or early move in? Are there bonding activities or service opportunities to get to know peers? What is the first-year retention rate for the college?
8. Graduation rate: Also look into the college’s graduation rate and how it compares to other colleges. Note: colleges publish 4-year and 6-year graduation rates. Students often take more than 4 years to graduate due to change in major, program considerations, or co-op placements.
9. Career opportunities: Research the college’s career services office and the job prospects for graduates in your field of interest.
10. Academic environment: How much choice do students get in choosing classes? What is the student to faculty ratio? What is the average class size? How accessible are the professors? What types of academic supports are in place? Is the atmosphere competitive or collaborative?

So while there are lots of colleges out there to explore, by carefully considering these factors, your child can find the right colleges to add to her list that fits her in a lot of ways and she can be excited about applying to them. I work with students on narrowing down their criteria all the time by asking questions and using some great tools. Need some help with this? Schedule a no-pressure consultation with me here.