Building a College List
Building a list of colleges that you are interested in is paramount. In order to build your list, you should factor in the following information:
- Campus Tours: How you felt on a campus tour can give a good indication of how well you will fit at the school
- Your Major: Look for schools that have strong departments in which you will be majoring.
- Location: If you prefer rural, suburban, or urban college communities, be sure to choose colleges accordingly.
What your List Should Look Like:
Reach Schools: Your SAT score and/or GPA falls below the college's average or the college has an admissions rate below 30%.
Target Schools: Your SAT score and/or GPA falls within the college's average and the college has an admissions rate greater than 30%.
Safety Schools: Your SAT score and/or GPA falls above the college's average and the college has an admissions rate greater than 70%.
Target Schools: Your SAT score and/or GPA falls within the college's average and the college has an admissions rate greater than 30%.
Safety Schools: Your SAT score and/or GPA falls above the college's average and the college has an admissions rate greater than 70%.
Sample College List
Example Student: 1460 SAT score and 4.0 GPA
Reach Schools (4-30% acceptance rates)
Harvard University Tufts University Northeastern University Bowdoin College Colby College |
Target Schools (31-60% acceptance)
Brandeis University Smith College Macalester College Union College University of Massachusetts-Amherst |
Safety Schools (71%-100%)
University of New Hampshire St. Anselm College University of Arizona |