Juniors' Roadmap to Creating College List

The transition from high school to college is a pivotal moment in a student's life, and the process of selecting the right institution can be both exciting and overwhelming. For high school juniors embarking on this journey, narrowing down a college list is a crucial step that requires thoughtful consideration and strategic planning. This guide aims to provide juniors with actionable steps to refine college choices, ensuring a balanced and personalized list that aligns with academic goals, personal preferences, and financial realities.

Understanding Your Priorities

What Matters Most to You?

Before diving into the specifics of various colleges, it's essential to reflect on your personal priorities and what you seek in a college experience. Consider the following factors:

• Academic Programs: Identify your intended major or areas of interest as well as minors and interdisciplinary options. Ensure that the colleges you're considering offer strong programs in these fields.​ Then compare and contrast what colleges you might otherwise be interested in are offering in these fields. Compare curriculum and size of faculty as well as faculty research interests to see how that aligns with what you are looking for. Make sure there are many opportunities for mentorship or research collaborations.
  
• Campus Size and Setting: Decide whether you prefer a large university or a smaller college, and consider the campus setting—urban, suburban, or rural—that suits you best.​ For urban schools there are “uber urban” options like NYU where the campus is integrated into the city without having a self-contained campus. Or it could be more like UT Austin that has a self-contained campus. Size factors will affect student to faculty ratio, so be sure to look into that and find out how likely you are to have two years worth of very large classes in lecture halls. For some students that works well and for others that is definitely not an environment where they will thrive academically.
  
• Location: Think about the geographical location, climate, and distance from home. Proximity to family, cultural opportunities, and lifestyle preferences play a role here.​
  
• Extracurricular Opportunities: Look for institutions that offer clubs, organizations, and activities that align with your interests outside the classroom.​
  
• Campus Culture: Research the social environment and values of the student body to find a community where you'll feel comfortable and engaged.​ Also look at the mission of the school, which will help you both understand if your values align with it.

Conducting Thorough Research

How Can You Gather Reliable Information?

With your priorities in mind, the next step is to gather detailed information about potential colleges. Utilize the following resources:

• College Websites and Virtual Tours: Explore official college websites for information on academic programs, campus facilities, and student life. Many institutions offer virtual information sessions and tours that provide a glimpse into the campus environment.​ They will also allow you to get your questions answered by someone live if the college offers online sessions in real time.
  
• College Search Tools: Utilize free tools like BigFuture, Niche, and US News & World Report to help begin your college search.​ You can also use this national site which can be quite effective as well.
  
• Campus Visits: If possible, visit campuses to experience the environment firsthand. Interacting with current students and faculty can provide valuable insights. If you can attend classes on the day that you are there, please plan to do so by organizing this in advance with the admissions office. Typically, this is easier to do at a smaller college but if you plan early, it might be possible at larger institutions. Contact admissions!
  
• College Fairs and Information Sessions: Attend events where you can speak directly with admissions representatives and gather materials.​ Often your school will share local dates for these events. If not, contact NACAC.
  
  

Evaluating Academic Support

Does the College Meet Your Academic Support Needs? This is especially true for students with learning differences.

• Academic Support Services: Look into tutoring, writing centers, and other resources that support academic success.​

Assessing Financial Considerations

Can You Afford to Attend?

Financial feasibility is a critical factor in the college selection process. Check the following:

• Financial Aid and Scholarships: Investigate the availability of need-based aid, merit scholarships, and work-study programs.​ If scholarships are a priority, you may have to be flexible in terms of location.  Refer to the annually updated Jeff Selingo’s buyers and sellers list of colleges. 
• Cost of Attendance (COA): Examine tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses to understand the total cost.​ Remember that the sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. We recommend using the annually updated Jeff Selingo’s buyers and sellers list of colleges to simplify comparing merit aid offered by a variety of colleges. Utilize tools provided by colleges to estimate your potential out-of-pocket costs after aid.​
  
• Return on Investment (ROI): Consider graduation rates, job placement statistics, and average starting salaries for graduates.There are a number of tools that have calculated return on investment for different colleges, including Bankrate, Savant Wealth, and FREOPP.

Balancing Your College List

How Should You Categorize Your Choices?

Creating a balanced college list enhances your chances of acceptance and ensures you have options that align with your qualifications and aspirations. 

The categories below reflect the reality of selective college admissions in the US today. Take a look at these stats:

As a result, we recommend that you think about a balanced college list with the following definitions for categories:

• Likely Schools: Institutions where your academic credentials exceed the school's average admitted student profile, suggesting a high likelihood of acceptance.​ We recommend that 3 out of the 10 colleges students apply to have admission rates above 70%. For top 2% or 3% of their graduating class, with stellar GPAs, nationally or internationally recognized in their extracurriculars, with SATs in the mid 1500s, you can very often consider schools with admission rates between 40% and 70% as likely schools. This also applies to colleges that have clear formulas for admission based entirely on GPA and test scores. However, remember that some colleges that focus on yield sometimes deny admission to high achieving students out of a fear of losing them to another more competitive college. So be sure to not apply to just one of these institutions as a back up, especially if you are interested in merit aid (which is why we recommend 3). And make sure you communicate that you want to be part of their honors college and definitely apply to any full ride scholarships they have. For some families with super high achieving kids, including honors programs and merit scholarships will reduce the cost of college and still give students an elite education inside a larger institution.
• Target Schools: Colleges where your academic profile aligns closely with that of the average admitted student, indicating a reasonable chance of acceptance. For most students that means colleges with an admission rate between 50% and 70%, and we recommend that you include 3 of these on your list. This categorization changes if you are at the very top or very bottom of the spectrum of academic performance and test scores. The more competitive your profile is the more often we recommend that you apply to fewer likelies and targets and more reaches and lotteries. But with very few exceptions, we generally do not recommend fewer than a combination of 4-5 likelies and targets. For the majority of students we recommend 6.
• Reach Schools: Institutions where your academic and extracurricular credentials are below the school's average admitted student profile, making acceptance less certain but still possible. For most students this means colleges with an admission rate of 30% to 50% with the caveats mentioned in the other categories.
• Super Reach Schools: Institutions where your academic and extracurricular credentials are significantly below the school's average admitted student profile, making acceptance unlikely.​ Generally colleges in that category have admission rates between 20% and 30%. We really only recommend them for students with outstanding academic and extracurricular profiles relative to the college’s applicant pool. Remember the stats.
• Lottery Schools: Institutions where your academic and extracurricular credentials are way below the school's average admitted student profile, making acceptance highly unlikely to all but the most competitive applicants. Generally, these are schools with admission rates between 10% and 20%. We do not recommend the schools except for students in the top percentages of their graduating class and stellar extracurriculars and test scores, with, of course caveats that apply to a variety of factors linked to what colleges are looking for each year (see yearly agenda below). Remember the stats.
• Super Lottery Schools: Institutions where your academic credentials are far below the school's average admitted student profile, making acceptance extremely improbable, even for valedictorians of the most competitive high schools in the country. Generally, these are schools with admission rates under 10%--most of the Ivies and Ivy Plus schools. If you have straight A’s and are in the top 10% of your class and have good solid leadership on your resume, but nothing that distinguishes you nationally, internationally, or creatively, we will not recommend these schools (there are of course exceptions but this is a rule of thumb). The exceptions arise because colleges are looking to make up a well-rounded freshman class every year. Unfortunately, they do not publish a clear outline of what they are looking for specifically each year. But they do have yearly agendas, so if you do apply to these schools, regardless of your achievements and class rank, go into it with an understanding of how the system actually works to manage your expectations. Remember the stats.

A typical list might include 2-3 likely schools, 3-4 target schools, and 2-3 reach schools, totaling around 8-10 applications. Again, only include lottery schools if your profile is truly aligned with that of admitted students. 

Conclusion

Narrowing down your college list is a crucial step in the college admissions journey, and it requires careful thought, research, and self-reflection. By identifying your priorities, conducting thorough research, and balancing your list with likely, target, and reach schools— lottery schools added only if your profile warrants it or if you are banking on being an exception linked to the colleges’ yearly agenda—you can create a well-rounded selection that aligns with both your academic and personal goals. 

Remember that no single college defines your future—what matters most is finding an institution where you can thrive academically, socially, and financially. Take your time, seek guidance from counselors and mentors. Trust the fact that you are creating a list of colleges that fit you best, across all admission categories, and with enough likely and target options to protect you from ending up empty-handed. With a well-planned and informed approach, you’ll be well on your way to making an exciting and personalized college list that you love!