If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed by the number schools you are interested, it’s time to narrow down that college list. It’s common to have a long list of options, but applying to too many can be expensive, stressful, and make it hard to give each application the attention it deserves. Whether you’re unsure where to start or feeling torn between different options, these seven tips can help guide you in the decision-making process.
8 Ways to Help Narrow Your College List
1. Start With the Big Questions
When deciding which colleges to eliminate from your list, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- What do I want to major in?
- Does this college offer the extracurricular programs I’m interested in?
- What type of campus atmosphere and environment do I envision myself in?
- What campus size works best for me?
- Can I afford the cost of attendance?
- What kind of academic and career support services does this college offer?
- Are there opportunities for internships, research, or study abroad programs that I can take advantage of?
2. Categorize Your Options
One effective method to sort schools is by their academic profiles—check out their test scores and how many students are accepted to see how you compare. When making your college list, it’s important to include three types of schools: match, reach, and safety.
- Match: A match school is one you are 40-60% likely to get admitted to based on your academic profile and qualifications. It is also a school you really want to attend.
- Reach: Reach schools are colleges that may be a bit of a stretch for admission. While your qualifications meet their general criteria, acceptance is not guaranteed.
- Safety: A safety school is one you are pretty much guaranteed to get into no matter what. These colleges serve as fallback options and provide a sense of security.
A well-rounded college list has a mix of all three. For instance, if you’re thinking about six schools, aim for three matches, two safeties, and one reach. This way, you have options and a balanced list of colleges to consider.
3. Perform Simple Research
Another way to narrow down your college list is to try dedicating a few hours each week to researching colleges and universities that fit your needs and wants. Their website is a good place to start but you should also read blog posts, reviews, articles, social media profiles, and financial information about each college before making a decision.
- Is any college on your list well-known for your chosen major?
- Do they have any professors with some clout in the industry?
- How do the job placement rates look for that academic department?
These are all questions worth investigating. It is important to consider that some colleges may be ranked higher than others but might not have a strong program in the major you want to study. Be sure to take a look at the other programs that each college offers as well. Generally, around 80% of students change their major at least once, so if you do change your mind, you want to make sure you have acceptable alternatives.
4. Make Priority Lists
In addition to academic programs, there are several other factors to consider when narrowing down your college list. There’s the campus culture, location and size of the campus, distance from home, and, of course, the cost of attending.
Make a list of what you must have and what you can’t accept in your college experience. To do so, consider questions like:
- Would you prefer a large school or a smaller one?
- Is a renowned program a must?
- Do you want to move far away from home or stick close?
- Do you like the weather where the college is?
- Does the school offer the extracurricular activities you are interested in?
Then, use this list to start eliminating choices. You might need to compromise—for example, loving a college’s amenities but not its size, or adoring the campus but not wanting to be far from home. By sticking to your priorities, you’ll find a college that matches what you’re looking for, even if you have to give up a few things along the way.
5. Plan Visits
Plan visits to the colleges on your list. Visiting a campus can provide valuable insights into whether the city or town suits your preferences and give you a firsthand impression of campus life. Explore the dormitories, and dining facilities, and perhaps even sit in on a class to gauge the atmosphere.
Take the opportunity to ask questions in person and envision yourself as part of the community—consider what activities you might enjoy and whether you can see yourself thriving there. If the vibe doesn’t resonate with you, it might be a sign to remove that school from consideration. Sometimes, being physically present on campus is the key to making an informed decision.
6. Talk to People
Talking to people about your college choices can provide some valuable insight.
- Faculty, Students, and Alumni: People who work and attend (or have attended) the schools you are interested in can give you an honest opinion of the college, what they thought about their time there, what they liked and didn’t like, and how their career has been after graduation.
- Guidance counselor. Your high school counselors can probably give you some good information about any potential schools you’re applying to. They may even have relationships with the college and can offer some tips or details you hadn’t known previously.
- Parents/Guardians. If your parents are helping you foot the bill for college, you’ll need them to sign off. It’s a great idea to have open, honest conversations with your folks about what you both can and should expect from one another. If a school it too expensive, that may be an easy way to cross it off your list.
7. Give Yourself a Deadline
Set a deadline for yourself to finalize your college choices. This will keep you focused and prevent endless searching. We recommend aiming for a manageable number, typically between 4 to 8 options. Make sure to create realistic timelines for each stage of the process as well, including researching colleges, arranging visits, and completing applications.
8. Use Financial Aid Offer Comparison
Once you narrow down your list of colleges, you can start comparing financial aid offers. However, deciphering these offers can be complex, leading to misunderstandings about affordability. College Raptor’s Financial Aid Offer Comparison tool simplifies this process, providing clarity on the terms and helping you evaluate the offers received. By understanding how each offer stacks up against the others, you can make informed decisions regarding your education and finances.
Deciding where you attend college is a big deal and it can be hard to narrow a big list! Remember, all of the schools you are choosing from are there because they ticked boxes on your list. Don’t lose sight of the special features that made some of them stand out from the rest.
And if you still need some help on how to narrow down your list of potential schools, try using College Raptor’s search tool to find the best fit for your needs and goals—it does most of the legwork for you!
