Kristen BixbyThe formidable college list: at Campus Bound, we believe that it doesn’t actually have to be that way. Making a college list can be a few steps of process of elimination, and final approval by a college admission expert.
Process of Elimination:
When first considering the college list, think BIG. The basic idea is this: think about all the major factors you want in your ideal college, ie large size, political science major, volleyball team in the Southeast. Now, find all the schools that fit those criteria. It might be a very big list, and it might not be. You may need to decide about other criteria on which to narrow down your list, or you may need to cut down your “wish list” a little to expand the list. The goal here would be for anywhere from 10-20 schools on your “large list”. Now you’re ready to research!
Research:
There are several ways to find out more about the schools on your “large list.” You can find a book that provides information about the colleges, attend a college fair, visit the campuses, and/or browse the schools online. When researching, remember the criteria you initially identified as being important and use that to narrow down your list more. The goal now is to have 8-10 schools on your “final draft list” that you really love.
Final List:
Now that you have your “final draft list” of 8-10 schools, its time to have the list checked by a professional college counselor. It’s really important that your list is a balanced mix of safety, target and reach schools. Once a college counselor approves your list you’re good to go… IT’S FINAL! Congratulate yourself and get started on those applications!