Choosing where to go to college is one of the most important decisions of your life. According to a 2021 study by the Institute of Labor Economics, "graduates of top colleges earn 50 percent more than graduates of typical colleges" (Sockin, 2021). But with rankings constantly shifting and schools becoming increasingly competitive, how does one determine which schools to apply to?
While it may seem daunting at first, creating a list of schools to apply to can be a lot of fun. By visiting as many campuses as possible and keeping your options open, you will be able to find the schools that are the best fit.
A school can be considered "one of the best" and still not be the "best" for you.
Many students practically kill themselves to get into a top school, then once they’re there, struggle to keep their heads above water for the next four years. There are plenty of other well-respected schools that will provide an equally great education and allow you to thrive.
Consider a student we'll call Peter. Peter is a stellar student from Orange County who wants to major in biology. His dream school is UC Berkeley, and he can't imagine himself anywhere else. He only wants to apply to the UCs and really only wants to attend Berkeley. Here are his stats:
- Unweighted GPA: 3.8
- Test Scores: N/A (the UCs are test-blind)
- Extracurriculars: JV Basketball for 3 years, Meals on Wheels twice a month since freshman year (no leadership position), Chess Club
- AP Classes: AP World History (exam score of 4), AP Chemistry (exam score of 5)
- Languages: Conversational Spanish
On paper, Peter is a strong candidate for UC Berkeley. His GPA is solid, and he has meaningful extracurriculars. But is that enough? There isn't anything on Peter’s application that shows his interest in studying biology. However, when we talked, I learned that he took a biology class last year and loved the teacher, which inspired his choice of major. He wants to attend Berkeley because his parents went there, and he has fond memories of visiting as a child. Because of his family ties and the school’s reputation, he has billed it as his dream school, even though he doesn't know much about what it would be like to be a student there.
It is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses before applying to large state schools.
You might want the school spirit and atmosphere that comes with attending UCLA or the University of Michigan, but are you really prepared to get lost in the crowd? Understanding your learning style and campus culture preferences is key to selecting the right schools -do you learn better by asking questions or by listening? Do you prefer to discuss ideas or memorize them?
As I got to know Peter, I learned that he is actually interested in a smaller school environment. He craved one-on-one attention from teachers and wanted to feel supported and nurtured. The reason he loved that biology class was because of the teacher’s personalized approach and the incredible support he received outside of class. As wonderful as Berkeley is, the Biology department is massive, and the average freshman class size can be upwards of 800 students.
It’s also worth considering how much access to a big city matters to you. Do you crave the hustle and bustle, or are you satisfied if there’s a grocery store and a movie theater a half hour away? Be self-aware and be honest about the parts of city life that you truly “need” if you have a vibrant, active campus.
While Peter was open to the urban atmosphere of Berkeley, in exploring other options while building his list, he realized that he was also equally excited about schools that had a great college town — he didn’t necessarily need to be as close to a city as Berkeley is to San Francisco, and when he recognized that he was open to different types of campus environments, our list expanded.
If you know you want to study a specific major, make sure you apply to schools that have strong programs, but also be sure not to limit yourself.
More than 80% of college students change their major at least once, so don’t pick a school that only offers a couple of respected programs. Peter thought he had to go to UC Berkeley and study biology, but the more we talked and the more options I presented, he started to see there were many wonderful schools with excellent science programs, individualized attention, and within his budget. We hit all of his non-negotiables by simply starting somewhere new.
The best way to start building a college list is by writing out your "wants,” but keep these loose and flexible.
Be willing to venture outside of your comfort zone—you may not want cold winters, but are you really willing to eliminate the perfect school because you prefer flip-flops to snow boots? Consider schools that perhaps aren’t what you’ve always pictured. Identify exactly what it is you like about a certain school and see what other schools might offer similar features.
As Peter began to tour universities, he discovered that he preferred smaller campuses with a close-knit campus culture. Because we had identified what factors were most important to him, he was able to ask tailored questions on his campus tours that gave him insight into if the university would match his preferred learning style.
Be realistic about your list, and remember that the more schools you apply to, the more essays you’ll need to write.
When students try to apply to too many programs, the quality of their work generally deteriorates. For most students, 10-12 schools is the sweet spot. Students should absolutely apply to several reach schools, but it is just as important to have an equal number of safety and target schools to balance your list.
After researching different options and visiting several campuses, Peter decided that he still wanted to apply to Berkeley as one of his top choices. However, he also discovered ten other schools he was excited about applying to. By choosing universities that varied in size and location, he created a balanced list that provided him with several great options once he received his admissions outcomes.
Ultimately, choosing where to go to college is a major decision that requires careful consideration and flexibility. By researching and visiting campuses, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and keeping an open mind, you can identify the schools that truly fit your needs and goals.
