College List Checklist: how many safe options, solid matches, and reaches should I apply to?

Last week, we looked at why it's critical to apply to 8-10 colleges (minimum). But that's just the first step!

Putting together a well-balanced list of colleges is one of the most nuanced and strategic parts of the college process. If built correctly and coordinated with your family's college funding plan, the right list of colleges will make a tremendous difference in maximizing your financial aid opportunities.

Let's review the checklist that we use as a starting point for our students:

Public vs. Private Schools & Need Met

As we discussed last week, different schools take different approaches to the financial aid process. This means that applying to a variety of schools will give you a better chance of seeing a variety of offers. For this reason, your final college list should include a mix of public and private schools, some with a good track record of offering students generous need-based aid and merit aid.

Admission Difficulty

Generally, it's best to include 2-3 safe options, 4-5 solid matches, and 1-3 reaches on your list. Keep in mind that what may be a safe option for one student could be a reach for another. So how do you know if a school is a safe option, solid match, or reach for you?

Begin by comparing your GPA and SAT/ACT scores to those of accepted students at the schools on your list.

If you are comfortably above the averages, the school may be a safe option for you, meaning you have a very good chance of getting in and a good chance of seeing a generous merit aid offer.

If you are around the school's average numbers, it is most likely a solid match for you. This means you have a solid chance of acceptance, although it's not a sure bet.

Numbers below the school's averages mean that the school is likely a reach for you. While you may have a slimmer chance of acceptance, you never know what may happen!

Of course, there are factors that affect your admission chances beyond GPA and test scores. For example, schools like Stanford are reaches for anyone. Essays, extracurriculars, interviews, and recommendation letters can also help or hurt your chances of admission. We can help you to determine exactly where a school may fall for you.

Remember, solid matches should make up the core of your college list. If the bulk of your list is shooting too high or too low, you may end up with only a couple of acceptances or end up with schools that are not the ideal fit. I always tell students to imagine the worst-case scenario, in which you are accepted by your safe options, accepted by only half of your solid matches, and rejected by all of your reaches. Will you still have a good selection of offers remaining?

Early Admission Options

It's a great idea to apply to some schools that you'll hear back from earlier in the year (as long as the offers are non-binding). Getting early acceptances and scholarship offers can be a weight off your shoulders and can also give us a sense of how competitive your application looks to schools, in case we need to make any last-minute adjustments to your list.

Have questions or need help with your college list? Contact us by email or by calling the office at (724) 745-0305. We're always happy to help!

Erin, Director of Student Services

How many colleges should I apply to?

The school year is under way, and our students are hard at work! Seniors are submitting college applications, while sophomores and juniors are learning about careers that are a good fit, preparing for the SAT & ACT, and researching colleges. It is a very busy (and exciting) time!

In looking back at our results from last year's seniors, I was struck once again by how critical it was for our students to apply to the right number and the right balance of schools.

Today, let's revisit the importance of the college list and why having the right schools can make a huge difference.

As most of you have heard me say many times by now, we recommend applying to 8-10 schools. Why so many? Let's start by taking a look at some interesting numbers:

On average, our students who applied to 8 or more schools versus those who applied to only 5 schools ended up with more than double the number of acceptance letters and nearly $8,000 more from each school.

Students who applied to only 5 schools could expect to pay $23,429 per year at their #1 school ... while students who applied to at least 8 schools had significantly lower out-of-pocket costs at just $17,087.

But remember, it's not just about having the right number of schools. Having the right balance of schools is equally important.

Your final college list should include a mix of public and private schools, some with a good track record of offering students generous need-based aid and merit aid. Different schools take different approaches to the financial aid process, so applying to a variety of schools means you have a better chance of seeing a variety of offers. A variety of offers can make a difference during the negotiation process.

We also encourage you to think about schools' difficulty of admission when finalizing your list. Ideally, your final list will include 2-3 safe options, 4-5 solid matches, and 1-3 reach schools, based on your GPA and test scores. (More on this next week!)

Ultimately, our goal is to help you maximize your financial aid opportunities while finding the college that's the best match for your career goals.

Let's have a wonderful school year!

Erin, Director of Student Services