{"id":78,"date":"2022-09-10T02:23:55","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T02:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegeprepmom.com\/blog\/?p=78"},"modified":"2024-10-14T17:37:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T21:37:39","slug":"college-list-practical-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mominthecity.com\/college-list-practical-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Practical Tips to Create Your College List in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Choosing the right college is one of the most stressful aspects of college planning for many families. (In my informal survey of approximately 1,000 families, it was the #1 challenge.) Thankfully, there are many ways to help teens wisely choose the colleges that they place on their prospective college list.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"7<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It can seem as if college options are limitless. There are both small and large colleges, private liberal arts colleges, private research universities and public universities (in and out of state). That is why I am sharing 7 tips regarding narrowing down the thousands of options to a manageable list of colleges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Visit colleges.<\/strong> Visiting a variety (large, small, public, private, etc.) of colleges can help teens decide what type of college experience is best for them.

During campus tour visits, talk to a variety of people including teachers, students and other staff. (Tip: Try to talk to current students outside of<\/strong> the official college tour and information sessions.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Attend college fairs. <\/strong>They present a great opportunity for students and parents to explore various colleges and learn about the college process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interactive events often include opportunities to gather campus materials, engage with admissions representatives and explore financial aid options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Use college websites and social media spaces<\/strong> (i.e. YouTube videos by students) to get a better understanding of the school culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Read books about colleges<\/strong>. <\/a>Fiske<\/a> guides are especially reputable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/strong> Talk to recent alumni<\/strong> about their (positive or negative) college experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Check US News & World Report\u2019s college rankings<\/a><\/strong> if college selectivity is important to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.<\/strong> Use college search engines t<\/strong>o filter colleges that are good fits. College Navigator<\/a> is one of my favorite college search tools based on its data-driven approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Number of Colleges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, teens want to narrow down their college lists to schools that would actually be exciting for them to attend.

Professionals recommend that the final list be limited to 8 to 12 colleges (1-2 \u201creach\u201d colleges; 5-8 \u201ctarget\u201d colleges and 1 \u201csafety\/likelier\u201d school. My son followed this model and it worked out well for him.

Do what works best for your family though. For instance, I only applied to 3 colleges before choosing Columbia. \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay Organized<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of how many colleges teens put on their lists, you can help them to stay organized and keep track of the various college deadlines.

Many schools help students do this through their school\u2019s subscription to Naviance<\/a>, which I will write more about next week. Meanwhile, you can also create a simple spreadsheet to keep track of key deadline dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

College List Timeline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*FRESHMAN:<\/strong> Some driven students begin their college search as early as their Freshman year of high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*SOPHOMORE:<\/strong> Fall of the Sophomore year is a great time for most students to start their search. They can begin by visiting local colleges and fairs along with the other suggestions listed above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*JUNIOR:<\/strong> Junior year is when students really start to actively build their prospective school lists. During this time, make college visits (either virtual or in-person) and attend information sessions. High school counselors should be able to help with college visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*SENIOR:<\/strong> By Senior year, college lists should be finalized. It\u2019s important that college choices are completed early in the fall because early decision and early action applications are due on November 1st. (I will write more about the various college application deadlines next week.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, the student\u2019s school preference (within reason) matters the most when it comes to creating college lists. Look for a great fit for the student\u2026NOT just a great college name and reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S. I have created a simple FREE \u201cCollege List\u201d Google spreadsheet to help you keep track of key college application deadline dates. It includes a sample college with various deadlines. Simply send me an email (kcoleman@mominthecity.com<\/a>) with \u201cCollege List\u201d in the Subject area and I will send it to you!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you found this post helpful, please share it. Thanks!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n