When is your college list complete (or when enough is enough)?
As we work with seniors and their families to complete applications, we see the stress of knowing when your college list is complete. This is especially hard once students return to school and the chatter begins, or until that tantalizing email from a school you hadn't considered hits your inbox, or a glossy brochure from that school on the beach, and suddenly a winter in the northeast is looking less and less appealing. There's always one more school a friend is applying to that you think might be a great fit, when are you applying to enough schools? When is your college list complete? Finalizing your list means you can focus on each school’s supplemental responses and requirements, they often take more time than writing the personal statement.
Ask yourself these three questions.
Do you have a good assortment of likely, target, and reach schools? We recommend 3-4 schools in each category. Be honest in your categorization of your chances but also consider that the student you know last year that has higher scores and grades that didn’t get into your “reach” school, may not have been the student the school was looking for last year, and you bring a different holistic application than they do.
Would you be happy at any one of the schools on your list? Be honest and realistic, you’re not going to love every single thing about every school. One may have great dorms but not be in that cute town you love, another may have more requirements than you’d like but a selection of awesome majors calling your name. Like everything in life, there are compromises. But, overall, can you see yourself at each of the schools and do they offer the programs and supports essential to your success such as favorite majors, studio and performance facilities, cultural groups, mental health and learning support.
Are your schools financially realistic? This is a hard fact of college choices, not every school can offer you the financial package to make it affordable. Have an open, honest conversation as a family and talk with the schools’ financial aid officers to make sure you can afford the schools to which you are applying. Run the Net Price Calculator (NPC) for each school to determine your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and complete the FAFSA. We can't stress this enough, if you don't complete the FAFSA you could leave aid on the table, even if you don't think you qualify you may.
Did you answer YES to all three questions? If you did, congratulations, your college list is done! If you didn’t, though, don’t despair, there’s time to find another school or two to complete your list.
If you’re still looking to round out your college list it can be done and we can help, here's my calendar, schedule an appointment to talk today.