The college list is the foundation of college planning at Class 101. Many factors help students define their college lists: location, the student’s college fit preferences, family expectations, and academic program information. For some students, their area of study has to be a primary consideration. If they would like to major in something few schools offer, then the college list is shaped by the student’s area of interest. Extracurricular interests like sports or music might also narrow the list. At times, family legacy is a primary influence. 

For the majority of our students, we start with a broad list of schools, and we advise our students to tour a smaller school (less than 5,000 students), a mid-sized school (5,000 to 12,000 students), a large school (12,000 to 25,000 students), and an extra-large school (more than 25,000 students). Our lists will often include urban, suburban, and rural options, and we talk about the importance of visiting the community as much as visiting the college. 

With a well-defined college list, students can prioritize things like test prep, extracurriculars, and high school classes to maximize acceptances and scholarships. In this blog, we review what constitutes a balanced college list and mistakes to avoid.

Balancing Your College List

Students should consider a mix of schools, so they have options when it is time to apply and also when it is time to make a decision. We suggest a list of seven to 10 schools. This list should include reach and match/target picks that align with a student’s financial, social, and academic profile. 

Reach Schools

Reach schools are schools where admission percentages are low. Reach schools may be elite institutions with stats that are above a student’s academic profile. 

Too often, students only look at the overall acceptance rate; however, many top state schools are true “reaches” for out-of-state applicants. We encourage students to identify one or two reach schools to understand the options available to them. Challenge-seeking students can still make changes in high school to become more competitive candidates. 

Match/Target Schools

Match or Target schools are those where a student has a good chance of admission. Target schools match a student’s academic record, and they should comprise the majority of a student’s college list. We encourage students to find three to five target schools with their desired college fit factors.

Note: We rarely use the term “safety school” at Class 101-Dayton. The admission landscape is ever changing, and we do not take anything for granted. Students only should apply to schools that they actually would attend. 

Other Factors

While selecting this list of seven to 10 schools, we advise students to consider these important factors.

• * Academic fit: Does the school offer the programs and majors that the student is interested in? Does the curriculum match the rigor that the student expects? 
• * Social fit: Does the school fit the kind of culture that the student wants in terms of size and style? Does it offer the extracurriculars the student is interested in?
• * Financial fit: Does the college match what a student and their family is able to pay? How likely are scholarship and financial aid offers?
• * Geographic preferences: Is the college located in a place that the student will want to live? Will the student enjoy the weather? Will travel to and from college be expensive?
• * Support resources: Does the college offer adequate support or assistance that the student might need (e.g. resources for first-generation applicants, language support, counseling, learning services)?
  

Mistakes to Avoid

Navigating changes in interests, academics, finances, and personal lives, Class 101 helps students avoid these common mistakes in their college lists.

• * Applying only to reach schools: Applying only to reach schools can cause problems if a student is denied from or waitlisted at all their options. 
• * Ignoring financial considerations: College is expensive. Students and families should be aware of their financial situation, look at each college’s cost of attendance, and speak openly about options to pay for college.
• * Choosing “name brand” schools: Students ought to expand their college list beyond recognizable “sweatshirt” schools as there may be many options they have not considered.
• * Not considering fit: Class 101 encourages students to think critically about what it is they are looking for in a college instead of applying to a vaguely defined list. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, college retention from the first to the second year of college is only 68%. Nearly one third of students will leave college or transfer in the first year. This is often because they did not expand their list past the “sweatshirt” schools to look at all college fit factors. 

At Class 101-Dayton, we also examine colleges’ post-graduate outcome statistics, and we review the factors that each student deems important to their decision. It is not uncommon for students’ preferences to change during senior year, which is why a broad and well-researched list of colleges is so important.

For the Class of 2027 and beyond, connecting with colleges should start now. It is the perfect time to brainstorm a big college list and start demonstrating interest through subscribing to admissions emails (and reading them!), scheduling visits, attending events and pre-college programs, and following social media accounts. 

If you need help assembling your college list or any other part of the college application process, we hope to see you for a free college planning consultation meeting.

Link to our 2025 Senior Profile 

Link to our 2025 Application List