Research
There are thousands of colleges out there, but by no means are they all right for you. Researching schools can help you get an idea of what schools you will thrive academically, socially, personally, and financially. This part of the process can help you narrow down your options and start building a list of schools you would like to apply to!
What should you look for?
Everyone’s preferences and priorities are different, but here are a few factors to consider:
Location
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City or rural?
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Close to home or far away?
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Weather
Size
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Small (<5,000), medium (5,000-15,000), or large (15,000+)
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Class size
Academics
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Do they offer your intended major?
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Special programs (honors, study abroad, pre-tracks)
Cost
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Can you afford it with/without aid?
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What need-based or merit scholarships do they offer?
Tools
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College Vine: good for estimating your chances on admission, and building a balanced college list (reach, target, likely)
Campus visit
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Schedule official campus tours
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Visit classrooms, dining halls, and dorms
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Talk to current students​
Building Your List
Safety: A school where you are far above their average stats for admission. You should have at least a 75% chance of being accepted. This school will serve as a backup if you are not admitted to any "target" or "reach" schools.
Target: This is a school that you should aim to get into. Target schools can swing either way, but with strong essays and extracurriculars, you should have a strong chance of admission. (30%-80%)
Reach: A school where you will more than likely be denied. This could be because your stats are far below their average requirements or simply because the school is extremely competitive. Your odds of being admitted should be around or below 25%.
When researching schools, you should consider your chances of being accepted because when applying, it's best to have a balanced list of two safety, 3 target, and 2 reach schools. This lets you shoot for dream schools while also almost guaranteeing you are accepted into at least one institution. (As long as your safety is really a safety, that is. No matter how good your stats are, schools like Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill are NOT safeties. You would be surprised how often I hear people say they are.
If you don't know where to start, websites like Niche and Collegevine can help you get a better idea of your chances of being accepted to different universities. You put down your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and demographics, and these websites calculate your admission chances. Schools can also use these sites to reach out to you with admission and scholarship offers. Here is an example of what a Collegevine page may show you...
