College List

College lists can be tricky. Everyone knows the big-name schools, but what about the little ones? How do we even know if we can get in? There is no golden rule for how many colleges to apply to, however, quality is superior to quantity. So instead of thinking “How many colleges can I apply to”, think more along the lines of “How many colleges can I write amazing applications for”. This mindset will produce more success when decision week begins.

Finding Good Fit Colleges

More often than not, academics are the number one determinant of whether you are admitted into a college. Thus, when considering which colleges to apply to, look at what their average SAT score and weighted GPA are. If your numbers are below the average, that school is a reach, if your numbers are far above, that school is probably a safety for you. Our internal software at Kollegio will do its best to categorize schools based on your academic record. It's important to keep in mind that this is just one indicator - having matching academics only means that your application will likely be considered by the school, but building up a strong profile is also essential for getting into competitive colleges.

Crafting Your College List

Traditionally, colleges are divided into 3 categories. Safeties, targets, and reaches. Most of the time, which colleges fit into which category depends on student profiles, however some colleges, such as Ivy Leagues, can always be regarded as reaches.

Deciding how many of each category to apply to is no easy task. While our internal system in Kollegio analyzes your profile to recommend schools, it's still important to consider your specific needs when deciding which colleges to apply to. For example, if securing financial aid is a significant priority of yours, having more safeties on your list makes sense. On the flip side, if you’re an extremely strong candidate and getting into a reach school is your top goal, then perhaps your list will not have as many safeties. Overall, building a balanced list with approximately 40% Safeties, 40% Targets, and 20% Reaches is our usual recommendation. It's a good idea to start with this ratio if you’re unsure of how best to organize your list.