How to Narrow Down Your College List: Top Tips for College Selection. Consider Before Applying!

Step-by-step process to narrow down your initial list of schools into a balanced and achievable set of colleges that fit your unique needs and goals.

We’ll start by discussing how to evaluate colleges based on academic fit, including how to use GPA and SAT scores effectively, even with schools going test-optional. You’ll also learn why it’s important to stay consistent with data sources and how to avoid common pitfalls when comparing schools' admission stats.

Next, we’ll dive into financial considerations—understanding how to factor in financial aid, scholarships, and affordability as you refine your choices. But that’s not all! We’ll cover the 8 key metrics every student and parent should consider when building a college list, including school size (big vs. small), campus location (urban, suburban, or rural), Greek life, and transportation logistics. Should you stay close to home or go out of state? Is a large football program or a tight-knit academic community more important? We’ll help you think through these important decisions!

You’ll also discover helpful online tools like CollegeSimply, which can estimate your chances of admission based on your GPA, SAT scores, and other factors. And if your high school has resources like Naviance, you’ll learn how to leverage that data to gain insights specific to your school’s admissions history.

By the end of this video, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to confidently narrow down your college list to a manageable, realistic set of reach, target, and safety schools that truly align with your personal and academic priorities.

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0:00 Narrowing your college list according to academics and fit
0:26 GPA and SAT Scores, CollegeSimply.com, naviance
3:45 Big, small or medium
5:10 Rural, urban or suburban
6:39 Region and distance from home
7:39 Greek or Non-Greek

#collegeadmissions #collegelist #satprep #collegeapplications #collegeprep

Alyssa Atan Bowlby
www.thecollege.expert