How to Choose a College: College List Guide

With so many facets to the college application process, it can be difficult for high school students and their families to even know where or how to begin. A good starting point — and one of the most important pieces of the application process — is formulating a balanced college list. Junior year is the ideal time to start, as it will leave you time to do your research, visit campuses, and eliminate schools that may not appeal to you as much as you originally thought.

Your college list is the barometer for the rest of your college prep going forward, so it’s important to start refining your priorities, evaluating where your profile falls relative to other applicants and working toward finalizing the list of colleges to which you will apply.

College is a big investment. To ensure you’re getting the most out of the experience and the best ROI, you need to apply to a well-researched and thoughtful list of colleges where you can thrive and graduate in four years. With nearly one-third of students transferring colleges at least once, this is especially important to avoid the time, money, and credits lost trying to transfer out of a college that wasn’t a great fit to begin with. 

How to Choose a College: Table of Contents 

1. Determine Your Personal Goals and Needs
2. Research, Research, Research!
3. Consider Fit
4. Visit the Colleges from Your List
5. Develop Your Own Rankings
6. Check Fly-In Program Opportunities
7. Keep Your College List Balanced
8. Keep Your College List Manageable
9. See Our Selection of College Lists
10. Keep an Open Mind
11. Build Your College List with an IvyWise Counselor

Determine Your Personal Goals and Needs

Choosing the right college is a significant decision that can shape your academic, professional, and personal life. To make an informed choice, it’s important for you to consider what you want and need out of your college experience — not just in terms of academics. After all, the college you choose is where you will live for the next four years.

Consider the following questions before starting your college search:

• What are your personal values and beliefs? Do you want to attend a faith-based college? Do you want to live on a campus that values diversity, community service, and/or political activism?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? Is the college aligned with your abilities? How do you compare with the average student at this college?  
• What are your interests and passions? Does the school offer extracurriculars that appeal to you? Will you have opportunities to make an impact on campus or in the surrounding community?
• What career resources does the school offer? Do they offer internship or job placement opportunities? Do they help with career preparation? Do they have a strong alumni network?
• Do you care about location? Do you want to be close to family? Are you looking for an urban or rural campus? Do you prefer a certain climate?
• Can you afford it? What kind of financial aid is offered? Does the school meet 100% of demonstrated financial need? What is the cost of living in the area?
• Do you prefer a certain campus size? Are you looking for a smaller, more close-knit community or a large and diverse student body? Do you prefer smaller class sizes or large lecture hall classes?
• What support services do you need? Does the school offer academic support, health and wellness services, or adequate disability services?
• What are your goals? Do you want a challenging academic environment or a more balanced approach? Does the school offer degree programs in your areas of interest? What is the school’s track record for graduate school or career placements?  
• What are your housing needs? Do the residence halls offer the amenities you want? What are the housing options off campus?

Research, Research, Research!

We can’t stress the importance of college research enough. Make a list of all the colleges that you think are interesting, but you’ll need to dig deeper to find out if these schools will truly fulfill your individual needs. Learn everything you can about the schools that have piqued your interest, and even look for other, lesser-known schools that may also meet your personal, academic, and financial needs.

Research courses, majors, minors, professors, activities, and other factors that are important to you on the school’s website. Interested in engineering? Learn everything you can about the courses you might take, professors you might study with, and what extracurriculars or clubs are available to engineering students. Also follow prospective colleges on Facebook, X, Instagram and other social media channels, as that is a great way to stay up to date on campus news, events, and admissions information.

Additional sources like college guidebooks (like the Fiske Guide to Colleges), current students and alumni, and college visits are also helpful. As you do your research, purge any schools from your list that do not meet your needs. Ideally, you will end up with a list of 13 to 15 best-fit schools — each of which you would be happy to attend!

Researching and following colleges on social media also helps to demonstrate interest, which is important when it comes time to apply. Become an expert in each school you’re interested in so you’re able to articulate exactly why each school is a great fit for you, why you want to attend that school, and what you can contribute to the campus community — this will also come in handy when you’re writing your college essays.

Consider Fit

Harvard might sound like the ultimate college to apply to, but is it really a good fit for you? If you prefer larger research universities on the west coast then, no, it won’t be a great match. You must consider more than name brand and prestige when refining your college choices. Sure, Middlebury College is an excellent school, but if you’re interested in engineering, it’s not going to have the academic programs you’re looking for, thus making it not a great fit for you.

Colleges on your balanced list should be good academic, social, and financial fits. Choose colleges that meet your needs, both inside and outside of the classroom. That way, you’ll have a variety of colleges to choose from where you can be happy and successful. 

Visit the Colleges from Your List 

One of the best ways to determine if a college is the right fit for you is to visit, ideally when classes are in session. Attend information sessions with admissions officers, tour the campus, explore the surrounding community, and, if possible, spend the night in a dorm to get a real feel for the college life there.

Refining your college list is about identifying what’s important to you and the opportunities and programs offered by colleges that meet those priorities. A visit can go a long way to help you make those assessments. Do you like the campus atmosphere? Is it located too far from a city — or perhaps too close to one? Are you comfortable with the dorms? Is the class size appropriate for your needs? Sometimes a college visit can be a gut-check for a college you’re on the fence about.

Develop Your Own Rankings

Do you have a pretty solid list but you’re not sure how to compare each school to one another? Develop your own rankings based on your personal preferences and priorities in order to assess each college on your list. Conventional rankings lists give little insight into how each college fits students’ needs, so students shouldn’t consider those when making decisions about where to apply. 

Instead, create a chart that lists the factors you consider most important, such as location, academics, size, etc. After researching and visiting each college, place a “+” in the box if you liked that certain aspect of the college, a “–“ if you didn’t, or a “0” if you’re not sure. Tally up the “+” at the end to get your rating for that school.

College	Academics	Location	Size	Extracurriculars	TOTAL
College X	+	+	0	+	3
College Y	+	+	–	–	2
College Z	–	–	+	0	1

By creating a visual representation, you can see which colleges actually meet your needs and which don’t. This can help you refine your list and remove any schools that on the surface seem great but may not actually be a good fit for you.

Check Fly-In Program Opportunities

We already mentioned that visiting colleges is the best way to determine fit — but what if distance and/or money are obstacles? If you qualify, fly-in programs can be great opportunities to explore colleges you’re interested in. Numerous schools sponsor fly-in programs, which are low cost or free to prospective students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, first-generation families, or ethnic minorities. While each fly-in program varies, students may have the opportunity to attend classes; meet faculty and current students; participate in campus tours; and learn about admissions processes, financial aid, and student life.

Keep Your College List Balanced

Once you’ve started your research and created your own rankings, meet with your high school college counselor to evaluate and narrow down your list of schools. Keep in mind that colleges will evaluate your profile in relation to your peers at your high school, so your counselor can likely provide some insight here. 

A candid discussion about your course load, grades, extracurricular activities, and admission goals will allow your counselor to honestly assess your college list and also allow them to suggest some additional schools that might be a good fit. Your counselor is a great resource and can help you identify some schools of interest that you may not have considered before.

It’s important to challenge yourself and aim high, but a list heavy on colleges with single-digit admission rates can leave you with few options come enrollment time. Make sure you identify a wide range of likely, target, and reach colleges to consider.

• Likely schools: Your academic profile is significantly stronger than the middle 50% of students who are typically admitted.
• Target schools: Your academic profile is similar to the middle 50%.
• Reach schools: Your academic profile is not as strong as the middle 50%.

This information can usually be found on the school’s admissions website. If you’re not able to easily locate it, look up the school’s Common Data Set, which also provides this information.

It’s okay to reach for that dream college but keep realistic expectations. On the flip side, don’t include a likely you’re not that thrilled about just to have a backup. 

Again, if all the colleges you choose are great fits, you’ll be happy to attend any of them. Likely colleges shouldn’t be considered fallbacks or colleges you’ll just attend for one year only to try to transfer into your top-choice college later. All the colleges on your list, whether a far reach or a very likely, should be schools you’d love to attend.

Keep Your College List Manageable

With over 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., the options available to students can sometimes be overwhelming. Couple that with single-digit admission rates at some of the country’s top-tier universities, and many students may feel that to get into a great school they will need to explore every college available, sometimes applying to upwards of 40 or 50 schools. This is not a smart application strategy, as applying to a high volume of colleges diminishes the quality of each application. Not to mention that without time to thoroughly research dozens of colleges, it’s unlikely that every school will be a great fit. 

Ideally, your balanced college list should include a total of no more than 13-15 best-fit target, reach, and likely colleges. Any more than that and the quality of the applications and essays will suffer, thus reducing your chances of admission. It’s important to keep your college list manageable to minimize stress and maximize your chances of admission to your top-choice colleges.

See Our Selection of College Lists

So, you’re ready to put together your college list. Not sure where to start? Check out our college lists for some ideas.

Hidden Gem Colleges 

IvyWise counselors share some of their favorite hidden gems that offer great academics, extracurriculars, and vibrant campus communities.

• Hidden Gem Colleges
• Hidden Gem Colleges, Part 2
• Hidden Gem STEM Colleges

Colleges for STEM

Interested in any of the STEM fields? The schools on these lists offer great, often unique programs.

• Colleges for Engineering in America
• Mechanical Engineering Schools
• Colleges for Biologists

Colleges for the Humanities

Artists, writers, and historians can find a variety of colleges that offer great academic programs in the humanities.

• Liberal Arts Colleges
• Colleges for Fashion Majors
• Colleges for Aspiring Writers
• Colleges for Women’s Studies Majors
• Colleges for Aspiring Poets

Colleges for Sports Lovers

Whether you pursue sports for fun or as a potential career, these schools have a lot to offer.

• Colleges for Winter Sports Enthusiasts
• Colleges for Equestrians

Colleges for Future Professionals 

You can find pre-professional programs offered at colleges across the U.S., but these stand out from the rest. 

• Pre-Med Schools in the U.S.
• Colleges for Future Entrepreneurs
• Colleges for Future Veterinarians

Colleges that Offer Extra Support 

While all colleges are legally required to offer a minimum standard of support for disabled students, these schools go above and beyond. 

• Colleges with Programs for Students with Disabilities
• Colleges for Neurodivergent Students

Colleges that Made History

HBCUs and women’s colleges have made their mark on U.S. history. Learn more about these institutions and if they could be a good fit for you.

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• All-Women’s Colleges

Colleges Offering a Unique Experience

Sure, academics are important, but your college campus will also be home for at least four years. From quirky clubs and fun traditions to excellent food and architecture, these colleges offer something a little extra.  

• Colleges with Fun Finals Week Traditions
• Colleges with Fun Spring Traditions
• Colleges with Quirky Clubs and Extracurriculars
• Colleges with the Best Dining Halls
• Colleges that Feel Like Hogwarts

Colleges for the Financially Savvy

These colleges help you get more bang for your buck.

• Colleges with No Application Fees
• Colleges with Great ROI

Keep an Open Mind

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing a college. It’s a personal decision that should be based on the factors that are most meaningful to each student. Before adding any school to your college list ask yourself, “Why this school?” Students should be able to answer this question about all the schools on their college list. And you won’t be the only one asking that question — many colleges have a variation of the “Why this college?” question on their application. Once a student gets to know a college through intensive research, visits, and other experiences, then they can decide if that school will be a good fit, regardless of reputation or where it falls on a publication’s ranking.

Try this: Cover up the names of the schools and simply discuss the academic course of study, professors, activities, student population, resources, the surrounding community, etc., and try to envision yourself at that school. Could you see yourself enjoying classes and extracurricular activities there? Could you see yourself at that school for the next four years? When you focus on the experiences, a college might be cut even though its name was a very attractive one.

Build Your College List with an IvyWise Counselor

At IvyWise, we work with students to help them identify and apply to a balanced list of best-fit colleges where they’ll be happy and thrive. There are many schools where students can be successful, and our expert counselors will help you find the schools that are the best fit for your interests, goals, and finances. 

For more information on how we can help you find the best-fit schools to apply to, contact us today.

Choosing a College FAQs

How many colleges should I apply to?

When it comes to the number of colleges to apply to, we typically recommend 13-15 schools — a balanced mix of likely, target, and reach schools. These should all be best-fit schools that you’re excited about. If you apply to too few schools, you risk not having options when it comes time to decide where to enroll. More than 15 schools can make it difficult to submit strong and competitive applications. 

How do I know if a college is the right fit for me?

You can find your best-fit college by doing thorough research to identify the institutions that align with your personal, academic, and career goals and needs. If the college aligns with what you are looking for in terms of academics, social life, career resources, cost, financial aid, location, campus size, and other factors of importance, then it’s a good fit for you.

What should I prioritize when choosing a college?

What you prioritize is largely based on your needs and goals — in other words, choose the college that is the best fit for you and that you would be thrilled to attend. Some key factors to consider include academic programs and majors, cost and financial aid, location, campus culture, career services and job placement, accreditation and reputation, support services, size of the college, and opportunities for growth.

How do financial aid options work?

When it comes to financial aid, you have a lot of options from federal, state, and institutional aid to private scholarships and loans. Aid can be merit or need based. Most students start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then seek out other sources of financial aid. The institutions where you apply determine what type and how much financial aid to award you. It can be a combination of federal aid, institutional aid, and other sources. Students often choose where to enroll based on how much financial aid they are offered.  

Is it important to visit colleges in person?

The only way you can get a true sense of what it’s like on campus is to visit. While a school looks great on paper, you may not like the vibe once you get to campus. Can’t make the trip? Many colleges offer virtual tours for students who are unable to visit in person. If distance and/or money is a factor, check if your schools of interest offer fly-in programs. These are reduced cost or free programs for prospective students, particularly those from underrepresented groups or low-income backgrounds.