Creating a Balanced List

Your Wants & Needs

Everyone is different and your college list should meet your wants and needs. Here are some general guidelines to consider for your college list:

Before you apply to college, you need to make a list of colleges that interest you and meet your needs.

 Reflect on your preferences and needs. There are over 4,000 colleges in the United States. To find colleges that might be a good fit for you, consider the general, academic, social, and financial characteristics that you want or need.

General: Type of college, location, distance from home, size, etc.
Academic: Type of degree, faculty you want to work with, majors, online v. in-person, etc.
Social: Housing options, student clubs, support services, student body, opportunities in the community etc.
Financial: Cost, availability of financial aid and part-time jobs, scholarships, etc.

Consider what your wants and needs are and what kind of school can meet those wants and needs.

Check out these resources from ECMC: The College Place and Oregon Goes to College to help you stay organized and consider different factors and think about what kind of school would be the best fit for you:

Length of your List

Consider aiming to apply between 3 and 8 schools. Make sure your list includes Safeties, Matches, and Reach schools:

Safeties (1-2): Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are higher than the average score range of last year’s freshman class. These are colleges that you feel you have a very good chance of getting into and that you think you can afford to attend. They should also be colleges you would be happy to attend.

Matches (2-4): Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are solidly in the same score range as last year’s freshman class. These are colleges that you feel you have a good chance of getting into and that are good matches for you overall.

Reaches (1-2): Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are lower than the average score range of last year’s freshman class. These are colleges that you think may be more of a challenge to get into, but you want to reach for it. Getting in is not a sure thing, but it’s realistic enough to be worth the effort of applying. Remember: colleges consider the whole package!

By having a balanced list, you’re adding colleges that you may not have considered before. Ultimately, it’s important to build a list that reflects your wants and needs and dreams, while also keeping in mind what schools can meet those needs and help you succeed. Here are some tips for How to Finalize your Balanced College List from The College Board: Big Future.

Log into MaiaLeraning using your PPS student email and add your list of schools to your Considering List!

Which Colleges/Universities have previous Lincoln students attened?