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creating YOUR COLLEGE LIST
creating YOUR COLLEGE LIST
Where do I begin?
Where do I begin?
We know making a college list can sound overwhelming. That said, you’ll want to start now so you have time to explore, reflect, and change your mind.
We know deciding what you want to do and what path to take is easier said than done, so for now let’s start with some reflection questions.
Remember: When we say "college," we also mean things like trade school, the military, cosmetology school, and other kinds of education. Not just a 4-year university!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
Take a second to think about what interests you may have, and really have fun with it.
For example:
Do you like studying the technical aspects of cars, or do you prefer getting your hands dirty while you tinker with mechanical parts?
Do you like the chemical composition of makeup, or do you like the beautification process of applying makeup to others?
Do you want to be a doctor? Do you want to be a lawyer?
Do fashion and design and music get you excited? What about gardening?
What problem in your community do you think you could solve? What problem in society do you want to improve?
No interest is too small or too big for this stage, so write down anything you can think of!
DO YOUR INTERESTS REQUIRE COLLEGE?
DO YOUR INTERESTS REQUIRE COLLEGE?
Once you have your list, take another second to note next to everything whether it will require college or a different process. This might require you to think a little more deeply about why you’re interested in the things you wrote down.
For example, if you’re interested in the chemical composition of makeup and how it’s made, you’d probably need to go to college and major in chemistry. If you’re interested in the beautification process of makeup, then you’d probably need to attend a cosmetology school to become trained and certified.
TRADE SCHOOL
If you’re specifically interested in a trade—like construction, HVAC-R, or dental hygiene—these Roadmap to Opportunity videos give you some great info on what those pathways look like in Michigan.
WHICH COLLEGES SHOULD I ADD TO MY LIST
WHICH COLLEGES SHOULD I ADD TO MY LIST
Whether you plan on getting a certificate in welding or a bachelor’s in biology, it’s important that the schools on your list are a good match and fit.
MATCH
Match refers to how well your academics (GPA and test scores) line up with the academic environment of a college, university, or trade program.
FIT
Fit refers to how well a school meets your academic, financial, personal, and social needs.
How can I choose a good match?
How can I choose a good match?
When we talk about match, we usually refer to three types of schools: likely, target, and reach.
A good college list should have a balance of all three, so you can have a good chance at getting into a few schools you’re excited about. Applying to reach schools is a great idea, especially if they’re your dream schools, but you want to balance your list with a few likely or target options, too, just in case.
To figure out whether a school is a likely, target, or reach, you can check out the average GPA and SAT score for their most recent freshman class on their website and see how your profile compares. You can also check out a college match tool like the ones at the Detroit College Access Network or Cappex for more options.
A “Reach” school is one where your GPA and test scores match up with the bottom 25% of students admitted. This type of school sometimes admits students with a profile like yours, but more rarely.
A “Target” school (sometimes called a “Match” school) is one where your GPA and test scores match up with the middle 50% of students admitted. This type of school sometimes admits and sometimes denies students with a profile like yours.
A “Likely” school (sometimes called a “Safety” school) is one where your GPA and test scores matches up with the top 25% of students admitted. This type of school typically admits students with a profile like yours.
How Can I Choose A Good Fit?
How Can I Choose A Good Fit?
A useful way to think about fit might be the idea of deal breakers. In a relationship, deal breakers are those make-or-break things that decide whether we’ll stay or go. Your relationship to a school is no different.
Below are a few examples of some common deal breaker questions:
Does this school have the major or trade I’m interested in?
How large are the classes? How large is the school?
How far do I want to be from home?
What kinds of supports do I need to be successful?
What is student life like?
Are there clubs, sports, or other organizations I want to join?
How much is it going to cost?
Check out College Board’s College Search tool! This tool can help you find the right college basked on categories like location, majors, school type, and campus life.
Choosing good schools for your list means thinking about match and fit at the same time. In other words, what schools will fit you best academically and provide what you need?
This might mean choosing a few academically challenging universities out-of-state as your reach schools, choosing in-state colleges that offer the major you want as your target schools, and community college as your likely schools. It could also mean choosing a few different community colleges that all offer the program you want, but in different locations. Or it could mean choosing a mixture of community colleges and cosmetology schools.
No matter what, you want your college list to have a variety of options that you’d be excited to attend if you’re accepted.
i know what i'm aiming for. what next?
i know what i'm aiming for. what next?
Since you seem pretty sure you want to go to college, make sure to continue researching schools and their academic programs, campus climate, and the full processes involved in applying to each individual institution. At the very least, you want to make sure your list includes 2 likely schools, 2 target schools, and 2 reach schools.
It really makes a difference when you are equipped with the knowledge of what the schools can offer you. You want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck, so do your research now —you don’t want to rush it later.
It’s okay to still be deciding on your post secondary decisions. Maybe you’re still figuring out if a trade program is right for you, or you’re interested in starting a business. That said, no matter what path you end up taking, it’s never too early to start making a plan and writing it down.
At the very least, start on a college list with 2 likely schools, 2 target schools, and 2 reach schools.
All this allows you to have options of where to apply in the fall. You don’t have to commit to anything yet, so allow yourself to explore and research now—you don’t want to rush it later.
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