When I built my first college list template, it was messy and overwhelming. I added so many columns that I never really used. More importantly, I struggled to pick out colleges. I found myself adding, removing, and adjusting my list constantly over multiple months. When I was working on my QuestBridge rankings, I kept changing them everyday leading up to the final due date.
I created my Free College List Template to help you guys during college application season! It's simple, and contains all the necessary information to build a strategic list.
📋 Free College List Template
A simple spreadsheet to track your safety, target, and reach schools. Add deadlines, notes, and keep everything in one place.
Download Free Template🎯 The 3 Categories Every College List Needs
Safety
Target
Reach
📋 How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?
I recommend applying to 12-15 colleges total. But please remember, this will vary based on your needs/goals. Don't forget that schools also have application fees! Here's a breakdown that I recommend:
- 3-4 Safety schools — These MUST be schools that you are confident you'll get admitted into.
- 5-6 Target schools — This is where you'll spend most of your energy.
- 4-5 Reach schools — Dream big, but be realistic about the odds.
🔎 How Do I Research Colleges?
The first thing I recommend everybody to do is search up the Common Data Set (CDS) of the schools you're interested in. Academics is usually the baseline for admissions, and the CDS reveals all the stats of admitted students. You can use the CDS to see where you fit in in terms of GPA, SAT/ACT. Additionally, the CDS also provides details on what the schools value. For instance, some schools may value academics more than others. Some may value extracurriculars while others don't. Finding your schools CDS is simple! Just search up "[School name] Common Data Set."
If you want a broad overview of a school, check out the U.S. News & World Report. It provides information about the student body, popular majors, and much more! One thing that I often used this source for was determining what the average cost of tuition would be for my income bracket. You can find the U.S. News & World Report page for your college easily by typing "[School name] USN," and it usually pops up as the first link.
Another thing I researched is what social life is like at the school. You can easily find out more details about this by looking at social media pages whether it's YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or even going on Reddit and asking current students about their experiences.
Context Matters — Don't Compare Yourself to Strangers Online
Always remember, admissions officers will take your background into context! People may show off their 1600 SAT score, 4.0 GPA, and scoring fives on 10+ APs. But remember, not everybody posts their stats online, and your context also matters in admissions.
✅ College List Building Checklist
You've got this. Building a college list can be hard. I remember building my list for MONTHS. Start with safeties you love, add targets that excite you, and then sprinkle in reaches that you've always dreamed of attending.
Questions? Reach out anytime. I'm rooting for you! 🎓✨