Building Your College List
John F. McGreal�Director of Admissions and Strategy
The Challenge and the Goal
With over 6,000 colleges in the US; it can be overwhelming
The goal is for you to be narrow that down to the 4-6 schools that fit you!
01
Can you call this place your home?
Start with YOU: Define your Fit
Academics
Financial
Environment
Selecting a Major [or not!]
Flexible core curriculum & exploratory programs
Look at the coursework and find what excites you!
Additional requirements, limited capacity, deadlines, etc
It’s merely a starting point
It’s okay to be undecided
Test the waters
Not choice is final
Check the fine print
01.
04.
02.
03.
Finding the right school takes time
And the right approach!
02
Tools & Techniques
BigFuture by CollegeBoard ��Naviance��School links�
Search Engines
Use your definition of ‘fit’��Must haves��Talk with your school counselor ��
Initial Filtering
College Fairs and high school visits ��Campus Visits ��Curriculum & School counselor
Deep Dive Research
A balanced list ensures you have choices.
The goal is to curate a small, focused list of 4-6 schools that include safety, target, and reach schools.
03
Your profile is above the admitted student profile.��You’re confident you’d get in.
Your profile aligns with the average admitted student.��Reasonable chance you’ll be admitted.
Your profile is slightly below or the school is selective.��Low to mid-confidence you’ll be admitted.
Three Categories
Safety
Target
Reach
Next Steps & Action Plan
Virtual resources, campus visits, and local events can give you a feel for each institution.
Crafting a curated list of 4-6 quality choices will make your decision easier.
They are you best resource for information and understand you as a student.
Track deadlines, requirements, scholarships, and net cost for your list.
Focus on quality
Explore the colleges
Connect with your counselor
Get organized
01.
04.
02.
03.
The college search process is a marathon, �not a sprint.� �Pace yourself!
mcgrealj@ripon.edu or 920.748.8155�Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Thank you!