Target Colleges
Choosing which college to apply to can be difficult. One may experience a sense of paranoia regarding the possibility of straying from their desired career path. Here are some key points to evaluate while choosing target colleges
Career Prospects
Research the career services and job placement rates for graduates in your field of interest. A reputed college may not be the best college for the field of your interest.
Alumni Network
A college with many alumni who match your interests can help you get more job opportunities.
Financial Considerations
Consider the cost of attendance, which includes tuition and living expenses minus financial aid and scholarship. The amount of student debt should be comparable with lifetime earning potential for your intended major.
Academic Profile
Compare your GPA and standardized test scores to the average profile of admitted students at each college. This will help you categorize schools based on your likelihood of admission.
Acceptance Rate
Look at the overall acceptance rate of the colleges. A low acceptance rate can make a college a reach, even for highly qualified students.
Special Programs
Look for colleges that offer special programs, honors colleges, or unique learning opportunities that interest you.
Personal Preferences
Consider factors such as campus culture, location, size, available majors, and extracurricular opportunities.
Graduation Rates
Higher retention and graduation rates can indicate student satisfaction and academic success.
Finalize list
Focus on a manageable number of colleges where you can submit strong, thoughtful applications. Make a list of “safety,” “match,” and “reach” schools to ensure a balanced college application strategy.
Safety Schools
- These are colleges where your academic credentials are above the school’s average admitted student profile.
- You should have a higher than 70% chance of acceptance.
- Ensure that safety schools are places you would be happy to attend.
Match Schools
- Colleges where your academic credentials are similar to the average admitted student.
- You have a reasonable chance of acceptance, typically between 15-70%.
- They should align well with your academic and personal preferences.
Reach Schools
- These are colleges where your academic credentials are below the average admitted student profile.
- You have less than a 15% chance of admission.
- Reach schools are aspirational and often highly selective.
