Creating Your College Wish List

Figuring out where to apply to college is exciting, but it can be a major challenge. After all, there are over 3,000 four-year colleges in the United States, and each school has its own unique strengths and defining features. Fortunately, you can rather easily narrow down your search to a much more manageable number of colleges with the help of our series, Creating Your College Wish List. Youll find a variety of articles, sorted in easy-to-follow sections  that will guide you in the college selection process. Whether youre doing a national or regional search, whether you care most about engineering or the beach, or the most selective and prestigious colleges in the country, youll find articles here that feature top schools that speak to your interests. Every college applicant has different criteria for selecting schools, and the categories featured here capture some of the most common selection factors. The articles are organized to focus first on  topics that will be relevant to all college applicants, and later sections are more specialized. Read below to learn which sections will be most relevant to your own college search.   Tips for Narrowing Down Your College List   The first step in coming up with your college wish list is to figure out what type of school you want to attend.  Understanding Different Kinds of Colleges  begins with an article that discusses 15 factors to consider when choosing a school. Along with the quality of the academics, you should consider a schools student / faculty ratio, financial aid resources, research opportunities, graduation rates, and more. Its also important to figure out if youll flourish at a small college or a large university. If youre a solid A student with strong SAT or ACT scores, be sure to look through the articles in the second section, The Most Selective Colleges.  Youll find a detailed list of the countrys most selective colleges and universities  as well as lists of the colleges that tend to top the national rankings. Whether youre looking for a top public university or one of the best liberal arts colleges, youll find information on a range of impressive schools.   Selectivity, of course, doesnt tell the whole story when choosing a college. Under  Best Schools by Major or Interest,  youll find articles  focused  on particular interests whether they be academic or co-curricular. Are you looking for a top engineering school? Or perhaps you want a college with a strong equestrian program. This third section can help guide your college search. Other colleges have a Distinct Student Body that might appeal to you. In the fourth section, youll find articles featuring schools with specialized missions including the top womens colleges and top historically black colleges and universities. The great majority of college students attend a school thats within a days drive from home. If youre restricting your search to a particular geographic region, youll find guidance in Best Colleges by Region.  Whether you want to learn about the top New England colleges or best schools on the West Coast, youll find an article identifying the top schools in your chosen area. If youre not a straight A student or your SAT or ACT scores are sub-par, dont worry. In  Great Schools for Mere Mortals,  youll find top colleges for B students and a list of test-optional colleges that dont consider standardized test scores when making admissions decisions. A Final Word on Creating Your College List Keep in mind that words like top and best are highly subjective, and the best school for your particular strengths, interests, goals, and personality may very well be a college that isnt at the top of the national rankings. Once youre found the colleges that match your selection criteria, make sure your list includes a realistic mix of match, reach, and safety schools. Many of the schools featured here are highly selective, and plenty of students with strong grades and standardized test scores get rejected.   You should always shoot for the top, but make sure you have a contingency plan. You dont want to find yourself in the spring of senior year with no acceptance letters.