Creating a College List

There is not a set number of schools to which you should apply. Rather, the focus needs to be on balance. A healthy list includes a few schools that are likely, target, and reach. We encourage students and families to broaden their horizons when building an initial college list. This includes researching and considering colleges outside of the Mid-Atlantic, liberal arts colleges, colleges without NCAA Division I athletics, and colleges where the student may not know anyone currently attending. We also recommend a state school as an affordable baseline to add to the group of schools.

Likely

 Colleges are generally those less rigorous for you given your academic profile;  SAT/ACT scores are above the middle 50% range of admitted students;  Admission is reasonably assured (though not guaranteed).

Target

 Colleges where test scores fall within the middle 50% range of admitted students.  Many - but not all – students with similar academic profiles are admitted;  Depending on your academic profile (a combination of grades and test scores, if applicable) selective Colleges may fall into this category as well.

Reach

 Colleges for which a student's scores and grades are below the middle 50% range of admitted students;  Keep in mind that highly-selective schools are typically considered to be Reaches for every student, regardless of his or her academic performance or standardized test scores.

SELECTIVE admit <50% of applicants HIGHLY SELECTIVE admit <30% of applicants

Researching colleges

 Start by assembling a large list of colleges (30+) that meet general interests and abilities.  There are a number of college search engines you can use (please see our resources guide in the appendix). Each will ask you to select your preference to the filters they provide, including location, number of students, available majors, and aspects of campus life.  Review ranges for GPA and standardized test scores (if applicable) to see how you compare;  Generally, if scores are below the middle 50% range, consider it a Reach school. If scores are in the middle 50%, consider it a Target, and if scores are above the middle 50%, the college may be a Likely school. For students applying to test-optional institutions and not submitting scores, keep in mind that selective and highly-selective institutions generally admit applicants receiving consistently high grades in the most rigorous curriculum available at their school. For Calvert Hall, this means AP and honors-level courses in every academic subject.