Build Your College List presentation - Class of 2027

Build Your Build Your College List College List

Senior Academy

Searching Colleges Remember what you learned at Think Like a Senior!

Majors a.k.a Programs | Fields of Study | Academic Programs | Degree Programs | Areas of Study

There are hundreds of majors – don’t be intimidated! tip: Exercise Science = Kinesiology tip: Global Studies Intn'l Relations

declaring a major vs. your intended major

It is absolutely fine to choose the "Undecided" (Wake Forest) or "Undeclared" (ECU) or "Exploratory Studies" (NC State) or "General Studies" (Guilford College) or "Deciding" (App State) option as an applicant! Choose what is the best answer for you at the time.

Balance Having a balanced list will set you up for more options!

"Likely" a college where you are likely to be admitted based on their first year profile compared to your application

"Target" a college where you are right on target with their first year profile; being admitted will just depend on the rest of the applicant pool and what the college is seeking

"Reach" a college that is slightly above your application profile or one that a highly selective school (and a reach for everyone)

What’s a Target school for me?

Remember what you learned at Think Like a Senior!

Acceptance Rate First Year profile Middle 50th %

Let’s take NC State University as an example...

College Scorecard tells me...

Type in name of school Click on school profile Click on Test Scores & Acceptance

Googling “NC State First Year profile” tells me...

Also on this page is a link to: Meet the class of 2029

Do an on-campus or virtual visit and

. . . n e t s li

. . . n e t s li

what qualities are they looking for in students? what new initiatives are they promoting? how is their school looking to grow?

So much information.

So many choices.

Step 1

Where do I begin?

Narrow down the majors you will list on applications.

Search schools that offer those majors.

Step 2 Narrow that search by size, location, selectivity, cost & type (co-ed, HBCU, religious affiliation, etc.)

Step 3 Compare your profile (GPA, rigor, test scores) to those schools' First Year Profiles or Freshman Snapshot.

Step 4 Identify 3 likely, 3-5 target and up to 3 reach schools from that list

Step 5 Look at your list. Is there any other reason that you just would not want to apply to 1 or more of these schools?

...and then?

Step 6

Do more research. Virtual tours, deep dive into their websites. Warning: do not be swayed by rankings

Step 7 Look at application requirements. Any reason you could not meet them? (portfolios, test required, etc.)

Step 8 Yep. More research. Join these school's official mailing lists, follow Instagram accounts and Twitter feeds and follow Admissions blogs.

You... the STUDENT What special opportunities does each school offer?

Internships? Study Abroad?

Unique programs?

Advising? Support services?

Library or Lab facilities?

Studios or equipment?

You... the PERSON the student body make-up social opportunities (clubs, athletics, Greek life, etc.) what is the climate? local area vibe? dietary needs? health needs? mental health support? exercise facilities & nearby fun

Rankings are everywhere

How many “#1” schools have you seen?

Pause. Rankings don’t mean everything.

review your criteria (often)

You have the tools.

plan ahead

read Admissions blogs

read your emails

open family dialogue

identify red flags

live chat options

Crosby Advisor

create priorities

campus tours

regional Admissions rep

stay aware of dates

call Admissions office

listen to podcasts

follow official social media

set calendar reminders

r u o y Use ! s e c r u o s e R

Crosby Advisor you should have met 2x as a JR & you will meet 4x as a SR

Campus Tours go visit! (Crosby tours + college fair!)

Online Tools 24/7 access save & export your lists!

School Websites college websites are amazing!

Building a college list takes time.

It needs time to grow!

How many colleges should I apply to?

Start your list with 3-3-3.

How hard is it to get into [insert school name]?

You might not like this, but...it depends.

FAQs

What does it mean to be a "legacy"?

A close family member attended the institution.

This question is becoming less common.

Join us for answers to more FAQs on July 27 for College Admissions FAQs!

Questions?