Is Your College List Too Aggressive?

A few days ago we reported that over 90% of college lists initially submitted to College Kickstart needed improvement, and just about all of them (>90%) were too aggressive. Here are the top 5 reasons why and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you.

1. You're not applying to enough schools

There are rarely guarantees when it comes to college admission, so make sure you're applying to enough schools to give yourself enough chances to get in somewhere.  So if you're planning to apply to 3-4 places...don't.  We recommend 6-8 schools as a good place to start.

2. You're only considering your GPA and test scores

It's not enough to consider your grades and test scores when looking at schools, you've got to consider how selective the schools are.  After all, a 3.75 GPA and 2100 combined SAT score may be spectacular at your local state school, but it's decidedly uncompetitive at Harvard or Stanford.  For directional guidance, consider both your academic performance and a school's selectivity (aka admission rate)—you'll get a more realistic picture of your chances.  

3. You're not hedging your bets

Even if you have a 4.0 GPA and perfect test scores, it's crazy—and wildly risky—to apply only to Ivy League schools.  Hedge your bets by adding some schools to your list where you'll have a much higher likelihood of success based on your academic profile and school selectivity rates. 

4. Mom and Dad aren't familiar with U.S. college admissions

Many parents educated outside of the United States are accustomed to college admissions based heavily/purely on national entrance examinations.  Here in the U.S., the process tends to be more holistic, which means that test scores and GPA aren't everything!  Make sure Mom and Dad make the context switch and consider the bigger picture.

5. Mom and Dad haven't caught up with the times

Back in the good old days, Mom and Dad might have filled out 3-4 paper applications with a typewriter and lots of "Wite-Out."  Admission rates seemed reasonable, even for elite institutions, and most folks tended to stay local.  Fast forward to the present, where the number of applicants has grown materially and electronic submission has made it really easy to submit applications.  The result?  Drastic decreases in admission rates to competitive 4 year institutions.  So the schools Mom and Dad thought might be "easy" to get into back in the old days are now far more competitive.  And it's even worse for the elite schools.  So if you keep getting "encouraged" to aim higher, make sure Mom and Dad understand how times (and admission rates) have changed.

So avoid the overly aggressive list—by building your list prudently and keeping expectations in check, you'll set yourself up for success!