How to Make Your Prospective Colleges List Prior Applying to Schools?
Selecting a college/school is always a task. Every year majority of the students face this challenge. Some students have their colleges planned, however, post their exams they do not fit in the eligibility criteria of it. Or either they’re moving states with their parents and the search for a new school/college begins.
Indian/NRI Students face this challenge almost instantly. For them the locality is new, the study pattern is new, the college selection and admission process is different from what they were used to in India. And whenever you’d look up internet for the colleges, you may be always asking yourself, “Off almost 4,000 colleges to choose across the country, which one should I apply to?”
The next question would be, How would you narrow it down to more manageable number?
According to us, the best way would be to streamline your college list and divide it between Safety Schools, Match Schools, and Reach Schools.
And here that’s what I'm going to help you out with along with a step-by-step guide on the research.
Making College List:
First step always would be to look at the college requirements with regards to GPA and SAT or ACT Scores. It is said that grades aren’t the only things that colleges look at. However, once you check this particular requirement, you’ll have an idea as to which colleges might accept the application.
Second step would be to check how the colleges evaluate their candidates. Once you have this information, list down all that match your requirements and grades.
Factors Determining Your Chances of Getting into College:
There are two categories when it comes to admissions. First would be Assured Admissions and second would be college taking a holistic approach.
Assured Admissions
This type of admissions are purely based on your grades and scores. They have a minimum criteria that a student will have to meet to be considered for admission. California, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas, and Nevada offer their in-state students assured admissions. If you live out of state, then other factors will become important too.
Holistic Admissions
Holistic approach means admissions considering your grades, test scores and your extracurricular activities, community service, and any internships, as well as the academic and personal qualities that come through via your recommendation letters and personal essays.
Estimating Your Chances of Admission
Once you understand what colleges are looking for in their candidates, you can easily figure out in which schools qualify as safety, match or a reach school. Colleges where the average SAT/ACT scores and GPA of accepted students is lower than yours, then you might consider the school a safety and in case of vice versa, consider it as a reach school.
Brief Descriptions of the Types of Schools/Colleges:
Safety School:
Schools where your scores are better than the average score of the school, you can consider it as a safety school.
Match School:
Match schools are also known as Target Schools. These schools are those where you can get admission but there’s no guarantee of it. Your academic credentials line up with those of the average accepted student.
Reach School:
These schools are where you have 30% chance of getting selected. Your scores are lower than that of an average student of this school. Normally these schools are the ones which you aspire to attend, but you’re unsure about being accepted.
One must have a combination of all the three types of schools while applying for admissions. There are some other factors which one should also take into account before shortlisting. Financial aid is one of the most important factors which one should always look at before applying. Indian NRI Students should always look at the financial aid and based on it, they should decide which schools/colleges to apply.
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