Building Your Balanced College List: Reach, Target, and Safety Schools Uncovered

Craft the ultimate college list that balances ambition with reality—guaranteed to set you on the path to success! Join me, Cleopatra, as we unravel the college application maze with a masterclass on building a well-rounded college list. With the vast array of choices available through eSchools, we’ll break down the essentials of categorizing schools into reach, target, and safety options. Learn the critical mistakes to avoid and the magic behind selecting schools like Harvard, Boston University, and the University of Vermont based on your unique profile.

Discover how self-reflection and strategic research play vital roles in your college journey. This episode empowers you to know yourself—your preferences, aspirations, and non-negotiables. We'll explore the tools and techniques to investigate potential schools, including leveraging the College Board Big Future, virtual tours, and student reviews. With practical advice on distribution, from reach to safety schools, you’ll be prepared to navigate the application process with confidence. Tune in, take notes, and let’s get you one step closer to finding the college where you’ll truly thrive.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome back to the eSchools College Admissions
Podcast.
I'm Cleopatra, and today we aretackling one of the most
important and sometimes dauntingparts of the college
application process creating abalanced college list.
If you're feeling overwhelmedby the sheer number of schools
out there, don't worry, you arenot alone.
Crafting the perfect collegelist is about striking the

(00:32):
balance between ambition andpracticality.
I'll walk you through how youcan build a well-rounded list
with a mix of rich, target andsafety schools, specifically
focusing on the amazing optionsavailable on the eSchools.
So grab a notebook and let'sget started.
So why does a balanced collegelist matter?

(00:54):
First, let's talk about whyhaving a balanced college list
is so important.
Some students fall into thetrap of applying to only dream
schools, but those are unusuallyhighly selective and come with
a lot of competition.
Others play it too safe,missing out on schools that
might challenge them or excitethem.
Their goal is to create a listthat reflects both your goals

(01:15):
and your realities.
A balanced college list givesyou options, so, even if things
don't go exactly as planned, youstill end up at a school where
you can thrive.
Trust me, no matter the outcome, the right fit is out there for
everyone.
Now let me break down what Imean by reach, target and safety
schools.
These categories are based onyour academic profile,

(01:38):
specifically your GPA,standardized test scores and
extracurricular achievementscompared to the average profile
of admitted students at aparticular school.
So first, what are rich schools?
These are schools where youracademic stats are on the lower
end of the admitted studentreach.
They are highly selective andgetting in may feel like a
stretch.
Examples of these schools arelike Harvard, columbia and

(02:01):
Georgetown.
They often fall into thiscategory.
What are target schools?
Target schools are where youracademic profile aligns closely
with the average student.
You have a solid chance ofgetting in, but acceptance is
still not guaranteed.
Think of schools like BostonUniversity, northeastern
University and the University ofRichmond.
What are safety schools?
Safety schools are those whereyour stats are well above the

(02:23):
admitted student's profile.
You can feel confident aboutgetting in, and these schools
may offer generous meritscholarships.
Great options of these schoolsinclude the University of
Vermont, drexel University andHofstra University.
A good college list will includea healthy mix of these
categories, usually two to threeschools in each.
So now let's talk about how toactually build that list.

(02:46):
The first step in building abalanced college list is knowing
yourself, aka self-reflection.
This means understanding whatyou're looking for in a college
experience and what factorsmatter to you the most.
Ask yourself questions like doI prefer a large campus or a
smaller one, or a more intimatesetting?
Am I interested in an urbanlife or a quieter campus?

(03:09):
Which academic programs ormajors are non-negotiables for
me?
Do I care about extracurricularactivities such as sports, arts
or clubs?
How far from home am Icomfortable going?
Knowing your preferences willhelp narrow down your choices.
It's not about just applying towell-known schools.
It's about finding a placewhere you feel supported and

(03:30):
challenged.
A pro tip here is to use toolslike the College Board Big
Future to research schools thatalign with your preferences.
Now let's look at researchinge-schools options.
When it comes to e-schoolscolleges, you have a wealth of
options across all categories,whether it's public or private,
large universities or liberalarts colleges With rich schools.

(03:50):
Ivy Leagues like Princeton orUniversity of Pennsylvania are
known globally, but don't forgetother prestigious schools like
Job Hopkins or Amherst College.
Target schools such as AmericanUniversity, syracuse and
Villanova are competitive, butyour chances are realistic if
your profile is a good fit.
Safety schools like theUniversity of Delaware, elon

(04:10):
University or SUNY are excellentoptions with strong academic
programs and a vibrant campuslife.
So take advantage of virtualtours, student reviews and even
admissions events to get a feelof what these campuses are like
before you finalize your list.
So now let's take a look atbalancing the list and staying
realistic.
So let's get practical.
A common mistake students makeis applying to too many rich

(04:33):
schools and not enough targetsor safeties.
To avoid this, aim for awell-distributed list like 2-3
rich schools, 3-5 target schools, 2-3 safety schools.
This distribution ensures youhave options no matter what
happens.
But don't overload yourselfwith too many applications.
It can lead to burnout.
Quality is more than justquantity.

(04:55):
Now let's look at financial fitand scholarships.
When building your college list, don't forget about financial
fit.
It's important to apply to afew schools where you are likely
going to receive merit-basedaid or scholarships.
Many safety and target schoolsoffer generous packages for
students with strong academicrecords.
Make sure you run the net pricecalculator on each college

(05:16):
website to get an estimate ofwhat you'll be expected to pay.
This step will help you avoidsurprises when financial aid
offers come in.
A pro tip here apply to atleast one school with guaranteed
merit aid based on your GPA andtest scores.
So now let's jump to finalizingand managing your list.
Once you've narrowed down yourcollege list, it's time to stay

(05:38):
organized.
Create a spreadsheet withcolumns for application
deadlines, test scorerequirements, essay prompts and
financial aid details.
Also, keep track ofsupplemental essays.
Many e-school schools,especially competitive ones,
will ask for more than just thecommon app essay.
Staying on top of thesedeadlines will help you manage
the workload.
A pro tip here is to use ashared google sheet so your

(06:02):
parents or counselor can stay inthe loop without micromanaging.
Last but not the least, you haveto trust the process.
As you go through this process,remember that no single college
defines your future.
Whether you end up at your topchoice or discover a hidden gem
along the way, what matters mostto you is what you make of the
experience.

(06:22):
Creating a balanced list isabout giving yourself choices
and being open to thepossibilities each school offers
.
The right fit may not be whatyou initially expected, and
that's okay.
Thank you so much for tuninginto the East Coast College
Admissions Podcast.
I hope this guide to creating abalanced college list helps you
feel more confident as you moveforward in your college search.

(06:45):
If you found today's episodehelpful, please subscribe, leave
a review and share it withsomeone going through the
process.
For more personalized guidance,check out our website at
wwweastcoastadmissionscom andremember you've got this.
Until next time, happy collegesearching.