How to Format Your College List: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Amanda, University of Pennsylvania

Creating a well-organized college list is critical to the college application process. Your list will help you keep track of deadlines, compare schools, and ultimately make the best choice for your future. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you format your college list effectively.

---

Step 1: Pick a Format

First, decide how you want to organize your college list. Here are a few popular options:

Google Sheets: Easy to access and great for sharing with others, like your parents or counselors. You can update it in real time.

Excel: Excel offers powerful tools for sorting and calculating data, perfect if you want to get detailed.

Pen and Paper: Ideal if you prefer a hands-on approach. You can get creative and personalize your list, making it a more engaging process.

**Disclaimer: these suggestions are NOT every format out there, nor will every format work for everyone. Let yourself experiment with these methods or try something completely new; this will ultimately help you decide which format works best for you!**

---

Step 2: Organize Your Colleges

Next, sort the colleges on your list into three categories:

Safety Schools: Colleges where your grades and test scores are higher than the average accepted student. You should feel confident about getting in.

Target Schools: Schools where your academic profile matches the average accepted student. You have a good chance of being accepted.

Reach Schools: These are more competitive colleges where your academic profile is slightly below the average. It’s a long shot, but it’s worth applying if you’re passionate about them.

---

Step 3: Add Important Details

Your college list should obviously include more than just the names of the schools. Make sure to add these key details:

Application Deadlines: Include both early and regular decision deadlines to help you prioritize.

Test Score Requirements: Research each school to assess whether they require the SAT/ACT or not. Once you find out that information, note the average SAT/ACT scores for each school that requires the SAT/ACT to see how you compare.

Financial Aid and Scholarships: Make notes of tuition costs, available financial aid, and scholarships for each school.

Campus Visit Notes: If you can tour a campus, jot down your impressions from these visits (in-person or virtual) to help you later. Describe the energy, the campus, the students, and anything else you feel is relevant to your decision to apply or not.

Location and Size: Note where the school is located and its size, as these factors can affect your experience. You can look up the campus population on each school’s website, along with a virtual campus tour if you cannot make it to campus in person.

Special Programs: Highlight any specific programs or majors that interest you at each school, including honors programs.

Extracurricular Activities: Research the student life aspect of each school and find which organizations you might want to join. Student life is a huge factor when deciding on a school; how do you want to spend your time outside of the classroom? From Greek Life, to Student Government, to Acapella, to chess club, explore some potential homes away from home that will help you find a sense of belonging on campus.

---

Step 4: Use Visual Aids

To make your list easier to navigate, try these techniques:

Color-Coding: Use different colors for safety, target, and reach schools. You can also color-code deadlines or schools you’ve visited. This can be done digitally and on paper.

Sorting: If you’re using a digital format, sort your list by factors like deadlines, test scores, or location to make information easy to find.

---

Step 5: Keep Your List Updated

As you move through the application process, update your list regularly. Keep track of submitted applications, interview dates, acceptance letters, and any changes in your preferences, including removing schools if you no longer want to apply. Keeping your list current will help you stay organized and reduce stress.

---

Final Thoughts

Your college list is more than just a list: it’s a tool to help you navigate the college application process. By organizing it thoughtfully and keeping it up to date, you’ll be in a great position to find the right college for you. Remember, the goal isn’t just to get into college, but to find the college that’s the best fit for your academic, personal, and professional goals. A well-formatted list is the first step toward achieving that goal!