WHAT IS APPLICATION LIST BALANCE?

Most parents I work with are aware that the college admissions landscape their child is entering is radically different from what they experienced when they applied to college decades ago.  As Jeffrey Selingo wrote in a recent New York Times article, selective colleges’ admission rates continue to drop as students continue to increase the number of applications they submit.  The only real solution to this situation that enhances both student success as well as student sanity is application list balance.  What is a balanced college application list, and how do you create one?

12th graders are currently developing the list of colleges that they are planning to apply to this fall.  This list should include a few reaches (schools with low admissions rates that the student is unlikely to be admitted to), several possibles (schools the student has a 50% chance of admission to), and several likelies (schools the student has a 75% or greater chance of admission to).  The bulk of a senior's application list should be possible and likely schools that are a good match for a student and what they want to study in college.  

11th graders should keep an open mind as they learn about colleges.  Considering colleges that are slightly off the beaten path allows students more genuine interactions with admissions officers and connections with faculty members.  Looking beyond highly selective schools often offers students more personalized instruction, more opportunities to engage in research or internship opportunities, and provides a more engaging student experience.  It is easy to apply to a school that everyone is talking about, but it is more rewarding to find a school that is genuinely an excellent match for a student.

Should you apply to reach schools at all?  Yes.  Every year I have at least one student admitted to a reach school where their chance of admission was extraordinarily low.  And every year I have students denied by reach schools that they were perfect candidates for.  When admissions rates are low, it is impossible to predict accurately what a college is looking for.  So it makes sense to reach for the stars and see what happens.  But don’t just reach; ground your future with an application list full of schools where you will not just succeed, but thrive.

If you would like help developing a balanced application list, e-mail me:  michelle@samaracollegeadvising.com