Building a College List
Did you know? Applying to college means applying to colleges, plural.
In fact, we recommend you apply to 6-10 schools, so your list needs at least that many schools, in order to give yourself the best opportunity to make smart college choices.
Big or small, two-year or four-year, country or city, no matter what types of colleges you put on your list, make sure it’s made up of a combination of schools that, based on your academic profile (GPA and test scores), you’re likely to get into and others that are more of a stretch.
We recommend you create your list this way:
Include 2 “foundation” schools (Sometimes called “safety” or “likely” schools)
Acceptance rate: 60 percent or higher. This means that school admits most students who apply.
Academic profile: Your GPA and test scores (if submitting them) are higher than those of their average first-year student, making your acceptance very likely.
Financial safety: These are great options because high academic standing often makes you eligible for merit scholarships or institutional aid.
Community college path: Two-year community colleges fall into this category for all students, since most offer open enrollment (meaning they accept all applicants with a high school diploma or GED certificate). For some students, starting at these schools and then transferring to a four-year college is a good option, especially in states that offer tuition-free community college for eligible students.
Include 4-5 “target” schools (Sometimes called “match” schools)
Acceptance rate: 30–60 percent.
Academic profile: Your GPA and test scores (if submitting them) match or slightly exceed those of their average first-year student.
Best fit: These are schools you truly want to attend and where you can feel optimistic and confident about being accepted.
Include 1-2 “reach” schools (Sometimes called “dream” schools)
Acceptance rate: Typically less than 30 percent, making them a stretch for the vast majority of applicants.
Academic profile: Your GPA or test scores (if submitting them) may be slightly lower than their average admitted student—or the school is so selective that admission is tough for everyone.
Holistic review: Don't let a low acceptance rate completely scare you away. Highly selective schools look beyond classroom performance to how you spend time outside of class—including taking care of siblings, working an after-school job, participating in sports, or volunteering in your community.
Go for it: Choose one or two schools that fall outside your target range and apply!
How to Build and Track Your List in Scoir
Scoir is a free online tool that serves as your central hub for researching and saving colleges. Here is how to use it for each part of your list:
Search by acceptance rate and major: Use Scoir's filters to find schools matching your foundation (60%+ acceptance), target (30–60%), and reach (<30%) goals.
Compare academic profiles: Open any college landing page on Scoir to view their average GPA and test score ranges. Compare your own profile to see where you fall on the spectrum.
Save your favorites: Tap the heart icon on any school page to save it directly under your "Following" tab so you don't lose track of options or deadlines.
Explore Coalition schools: As you build your list in Scoir, look for Coalition for College member schools. All Coalition choices—from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities—are dedicated to supporting students with access, affordability, and campus resources.
Additional Resources
Learn the benefits of applying to highly selective schools from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Find your college fit at BigFuture by the College Board.
