BUILDING BUILDING YOUR YOUR TARGET LIST TARGET LIST
Senior Academy
TODAY’S PRESENTERS
Junior/Senior Program Coordinator
Junior/Senior Program Specialist
Mary Allen Conforti
Jess Hancock
Dir. of Student Support & Academic Success, Pfeiffer University
seniorprogram@crosbyscholars.org
Dr. Chip Palmer
Searching Colleges
We went over some great sites for college searching at Think Like a Senior. Those will be shared with you again in a follow up email but commit some time to pulling lists from these tools and getting to know potential schools to add to your list.
Majors
a.k.a Programs | Fields of Study | Academic Programs | Degree Programs | Areas of Study
There are hundreds of majors.
Don't be intimidated by the list of majors or confusing titles.
tip: Exercise Science = Kinesiology
tip: Global Studies Intn'l Studies
Just learn more about them!
You do not have to "declare" a major usually until your Sophomore year; however, applications will ask you about an intended major. This is because colleges are building a full class of all students interesting in a variety of majors.
It is absolutely fine to choose the "Undecided" (Wake Forest) or "Undeclared" (ECU) or "Exploratory Studies" (NC State) or "General Studies" (Guilford College) or "Deciding" (App State) option as an applicant! Choose what is the best answer for you at the time.
Balance
Having a balanced list will set you up for more options!
a college where you are likely to be admitted based on their first year profile compared to your application "Likely"
a college where you are right on target with their first year profile; being admitted will just depend on the rest of the applicant pool and what the college is seeking "Target"
a college that is slightly above your application profile or one that a highly selective school (and a reach for everyone) "Reach"
What’s a Target school for me?
First Year profile
Middle 50th %
We discussed this more indepth at Think Like a Senior but let’s take NC State University as an example... Acceptance Rate
College Scorecard tells me...
Type in name of school
Click on school profile
Click on Test Scores & Acceptance
Googling “NC State First Year profile” tells me...
Keep scrolling on this page and there’s a link to...
So many choices.
Where do i begin?
Step 1
Narrow down the majors you will list on applications. Search schools that offer those majors.
Step 2
Narrow that search by size, location, selectivity, cost & type (co-ed, HBCU, religious affiliation, etc.)
Step 3
Compare your profile (GPA, rigor, test scores) to those schools' First Year Profiles or Freshman Snapshot.
Step 4
Identify 3 likely, 3-5 target and up to 3 reach schools from that list
So
much information.
Step 5
Look at your list. Is there any other reason that you just would not want to apply to 1 or more of these schools?
...and then?
Step 6
Do more research. Virtual tours, deep dive into their websites. Warning: do not be swayed by rankings
Step 7
Look at application requirements. Any reason you could not meet them? (portfolios, test required, etc.)
Step 8
Yep. More research. Join these school's official mailing lists, follow Instagram accounts and Twitter feeds and follow Admissions blogs.
You... the STUDENT
What special opportunities does each school offer?
Internships? Study Abroad?
Advising? Support services?
You... the PERSON
social opportunities (clubs, athletics, Greek life, etc.)
what is the climate? local area vibe? dietary needs? health needs?
mental health support?
exercise facilities & nearby fun Library or Lab facilities?
Studios or equipment? the student body make-up
A word to the wise about rankings...
Rankings are everywhere and they are primarily a marketing tool for the publications who post them. Rankings do not adequately gauge a student's experience nor do they offer you insight on whether a college is a fit school for you.
You have the tools.
read Admissions blogs plan ahead review your criteria (often) read your emails
Crosby Advisor open family dialogue identify red flags stay aware of dates regional Admissions rep set calendar reminders follow official social media listen to podcasts call Admissions office campus tours live chat options create priorities
Use your Resources!
Crosby Advisor
you should have met 2x as a JR & 4x as a SR
Campus Tours
go visit! (Crosby tours coming soon!)
Online Tools
24/7 and many have options to save and export generated lists
college websites are amazing!
Websites
School
Building a college list takes time. It needs time to grow!
How many colleges should I apply to?
We recommend beginning your list with 3 likely, 3 target and up to 3 reach schools.
FAQs
How hard is it to get into [insert school name]?
Like so many questions this year, the best answer is "it depends." Each application cycle brings a new crop of students and new trends.
What does it mean to be a "legacy"?
This terms refers to an applicant who has a close family member who also attended that institution. Some schools will ask you this on your application though it is becoming less common.
QUESTIONS?
