Developing your university application list as early as possible in high school is definitely a great idea. Once in place, you can focus on the application requirements and plan backwards accordingly.
In the early years, a working or LONG LIST is a handy place to store the names of colleges and universities of interest. Your long list should be used to keep track of possibilities, places of interest, and the programs that catch your eye as you explore colleges and universities throughout high school. Allow this list to evolve as your perspectives change because what you might think is important in Grade 9 may be of little interest by the time you reach the later secondary years.
As you mature you will develop a greater focus on what it is that you are looking for in a university experience. At this time you will “clear the weeds” from your Long List, and develop a SHORT LIST of those universities that match both your profile as well the personal criteria you will use to assess each institution.
Due to the overabundance of educational opportunities on offer around the globe building a shortlist can seem like a daunting task but don’t despair. With thorough planning, dedicated research, the use of the many excellent online tools, and possibly a trusted advisor such as your school counselor or an independent consultant, you can find the university that matches you perfectly.
Step 1
As a starting point, you might like to undertake an online career or aptitude assessment. The results of such assessments may help you understand how your mind works as well as the skills, aptitudes and knowledge that set you apart from your peers. Be cautious, however, and use these findings as talking points and an opportunity for reflection rather than deeming them hard and fast truths.
Some online career and aptitude assessments can be found at:
As you reflect upon your assessment results, finalise the PERSONAL CRITERIA by which you will assess institutions and determine if they are a match.
Some criteria worth considering include:
- Country
- Climate
- State
- Budget
- Institution size
- Courses
- Majors
- Academic opportunities
- Rigour
- Prestige
- Accommodation
- Application requirements
- Diversity of student body
- Facilities
- Sports, clubs and extracurricular opportunities
- Class size
- Level of preparedness required
- Institutional Acceptance rate
Step 2
By using the personal criteria you created in Step 1 as “filters” in a variety of college and university search engines you can keep track of those institutions that appear multiple times. Place any recurring names, as well as any other institutions that pique your interest, into a SHORT LIST for closer scrutiny.
Some online search engines worth considering include:
- Cialfo
- Collegevine
- Cappex
- Big Future
- College Confidential
- College Express
- Niche
- College Insight
- Top Universities
- UCAS (UK Only)
- Educanada (Canada Only)
Step 3 (Optional)
If UNIVERSITY AND COURSE RANKINGS are one of your personal criteria, you might try using university ranking sites to compare institutions. Remember, however, that these sites use their own criteria to rank and these parameters may or may not align with those criteria you deemed as important.
Some ranking sites include:
Be assured, however, that you are the driver of your destiny and it’s not where you go to school that ultimately matters, it’s what you do when you get there. By engaging in the undergraduate experience, studying hard, forming strong relationships with professors and participating in the learning and social communities, you will thrive before and after graduation whether you attend a ‘top-ranked’ institution or not.
Step 4
When finalizing your Short List and finalizing your APPLICATION LIST it is helpful to keep in mind your LIKELIHOOD OF ACCEPTANCE, sometimes known as Admission’s Chances or Admission’s Difficulty.
By using historical data across a wide range of data points online admission calculators “predict” your chances of admission at any given college/university. These sites use data points such as your academic history, standardized test scores, GPA, ethnicity, range of extracurricular activities, gender, and major as well as each university’s acceptance rate, ranking, and type of application.
Some sites offer broad % bands to highlight your chances of admission. Other sites, however, use terms such as Safety, Target, Reach and Far Reach or even go as far as predicting your chance of admission to a specific %.
Some college admissions calculators worth considering include:
Step 5
If you have reached this final step, you will have a well-researched and carefully considered APPLICATION LIST that matches YOU so congratulations!
The universities on your list are surely going to match your profile, preparedness, personal preferences and the level of risk you are willing to take in the college admissions sweepstakes.
All that is left for you to do is to consider the admissions requirements, plan backwards, seek support and advice when needed and submit your applications accordingly.
You’ve got this!