#HowIHowTo: Build a College List with affordability in mind

Confused and unsure of how to start? Worried you won't get into any colleges you can afford? 

The goal of building balanced college list is ensuring you have realistic options to choose from once decisions come out. My background is in research, and I previously provided keyword expertise as a member of a database development team. Here's how I approach the college list process to help you get started.

1. REFLECT. Imagine you're in college. What's it like? Start by thinking of what kind of experience you're hoping for, and jotting down some notes. Some questions to ask yourself:

   1. Location - Do you want to be close to home? Or are you ready for adventure? Have you ever navigated, or how comfortable are you navigating, air travel on your own?

   2. Majors - What major(s) might you be interested in? 

   3. Affordability - Have you talked to your parent(s) about a college budget? What can your family afford? Student loan interest rates are at the highest they've been in 10-12 years. "We'll figure it out later." may be a risky strategy. See Step 2 for a guide on #HowIHowTo do this.

   4. Academics - In the context of the number of advanced classes offered at your high school, where do you stand? What's your GPA? Be realistic.

   5. Special interests or services - Do you have a special talent (athletics, arts, activities) that you want to continue pursuing in college? Is there a cause you want to continue advocating for? Do you feel more comfortable with others "like me"? Do you require special services or accommodations?

   6. Success - How do you define a successful college experience? How would you complete the sentence: College was such a great experience because I ... ?

2. Figure out your COLLEGE BUDGET.

   1. How much have/has your parent(s) saved specifically for you to attend college? (Not retirement funds, and not money for "all the kids"; just for you.)

   2. How much have you saved specifically for college?

   3. How much, if anything, might grandparents, other relatives, family friends, etc. be gifting you to help pay for college? 

   4. How much can your parent(s) afford to contribute from their annual income towards your college costs?

   5. Are you open to working during college? Realistically, how much might you earn?

   6. How much money in scholarships, if any, have you already received?

   7. Assuming you will graduate in four years, divide total savings, gifts, or scholarships amounts by four to get a yearly amount. Multiply monthly amounts, like income, by twelve to get a yearly amount. Add the yearly amounts from a) through f). This is a simple way to arrive at an estimated maximum Net Cost of Attendance that you should aim for; "net" meaning after any financial aid offers you might receive and are willing to accept from a college. Save this number somewhere for comparison once you receive your financial aid packages.

3. SEARCH. There are a number of college search platforms on the market; some require a subscription, some collect your personal information, and some are free. Many college counselors, like me, have subscription software that bundles college search with other helpful features like academic planning, extracurricular activities search, and career exploration, and application tracking. You can do your own college search for free, however. I recommend using College Scorecard to keep affordability front & center. Big Future by College Board, which you can use without logging in, is another option with some additional search parameters. Start with College Scorecard, using your notes from #1 above. Aim to identify about 25 colleges to research further. In top to bottom order, you can filter by:

   1. School. You can enter a school name if you're looking for information about a specific school.

   2. Location. Search by Near Me (requires location sharing), Zip Code (requires zip code entry), or State (requires selecting a state). For Near me or Zip Code searches, you'll be asked to enter a distance in miles from you or the zip code area.

   3. Academic Fields. These are organized according to national Classification of Instructional Programs codes. Start by filtering broadly. Many colleges have slightly different and in some cases, somewhat creative, names for their programs. If you filter too specifically, you may unintentionally eliminate some good options! On the other hand, if you end up with too many options, consider filtering by a more specific field. Broad category for some of the most popular college majors:

      1. Biology -> Biological & Biomedical Sciences

      2. Business -> Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

      3. Computer Engineering -> Engineering

      4. Computer Science -> Computer and Information Sciences and Related Support Services

      5. Data Science -> Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; check out some other really interesting combinations!

      6. Engineering -> Engineering

      7. Psychology -> Psychology

      8. Sociology -> Social Sciences

   4. Degree Types. (This guide is geared towards students planning to attend a 4-year college for a bachelor's degree.) Filter by Bachelor's Degree.

   5. Type of School. Skip down to this filter and select Public and Private Nonprofit.

   6. Average Annual Cost. You can set a maximum average annual cost. Adjust this filter as you change the Acceptance Rate filter. (More on this below.) Also consider the average annual cost by family income range, and follow the link to each college's #NetPriceCalculator that you can use for a closer estimate.

   7. Acceptance Rate. You can set a minimum acceptance rate. In general, you may receive more generous financial aid from schools where you are closer to being a top academic applicant. As you increase Acceptance Rate, you might try increasing the Average Annual Cost. Not all schools will have adequate budget to offer merit scholarships, but you may find some gems.

   8. Other Filters. I suggest having a look to see what the options are, and using these additional filters only when the factor is very important to you. 

4. Using AI for Search. You may get solid results by using an AI model. I often find there are inaccuracies. I suggest using AI as a supporting player to generate ideas, and carefully following up. 

5. Research. Take the time to research directly on college websites to help you identify the nuances between colleges and similar majors, Understanding this will help you determine which are the best fit. Taking notes will serve you well later by providing gems you can use to answer essay prompts that address fit.

Why students/families choose to work with IECs like me instead of DIY-ing.

1. It's a lot of work coming up with a well-researched, balanced list. You might feel more comfortable having someone who visits college campuses, attends counselor sessions, and meets with admissions reps guide you through the process.

2. Essays! What do colleges really want to hear? I've spoken with many admissions reps and former admissions reps, and I've read and reviewed hundreds of essays. I mentor you in finding #WhatMattersToYou and telling your story in a way that shares deeper insight with the admissions reader.

3. It's a stressful process. I'm here to support you and reassure you every step of the way that, yes, you will go to college.

#CollegeAdmissions #CollegeList

For a PDF comparison of available filters on College Scorecard and Big Future by College Board, become a paid subscriber and send a message to me!