Stop Chasing the Top 30 Colleges

For the past 5 years, as admissions season rolls around, we keep hearing about the same 30 colleges on the majority of students’ lists. Social media has become one of the biggest factors driving this trend. But please remember, there are more than 2,500 four-year colleges in the United States, so if every student is applying to the same small group, many are missing big merit opportunities and the chance to decide what best serves their college needs well beyond just getting in. 

First and foremost, you are limiting your chances of acceptance, because these Top 30 Colleges accept such a low percentage of applicants. The best college list is not developed by relying on the highest-ranked, nor the most popular schools; it is made by defining the place where you will be challenged academically, find opportunities to grow, graduate with little or no debt, and begin to build a successful future.

Rankings Don't Define Success

Students often assume that attending a Top 30 university guarantees success, but the reality is that a student’s success will be determined by:

•  the relationships you build

•  your work ethic

•  your grades earned

•  your ability to pursue internships and research each year

•  the leadership roles you take on

•  the overall intuitive you take toward creating the strongest resume possible.

A motivated student at a university ranked #85 can outperform an unmotivated student at a university ranked #8 every single time. Do your homework because details matter. If your student has built a thoughtful college list, that #85 overall ranking may be masking a much higher ranking for your major or field of study.

Great Schools Fly Under the Radar

Research shows that certain offerings will greatly increase a student’s chance of success in college. When you build your list, challenge yourself to add colleges which offer:

• Smaller class sizes.

• Easier access to professors.

• Undergraduate research.

• Merit scholarships.

• Honors programs.

• Strong career placement.

• Exceptional graduate school acceptance rates.

You may not see these colleges on your Instagram reels, but they often produce graduates who are incredibly successful.

Prestige Can Be Expensive

We often hear from families who are willing to stretch their finances for their student to be accepted to a prestigious college. We always caution, before committing to the certain $100,000 plus annual bill, ask yourself, is the name on the diploma worth the possibility of decades of financial stress? Sometimes the smartest decision is choosing the university that invests in you through scholarships rather than the one that simply has a famous name.

Build a Balanced College List

Your student’s list should include a small number of Reach schools, but your focus should be on identifying more Target and Likely schools where your high school academic achievements will net more financial rewards. Building this balanced list increases your options and reduces unnecessary stress. Please don’t build a list where you get to March with very few college options. The smart goal isn't getting into the most famous college; it is graduating from the right one. Essential College Coaches have decades of experience teaching students how to build college lists to find the Right College for You.