Finalize Your College List
Experts recommend that you apply to between six  
and eight colleges that are a good fit for you. Discuss 
what you have learned and how you feel about each 
school on your list with your success network and 
your school counselor.
Be Realistic 
Be realistic about your academic profile: your GPA, 
class rank, and standardized test scores tell a school 
a lot about you. Schools will compare your academic 
profile to that of admitted students to assess your 
potential for success at their institution.
Segment Your List
Organize your list into three groups: reach schools 
(two), target schools (two to four), and likely admit 
schools (two). All of these should be schools you 
would be excited to attend.
•“Reach” schools are colleges where your chance  
of being accepted may not be as high as at other  
institutions.
•“Target” schools are strong matches, based on  
your academic profile, financial aid needs, and  
social preferences.
•“Likely admit” schools — sometimes called  
“safety” schools — are colleges where your test 
scores, GPA, and class rank meet or exceed those 
needed for admission.
34
 
2 Reach Schools
2 Likely Admit Schools
2-4 Target Schools
Your College List
 
Check Your Inbox and  
Write Strong Emails 
Remember that professional email account that you 
created on p. 12? Now is the time to ensure you  
are checking your inbox regularly. Consider setting  
up email labels or folders to organize your emails and 
keep track of important messages from colleges that 
you have applied to. You may receive many promotional 
emails from many colleges, including ones that you are 
not interested in; if they are not organized, you may 
accidentally overlook vital communication.
When writing an email to a college you are interested in, 
be sure to include an appropriate subject line, begin  
with a greeting, use a professional tone, and end with  
a sign-off. An example:
Subject Line: question about SAT scores
Hello Contact First Name Last Name,
[body of message]
Sincerely,
Your First Name Your Last Name
Pathways  
 to  Prosperity
Penn State University

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