Stop Applying to Schools You Hate
I have found that the majority of students I talk to know that they need to diversify their college applications and apply to a variety of schools. They know that they should apply to at least one (1-2) Safety school, a few (2-3) Target schools, and a couple (1-2) of Dream schools and already have the schools picked out. Most families are even prepared to pay for the 6-8 college applications this would require, despite the fact that most applications are around $50.
The only problem is...the students only like their dream schools.
While it's most common among my students who want to apply to a dozen schools, I encounter a good deal of students who are literally padding their application process with schools they don't like. There are thousands of 4-year institutions in the US, but students seem to consider the categories a reflection of how much they should like the school. They routinely find Dream schools they love, Target schools they find tolerable, and Safety schools they can barely stand.
This inevitably leads to a sad turn of events. The student doesn't get into their Dream school or finds the Dream school cost-prohibitive and ends up with a selection of Safety and Target schools they hate.
Hate seem a bit strong? Imagine that you just found out that you aren't going to Princeton, Harvard, or Yale despite the fact that you've wanted to go there for your entire life. Doesn't that make you hate the Safety school you are being forced to settle for just a bit?
So before you whittle down your list of colleges this summer, take a few minutes to throw out any school that you don't absolutely love. Redefine your categories not by how much you like the school, but instead by how likely you are to get in to the school.
Here's a guide to help you out:
Guarantee Schools (Apply to at least one)
This category includes any college at which you are absolutely, positively, 100% guaranteed admission. Most community colleges fall into this category, as does your local state school if you have the appropriate ACT/SAT scores and GPA. For example, University of New Mexico will automatically admit any student that graduates from an New Mexico high school, has a 2.25 overall GPA, and a 21 on the ACT.
Safety Schools (Apply to at least two)
Contrary to popular belief, these are not schools that you will settle for if you can't go to schools you really like. Instead, they should be colleges you love where your application will fall into the top 25% of all applications. In other words, they would be lucky to have you at their institution and might even offer you a scholarship! In fact, your Safety schools are the most likely to offer merit-based aid, since your application will stand out above the general population.
Target Schools (Apply to two or three)
As the name implies, Target schools are the colleges that will consider you an average applicant because you fall into their target applicant population. Your GPA and ACT/SAT scores will match the range that the school publishes as their "average" scores, meaning that they admit students just like you all the time. Admission at a school like this isn't guaranteed, though. You will still need to write a killer essay, carefully document your extra-curricular activities, and find good letters of recommendations from teachers to stand out enough to get admitted.
Dream Schools (Apply to two or three)
It's likely that you already have your Dream school(s) picked out. These are the college where you fall into the bottom 25% of applicants and your GPA and ACT/SAT scores are significantly below the average range for the school. You are unlikely to be admitted to these schools, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Remember that the most exclusive schools, such as Ivy League schools, are always Dream schools since they take less than 10% of students that apply!
While it's likely that your Dream schools will be your favorite colleges, they don't have to be the only ones you care about. If you invest the time and energy into finding a few great Safety and Target schools, you can absolutely fall in love with schools that aren't as exclusive as your Dream schools. And that means that when it comes time to make a decision, you don't have to grin and bear a school you hate.