I am trying to figure out how to build college list in a way that is actually smart, not just me adding schools I have heard of. Right now my list feels super random and I cannot tell if I have the right balance of reaches, targets, and safeties.
How did you decide what schools stayed on your list? Did you use acceptance rates first, then majors, then cost, or some other order?
I also keep getting stuck on whether to include schools I like if they are probably unrealistic financially. If anyone has a simple method that helped them build a college list without spiraling, please share.