How do people actually figure out how to build college list without just saving 40 schools and hoping for the best? What helped me was making 3 buckets first: likely, target, and reach, then only adding schools after I answered the same 4 questions for each one.
Mine were: can I afford it, would I genuinely go there, does it have my major/programs, and do my stats make sense there? If a school failed 2 of those, I cut it.
Big tip: build your college list from the inside out. Start with what you want first instead of prestige first. I made a simple spreadsheet and ranked fit, cost, location, and academic vibe from 1-5. It made my list way less chaotic.
Also, keep the final list balanced. A list of only reaches feels motivating until deadlines hit.