Think about what you want from university
Picking the right university is tough—there are over 4,000 in the U.S. alone! The university you choose will become your home away from home, so it's crucial to find the best fit for your academic goals, lifestyle, budget, and preferences.
Here's what you should consider:
- Academic goals: Does the university have your intended major, strong programs, and research opportunities?
- Location: Do you prefer big-city life or a quiet college town? Think about weather too—warm beaches or snowy winters? How far from home can you be?
- Campus & Class Size: Are you comfortable with intimate classes of 300 students or giant lectures with thousands?
- Costs & Funding: Be realistic about affordability. Does the school offer substantial financial aid or scholarships?
- Student Life: What's the campus culture like? Active social scene or academically intense atmosphere?
- Selectivity: Can you realistically get admitted? Aim high, but always have backups.
- Community: Are there other international students or cultural groups you identify with? You're choosing your second home—make sure you'll feel welcome.
How to research a specific university
Once you've thought about your priorities, it's time to research universities. It's a long and time-consuming process, by the end of which you should become an "expert" on your dream university and be able to give a 1-hour presentation about why you want to attend it.
- Read the university's website, and not just the "How to Apply" page. Read about their values, mission, history, faculty, traditions, etc.
- Follow the social media accounts of the university and its admissions department. Watch "Day in the Life" vlogs to see what it's like!
- Read the university's online newspaper to stay updated on current events, news, and important issues that students are discussing.
- Find specific classes that interest you. Check the class information in the bulletin to learn exactly what you will study in each course.
- Find specific professors you want to learn from. What kind of research are they conducting? What papers have they published?
- If you can, visit the campus in person. If you can't, attend virtual information sessions. These are available for anyone and are always free.
- Go on Borderless and LinkedIn to find current students and alumni of that university. Interview them and ask them about their experiences.
🗣️ veronica says...
Veronica Lee
Admissions ExpertWhenever I work with students, I always ask them why they want to attend a certain university. Far too often, they reply with statements like, "Well, because it's Harvard" or "I heard it's prestigious." If you cannot properly articulate your reasons for wanting to attend a particular institution, do you really want to go there?
Create your college list
Your College List isn't just a random collection of universities—it's a thoughtfully curated selection of 15-20 schools tailored to your academic, social, and financial goals. The smartest way to build it? Divide them into Reach, Match, and Safety schools (aim for about 4-6 in each category). Every university has an academic profile: think of it as the "typical student" snapshot, with standardized test scores and high school grades in the middle 50% range.
- Reach Schools: These are your "dream big" universities—highly selective, with ultra-competitive acceptance rates and top-tier academic standards. Your academic profile might fall a bit short here, but standout extracurriculars or essays can still make you competitive.
- Match Schools: These schools align neatly with your academic profile—your grades and scores mirror those of current students. You have solid chances here (but don't get too confident, acceptance isn't guaranteed!).
- Safety Schools: Your profile comfortably surpasses the typical admitted student's stats at these universities, making acceptance likely. But careful—sloppy essays or incomplete applications can quickly turn your "safety" into a rejection.
🗣️ veronica says...
Veronica Lee
Admissions ExpertReality check for low-income international students: there's no true "safety" school in the U.S. since generous financial aid usually comes from highly selective Reach universities. Keep your options flexible—consider universities in other countries or back home too!
Applying to too many or too few universities
If you apply to only one or two universities, you're putting all your eggs in one basket. Admissions, especially for selective colleges, is very unpredictable—even if you do everything right, you can still be rejected. The way to mitigate this risk is to have a variety of options (Safeties too!).
Applying to too many universities, however, is both exhausting and expensive. You'll pay application fees ($30-80 each), plus fees for sending test scores and CSS profiles. Supplemental essays quickly become overwhelming—some universities require up to 5 or even 8 essays! Remember that Common App limits you to 20 slots. You can use Coalition App as an alternative, and some universities like MIT or Georgetown have their own application portals, but going beyond 20 applications is generally not recommended.
College list example
College list tool
You're now equipped with the basics of how a balanced College List should look like. Next, we'll take care of building it for you!
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