How to Build a College List That Reflects Your Child’s Values

Many families start the college planning process with lengthy lists of colleges, acceptance rates, and rankings. All of this information is useful, but it's critical to ask some deeper questions first. For instance, what kind of life does your high schooler want to live? What environments help them thrive? What values matter most?

A Parent-First Approach to College Planning

In our latest Medium article, we explore how to build a college list that feels intentional and personal. The article offers practical strategies for co-creating the list with your teen, including how to use the Common Data Set, track non-application deadlines, and avoid prestige-based decision-making.

Tools That Support Meaningful Conversations

To support this process, we offer a variety of tools, including the College List Planning Template. This tool includes prompts, trackers, and conversation starters designed to help families build a list that reflects both academic goals and personal growth.

Explore the Full Roadmap

If you're looking for a step-by-step college planning guide for all four years of high school, explore our Self-Paced College Planning Roadmap. This video-based resource provides families with a straightforward structure for college planning, making the process stress-free and valuable in helping your child achieve their college dreams.

Ready to build a college list that actually fits your child?

Discover our free resources and explore the roadmap for achieving long-term success.