College Lists Beyond the Rankings

Type into Google: Best programs for computer science. Your college list is now set. Right? Wrong.

If you’ve ever Googled a major or searched for the “best” colleges, you’re likely to end up with a handful of highly selective schools that tell you very little—except how hard they are to get into. Sure, some of these colleges may end up on your list, but starting with rankings is a quick way to load your list with reach schools without any real connection to the campus itself. Rankings can often be misleading.

So how do you effectively build a college list that truly fits your academic and personal interests? You have to dig a little deeper—and the good news is, the digging isn’t so hard.

Start with a few staples: size, location, major(s), and academic offerings. If you’re beginning from scratch, stay open-minded—you can always narrow your list later. There may be a fantastic school for you with 1,000 more students than you imagined, and if you’re too strict early on, you might miss it.

Next, get more specific. You’ll be living and learning on this campus, so think about what day-to-day life looks like. How do you want to spend your time? Where will you study? What’s your ideal afternoon after class? What happens on weekends? Picture a “day in the life” and let that guide your criteria. Career centers, experiential learning opportunities, internships, proximity to cities—whatever matters to you—look beyond just size and location.

Cross-referencing is your friend. Use a few reputable college search engines and input your preferences. When a college appears on more than one list, it’s worth a closer look. CollegeXpress, offers lists organized by specific interests—not rankings—such as Where Geek Is Chic or Colleges Where Filmmakers Got Their Degrees. BigFuture by College Board also has a simple and effective college search tool and is a great place to start.

Get a book. Remember those? While it’s easy to Google, too many open tabs can quickly become overwhelming. The Fiske Guide is a phenomenal old-school resource that offers thoughtful college profiles—and yes, lists too. It’s worth checking out.

Finally, stress-test a college with a friend. Try pitching a school you’ve found and convince them why it’s a good fit. This forces you to research more deeply, and you’ll either strengthen your case for keeping it on your list—or realize it’s time to let it go. Either way, it’s a win-win.

Remember, you’re aiming to apply to a manageable number of colleges—typically around 8–10. With thousands of incredible options out there, don’t let rankings be your starting point. They’re a fast way to limit your possibilities.

Happy searching!

Casey Barneson is an independent college consultant and founder of Collegiate Educational Planning with over 12 years of experience in the field. She loves visiting college campuses and helping students find their perfect fit.