Narrowing a field of hundreds of colleges and universities into a list of five to eight schools can be a tough process for prospective athletes. Student-athletes must consider each potential school from both academic and athletic perspectives.

1. Five to Eight School List
   College-bound athletes should compile a list of schools by the end of their junior year. All of the schools on the list should be well researched and meet the athlete’s criteria both academically and athletically. Consider the size, location, reputation, and cost of each university. Colleges provide statistical profiles of current students and admissions criteria-compare your GPA and SAT scores to assess compatibility.
2. Do Your Homework
   Athletes must also consider each program’s coaching staff, history, size, and funding. Similarly, research each team’s best performers and assess your ability to compete and contribute. Make note of those colleges that fulfill both your academic and athletic needs.
3. Focus
   This preliminary list should then be carefully focused and narrowed. The goal is to develop a list of five to eight colleges placed into two distinct tiers: reaches and safeties. Those schools that will most likely admit you based upon academic and athletic quality and skill are considered safeties. Reaches, which may or may not be stronger academically and athletically, are schools that have lower acceptance rates. Your list should include three or four safeties and four or five reaches.
4. Get Help
   Be sure to develop this list in conjunction with your parents and college or guidance counselor(s). Remember, while each school on your list might be very different, you should be content attending and competing for each one. Developing such a list is difficult, and perhaps burdensome, but it is a necessary step towards finding your ideal match.

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