<p>I was just wondering, when did most of you start looking for colleges to add to your lists to apply to, and how many were on your final lists? Minimum number you should apply to? Maximum? How many safeties, reaches, and targets? I'm a rising sophomore, so I was just wondering if I should start making those lists or not. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>you should start , but not go crazy yet! read a book by loren pope called "Colleges That Change Lives " and keep your grades up and volunteer at a hospital or something like that.</p>
<p>I was always super excited to look at colleges, so I started browsing websites freshmen year (Not necessary though!). I guess it was sort of helpful because now as a rising senior I know exactly where I want to apply, whereas some people in my class are just getting started on that this summer. My final list will be 8 or 9, I still can’t decide if I want to apply to USD. I think the average is 6 at my school. I don’t think there needs to be a min/max, just dont apply to only 1 school but don’t apply to 30. I wouldn’t recommend making any lists now, just focus on your grades this year! If you go on a vacation somewhere or have a sibling in college and visit them you could check out schools in the area just to see what you like (big or small, private or public, urban or rural, etc.)</p>
<p>In sophomore year I made a giant list of schools (50+) that I had heard of, been recommended, gotten mail from, or were in top 50 rank that matched my basic location criteria. Using that I briefly weeded out schools that would not be fits for me, and then junior year I really beginning visiting schools and weeded out more schools that were like ones I didn’t like when I visited (big state schools).</p>