College List8 min read
How to Build a College List
A step-by-step walkthrough for building a balanced list of reach, target, and safety colleges, with the right number of colleges for your profile.
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GPA and Fit6 min read
Colleges You Can Get Into With a 3.5 GPA
A 3.5 GPA opens real doors. Here is what that number actually means in the admissions process and how to find colleges where you are a strong candidate.
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GPA and Fit7 min read
What a 3.75 GPA Actually Gets You: A School-by-School Breakdown
A 3.75 GPA means something different at every school. Here is what real admissions data shows about where a 3.75 is competitive, average, or a long shot — using Common Data Sets.
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ED Strategy7 min read
Early Decision vs Regular Decision: What You Need to Know
ED can more than double your admission odds at some colleges. It can also lock you into a financial aid package you cannot compare. Here is how to think through the decision.
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College List5 min read
How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?
Too few and you take on real risk. Too many and you burn out before writing a single good essay. Here is how to find the right number for your specific situation.
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For First-Gen Students5 min read
Free College Counselor: What SpearMatch Does (and What It Does Not)
Private college counselors charge $150 to $300 an hour. Most students cannot access that. Here is an honest look at what a free tool can and cannot replace.
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Admissions Strategy10 min read
1590 SAT. 4.4 GPA. Rejected. 3.7 GPA. 1320 SAT. Accepted. What's Going On?
A 4.4 GPA and a near-perfect SAT didn't guarantee admission. A 3.7 GPA and a 1320 did. Here's the part of college admissions no one on Instagram is explaining.
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Admissions Strategy10 min read
Why Applying to More Colleges Is Making Your Chances Worse
Adding more schools to your list doesn't just fail to help — it actively weakens your applications. Here's what the data and admissions officers actually say about the 'apply everywhere' strategy.
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College List6 min read
Your Safety College Might Not Be a Safety
The college you labeled a safety might reject 72% of applicants. Here is how to check whether your safeties are real, using Common Data Sets and actual admitted student profiles.
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ED Strategy6 min read
Early Decision: Cheat Code or Trap?
Early Decision can more than double your admission odds at selective colleges. It can also lock you into a financial aid package you cannot compare. Here is how to decide if it is the right move for you.
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