Anonymous wrote:Please help me understand how my son will be viewed as a college applicant and what kinds of schools he should realistically be aiming for. I see terms like "Target" and "Reach" and I wonder what bands of schools would match that for him. He's not going for very elite schools, but what about schools in the top 30-50 range? Top 100? And which bands of schools might be below his level academically? He's intrigued by a particular school that ranks in the low 200s nationally and another that ranks in the 20s regionally. Am I right in feeling these are below him, or do I need to get real about who he is as a student? I went to a very selective school, so my metrics might be off when it comes to a less competitive student. When I go to US News and World Report or a similar site, what rankings of school should I be looking at? What level of selectivity? His profile:

We're in the NYC suburbs, decent but not top-ranked public school, "most demanding" transcript designation with all AP courses junior year, GPA is 3.5 unweighted, SAT should crack 1400 but I don't expect much over that. He's been consistently involved in some school activities since freshman year like playing in a music ensemble, joining in the school musical every year, and a couple of clubs, but he's not president or leader of anything. He's also involved in his school's science research program (most schools around here seem to have a program like this) and is doing well, but I don't expect him to win any awards. And he does some volunteer work, 1-2 hours a week.

Anonymous wrote:College rankings don't matter for your kid. You want to help a kid with a good track record to develop themselves as much as possible and be a great candidate for the job they want. You need to focus on:

1) Schools that will intellectually develop your kid based on his habits and strengths as a student. Is he proactive and organized and would do fine in bigger classrooms? Does he need close attention from a professor in a small college? Does he want intellectual mentoring and deep conversations or just to check the box of completing college?

2) Schools with strong regional job placement in his possible majors. This is where your issues of regional #20 and Top 200 get considered. Some local schools have very strong reputations and good pull with local employers. Scrape whatever career websites the schools have for insights. Look at LinkedIn bios if you use LinkedIn. Ask parents you know what they've heard.

3) What types of extracurriculars, internships, and research experiences are available at the school? These experiences can play a big role in happiness, making friends, and developing career priorities.

I don't have good knowledge of NY options, but based on what I've read and researched, take a look at Syracuse, SUNY Binghamton, Drexel, and maybe St. Joe's in Philly for a wide range of majors.

If your kid wants to apply to a lottery ticket school, let them. It's worth it to know.

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is a run-of-the-mill solid student. Good, but not exceptional. Not top 20. Worry less about prestige and more about finding a school he really likes.