Creating Your College List: How to Use Naviance and Scoir Effectively

Creating your college list can feel like an overwhelming task, but with the right tools and guidance, it becomes an exciting step in your academic journey. Naviance and Scoir are two powerful resources provided by many high schools to help students like you in the college planning process. These platforms allow you to explore a variety of colleges based on your personal preferences, such as academic fit, merit aid opportunities, and location. By leveraging these tools, you can construct a balanced college list that offers a wealth of options tailored to your aspirations and goals. Engaging your family and teachers in conversations about your choices can also provide valuable insights, helping you navigate this important phase with confidence and clarity.

Creating a college list is an exciting first step in your higher education journey. This section will guide you through understanding essential tools, setting priorities, and evaluating academic fit.

Understanding and How to Use Naviance and Scoir

Naviance (likely your school's primary tool if they use PowerSchool) and Scoir (the other most common software used by high schools) are powerful platforms that can jumpstart your college planning process. These tools offer valuable insights and data to help you make informed decisions. Most schools provide free access to one or the other in order to streamline the college application process for students, counselors, and recommenders.

• Naviance provides features like college search, career assessment, and scholarship matching. It allows you to compare your academic profile with past applicants, giving you a realistic view of your chances at different schools.

• Scoir, on the other hand, focuses on helping you discover colleges that align with your interests and goals. It offers virtual tours, financial aid estimates, and direct communication with college admissions offices.

• By using both platforms, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your options and make data-driven decisions in your college search. Your school may provide access to one or both for free!

Setting Personal Priorities

Identifying your personal priorities is crucial in creating a college list that truly reflects your goals and aspirations. This process involves self-reflection and honest evaluation of what matters most to you.

• Start by considering factors such as academic programs, campus size, location, and extracurricular activities. Think about your long-term career goals and how different colleges might help you achieve them.

• Also, consider practical aspects like financial aid opportunities, housing options, and distance from home. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a college.

• By clearly defining your priorities, you'll be better equipped to evaluate potential schools and create a list that aligns with your personal and academic needs.

Evaluating Academic Fit

Assessing academic fit involves matching your academic profile and interests with what colleges offer. This process goes beyond just looking at average test scores or GPA requirements.

Consider the following factors:

• Majors and programs offered

• Class sizes and teaching styles

• Research opportunities

• Academic support services

Look at course catalogs and departmental websites to get a sense of the academic environment at each school. Pay attention to unique programs or specializations that align with your interests.

Remember, academic fit isn't just about getting in; it's about thriving once you're there. Choose schools where you'll be challenged but not overwhelmed, and where you'll have opportunities to grow intellectually.

Now, our greatest word of caution. Beware of the scatterplots and other data found on these programs that compare you to other students from your school. It is extremely tempting to use this data to evaluate your chances of getting into a given school, but use your data science brain here: the only data these graphs provide are the GPA, standardized test score, and the fact that these other students went to your school. You don't know anything about their activities, personal statement, supplemental essays, recommendation letters, financial situation, or other recruitment factors like legacy, sports, and arts. So we beg you: please use this data only as context, not as prescriptive.

Researching Individual Schools

Once you have a preliminary list, it's time to dig deeper into each school. This section will guide you through assessing programs, considering location and culture, and involving others in your decision-making process.

Assessing Programs and Merit Aid

When evaluating colleges, look beyond general rankings and focus on specific programs that interest you. Research the curriculum, faculty expertise, and available resources in your potential major.

• Consider internship and research opportunities, study abroad programs, and industry connections that can enhance your learning experience and future career prospects.

• Merit aid is another crucial factor to consider. Many colleges offer scholarships based on academic achievement, leadership, or special talents. Research each school's merit aid policies and deadlines.

• Remember, a college with a higher sticker price might end up being more affordable if they offer generous merit aid. Don't rule out schools based on cost alone without investigating their financial aid options.

Considering Location and Campus Culture

The location and culture of a college can significantly impact your college experience. Consider factors like climate, urban vs. rural setting, and proximity to internship opportunities or industries related to your career goals.

• Campus culture encompasses aspects like student diversity, political climate, social scene, and extracurricular activities. Look for schools where you feel you'll fit in and have opportunities to grow personally as well as academically.

• Utilize virtual tours, student blogs, and social media to get a feel for campus life. If possible, plan in-person visits to your top choices to experience the atmosphere firsthand. Our students have sometimes found their dream school by watching videos on TikTok, so make sure to participate in this type of "guerilla research".

• Remember, you'll be spending several years at your chosen school, so finding a place where you feel comfortable and inspired is crucial.

Involving Family and Educators

Creating your college list shouldn't be a solo endeavor. Involving family members, teachers, and guidance counselors can provide valuable perspectives and insights.

• Family members can offer support and help you consider practical aspects like finances and location. They may also have insights about schools you haven't considered.

• Teachers, counselors, and professional coaches can provide valuable advice based on their experience with past students. They can help you realistically assess your academic profile and suggest schools that might be a good fit.

• Remember, while others' opinions are valuable, the final decision should be yours. Use their input to inform your choices, but stay true to your own goals and preferences.

Reviewing Your Options

As you progress in your college search, it's important to regularly review and refine your list. This section will guide you through the process of adjusting your choices and staying open to new possibilities.

Revisiting and Adjusting Your List

Creating a college list is an ongoing process. As you gather more information and clarify your priorities, don't hesitate to make changes to your list.

Regularly review your choices and ask yourself:

• Do these schools still align with my goals?

• Have my priorities changed?

• Is my list balanced between reach, match, and safety schools?

Use tools like Scoir to help categorize your schools into "likely," "target," and "reach" categories. Aim for a balanced list with options in each category.

Be prepared to remove schools that no longer fit and add new ones that you discover. This flexibility will ensure your final list truly reflects your evolving goals and preferences.

Staying Open to New Possibilities

While it's important to have a focused list, remain open to discovering new options throughout your search process. College fairs, recommendations from peers or educators, or unexpected scholarship opportunities might introduce you to schools you hadn't previously considered.

Keep an open mind about different types of institutions. A small liberal arts college might offer surprising opportunities, or a large state university might have a tight-knit program in your field of interest.

Remember, the goal of creating a college list isn't to predict where you'll end up, but to give yourself a range of great options. By staying curious and open to possibilities, you increase your chances of finding the perfect fit for your college journey.

If you need help creating or refining your college list, we offer several low-commitment packages to get the eyes of a professional college admissions coach on your application. Just email us at info@kingfisherprep.com to set up a free consultation.

"Creating Your College List: How to Use Naviance and Scoir Effectively" by Kingfisher Prep