How to Build a College Target List (That Isn't Just a Dream List)

Why most lists fail

Most families build their first list from the schools they've heard of: the ones on TV, the ones nearby, the ones teammates mention. That produces a list that is too short, aimed too high, and missing the programs most likely to recruit the athlete. Recruiting is a numbers game at the start and a fit game at the end. A list that is small from day one never gets the chance to become a good one.

Would you still go there if you never played a game? If not, it's not a target. It's a wish.

Be honest about level

There are far more college programs than most families realize: NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA, and junior college. Division III schools don't offer athletic scholarships, but many offer academic and need-based aid. NAIA and junior college programs can offer athletic scholarships.

To find the right level, ask the athlete's club or high school coach for an honest opinion. Coaches who have sent athletes to college have a good sense of where a player fits. Then compare the athlete's size, stats, and results with current players at their position on the rosters of programs you're considering. If the athlete wouldn't compete for playing time there within a year or two, that school is a reach.

The four fits

Athletic: can the athlete play there, and does the program need their position in their grad year? Check the roster for upperclassmen at that position. Graduating players create openings.

Academic: can the athlete get admitted, and does the school offer the major they want? A coach can help an athlete through admissions only so far.

Financial: what would the school actually cost the family after aid? Athletic scholarships vary a lot by sport, division, and program, and many athletes receive partial awards or none. Academic and need-based aid often matter just as much.

Personal: size, location, campus feel, and distance from home. Four years is a long time to spend somewhere that doesn't feel right.

Reach, target, likely

Sort the list into three groups. Reach schools are where the athlete would be stretching athletically or academically. Target schools are a solid match on both. Likely schools are programs where the athlete would stand out and be a real priority recruit. Most of the list should be targets, with smaller groups of reaches and likely schools on either side.

The list will change

A target list is a working document, not a final answer. Coaches will show interest in schools you never considered, and some favorites will go quiet. Rosters change, staffs change, and the athlete will grow. Revisit the list every few months and move schools up or down based on real signals, not hope.