By Jenny Buyens, MBA | Independent Educational Consultant | IECA Member Building a college list sounds simple enough: pick some schools, apply, see what happens. But a thoughtful, balanced list is genuinely one of the most important things a student can do to set themselves up for a great outcome. Here’s how I think about it. What makes a college list “balanced”? A balanced list typically includes three tiers of schools: • Reach schools — schools where your academic pro