Strengthen Your College List
About this Step
Starting in July before your senior year, students who strengthen (or update) their college list to have at least three reach colleges, two match colleges, and one safety will earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships.
The goal is to help students like you make sure your list has a range of schools to consider for your future. You can use your SAT or ACT scores or your GPA to determine which schools are right for you.
How to Qualify
- Login to your College Board account.
- Review your college list to make sure it has least 3 reach colleges, 2 match colleges, and 1 safety college.
- If you’re missing any category, simply click ‘Start Now’ above to see how your GPA, SAT or ACT scores compare with students at different universities. From there, you’ll be able to see which schools are reach, match or safety for you.
Dates and Deadlines
Scholarships for $500 and $40,000 are awarded monthly until February of your senior year. Completing any step enters you in the drawings on the first day of every month. Drawings occur on the first day of every month.
Class of 2025 Deadline to Complete this Step: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Class of 2026 Deadline to Complete this Step: Friday, October 31, 2025
Class of 2027 Deadline to Complete this Step: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Increase Your Chances
Whenever students whose families earn less than $60,000 a year apply to colleges, they’ll earn an extra entry in monthly drawings and have double the chances at a scholarship. Half of all awards are reserved for students who meet the income criteria.
Tips for Strengthening Your List
How can I balance my list?
Once you’ve made a list of colleges you’re interested in, narrow it down to the colleges that are a good fit and where you plan to apply. You’ll need a minimum of six colleges on your list, including three reach, two match, and one safety. Your school counselor is a great resource as you evaluate colleges and choose those that you’ll apply to.
How are reach, match, and safety colleges defined?
This scholarship defines reach, match, and safety based on SAT scores, ACT scores, and estimated GPA, but remember that past achievement is only one factor for admission. Consider coursework, extracurriculars, potential major, and available financial aid to decide if a college is right for you.
Compare your highest SAT score, ACT score, or estimated GPA to those of last year’s first-year class. If you don't yet have an SAT or ACT score, you can estimate your score based on a previous PSAT-related test score or take a practice test on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy.
- REACH: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is lower than the average score range of last year’s first-year class—but don’t let that stop you! Colleges consider a range of factors during the admissions process.
- MATCH: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is solidly in the same score range as last year’s first-year class.
- SAFETY: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is higher than the average score range of last year’s first-year class.