A college list tells you where you might apply. A strategy tells you what to work on first, when to submit and how all the pieces fit together.

Some colleges care whether you have shown genuine interest. Others do not. The strategy is knowing the difference and engaging meaningfully with the schools you actually want to attend.

A weaker junior spring may change your strategy. It does not end your college options. Here’s what to do next.

Test optional gives students a choice. The strategy is figuring out whether a score adds useful evidence to the application or simply takes up space.

Early is not automatically better. The right application plan depends on the student, the school, the strength of the application, and sometimes, the money.

A reach is not the same as an impossible admit. Before you take yourself out of the running, make sure you understand what the numbers actually mean.