Every school on a student’s list should be one he or she is eager to attend.

Forbes reports.

Don’t Have a “First Choice” College

With college acceptance rates falling like the mercury in a Chicago winter, it’s more important than ever for students and parents to research colleges thoroughly and apply thoughtfully to ensure at least one acceptance. Counselors usually advise students to have six to eight selections, roughly divided into “reach,” “on target,” and “safety” schools, relative to the students’ profiles (GPAs, testing, etc.). That list also usually has a “first choice” institution, with the rest, implicitly or explicitly, classified as “also rans.” While this arrangement can be useful for getting through the application process, it can be damaging if that “first choice” doesn’t work out.