This unit focuses on helping students build and refine a college list that aligns with their academic, personal, and financial priorities. Students compare different types of colleges, explore what they value most in a college experience, and research schools based on factors such as campus culture, programs, location, and overall fit. They learn to evaluate information sources critically, recognize potential biases in college admissions resources, and imagine how they might thrive in different college communities. 

Students also examine ways to engage with colleges through outreach, campus connections, fly-in programs, summer experiences, and nonprofit college access organizations. The unit encourages students to develop a plan for interacting with colleges, understand the purpose of certain recruitment programs, and continuously evaluate whether colleges on their list meet their needs and goals. By the end of the unit, students will have a well-researched, personalized college list and a strategy for gathering any additional information needed before submitting applications.