Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about the colleges I want to apply to. I know it's important to have a balanced list, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about creating one. Can anyone provide some tips on how to choose safety, target, and reach schools? I'd really appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks!
Hi there! It's great that you're thinking about your college list early. When I helped my child build their list, we considered a few important factors that might be helpful for you too. For safety schools, look for colleges where your grades and test scores are above the 75th percentile of admitted students. This means you have a higher chance of getting in. In terms of target schools, identify colleges where your grades and test scores are around the median for admitted students. This means you have a 50-50 chance of getting in. Finally, reach schools are those where your grades and test scores fall below the 25th percentile of admitted students, which means admission is more competitive for you. Additionally, make sure to consider factors like location, size, academic programs, and financial aid availability when choosing schools. It's important to have a mix of colleges that you'd be happy to attend. Don't forget to visit campuses and do thorough research about each college to make sure it's a good fit for you. Good luck with your college search, and I hope this helps!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.