How do I create a balanced college list?

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of creating my college list, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to balance it with reach, target, and safety schools. CollegeVine, can you give me some advice on how to create a balanced college list? I would really appreciate it!

Hey there! I can understand how overwhelming it can be to create a balanced college list. I recently went through this process with my child, so I can offer some advice based on our experience. First things first, divide your list into three categories: reach, target, and safety schools. Reach schools are those where your academic profile may be below the average admitted student, but you still have a chance if you stand out in other ways. Target schools are ones where your academic profile closely matches the average admitted student, and you feel confident in your chances of acceptance. Safety schools are those where you're confident you'll be admitted, often because your academic profile is above the average admitted student. A good rule of thumb is to have 2-3 reach schools, 3-4 target schools, and 2-3 safety schools. This gives you a variety of options while also ensuring that you have a backup plan. Good luck with your college search!