Hey there! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about where I want to apply to college. I want to create a balanced college list, but I'm not sure how to determine which schools are reach, target, and safety options for me. What factors should I take into account when creating my list? Thanks in advance for any help!
Hi there! It's great that you're starting to think about your college list early. When creating a balanced list, you'll want to consider factors like your GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and the college's acceptance rate. Typically, reach schools will have acceptance rates and average test scores/GPAs higher than your own, target schools will have rates and averages that align with your stats, and safety schools will have rates and averages lower than yours. Don't forget to also consider factors like location, size, majors offered, and campus culture to ensure a good fit for you personally. It's a good idea to have a mix of reach, target, and safety schools to maximize your chances of acceptance. Good luck with your college search and applications!
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.