Hi, I'm putting together my college list and I've heard that I should have a few 'safety' schools on it. What exactly qualifies as a safety school, and how many should I include on my list? Thanks for the help!
Hello! It's great that you're putting together your college list. A 'safety' school is typically a college or university where you have a high chance of being accepted based on your academic profile (GPA, test scores, etc.) and other factors, such as extracurricular activities. Generally, a safety school is one where your qualifications are above the average for admitted students. This increases the likelihood that you'll get in and provides a backup option if you aren't accepted to your top-choice schools. As for how many safety schools to include, it varies depending on your overall list. A common recommendation is to have a balanced list with a mix of reach, match, and safety schools. So, consider having around 2-4 safety schools on your list, depending on the total number of schools you're applying to. Remember, it's important to research each school thoroughly and make sure you'd be happy attending any of them, including your safety schools. Good luck with your college applications!
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