Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm starting to put together a list of colleges to apply to. I've heard that it's important to have a mix of reach, match, and safety schools, but I'm not sure how to determine which category a college falls into for me. Can anyone provide some guidance on this? Thanks in advance!
Hi there! It's great that you're starting to plan your college list early. Based on my experience with my child's college application process, I can offer some tips on how to categorize colleges as reach, match, or safety schools. Reach schools are usually those where your GPA and test scores fall below the average range of admitted students. These are highly competitive colleges where your chances of acceptance are lower, but it's still worth applying if you're passionate about the school. Match schools are those where your GPA and test scores are within the average range of admitted students, meaning you have a reasonable chance of being accepted. Finally, safety schools are colleges where your academic profile is above the average range of admitted students, so your likelihood of acceptance is high. Keep in mind that these categories can be subjective, and factors such as your extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation can also impact your chances at any given college. Good luck with your applications!
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