What is a good strategy for choosing safety, match, and reach schools?

Hi everyone! As I create my list of colleges to apply to, I know it's important to have a mix of safety, match, and reach schools. I'm not exactly sure how to determine which schools fall into each category or how many of each I should apply to. Can anyone offer any advice on creating a balanced college list? Thanks in advance!

Hello! It's great that you're looking to create a balanced college list. A well-rounded list usually helps ensure that you have options when it comes to acceptance. To determine which schools fall into the safety, match, and reach categories, you'll want to consider factors such as your GPA, standardized test scores, and the school's acceptance rate. A safety school is one where your academic profile is above the average admitted student, and the acceptance rate is relatively high. A match school is one where your academic profile aligns closely with the average admitted student, and the acceptance rate is reasonable. A reach school is one where your academic profile might be below the average admitted student, and the acceptance rate is low. In terms of how many colleges to apply to, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. However, a general guideline is to apply to about 8-12 schools, with a mix of 2-3 safety schools, 3-5 match schools, and 2-4 reach schools. Remember, it's essential to research each school in-depth and apply to those that align with your academic, social, and financial needs. Good luck with your college search!