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Duke University
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Is it worth applying to colleges with a low acceptance rate?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm looking at colleges with low acceptance rates, like Ivy League schools. I'm wondering if it's worth applying to these schools, even if my chances of getting accepted are slim. Is it better to focus on colleges with higher acceptance rates? Thanks for any advice!

11 months ago

Hi there! When choosing which colleges to apply to, it's important to find a balance. While applying to colleges with low acceptance rates (like Ivy League schools) can be exciting and potentially rewarding, it's also vital to have more accessible options in your college list.

It's generally a good idea to categorize your schools into three groups: reach, target, and safety. Reach schools are those with low acceptance rates or higher academic standards than your current profile; target schools are in line with your qualifications; and safety schools have relatively higher acceptance rates and are places you'd still be happy to attend if you don't get into your top choices.

Applying to a mix of these schools will provide you with a range of options, and could potentially lead to a pleasant surprise if you're accepted into a dream reach school. However, focusing solely on colleges with ultra-low acceptance rates can result in disappointment. It's all about finding the right balance for you.

11 months ago

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