How do I decide which colleges to apply to for safety, match, and reach schools?

Hi there! I'm working on creating my college list, and I want to make sure I have a good balance of safety, match, and reach schools. How did you all decide which colleges to include in each category? What factors should I consider when categorizing schools? Thanks for your help!

Hello! It's great that you're being strategic about building your college list. When my child went through the college application process, we found it helpful to divide schools into safety, match, and reach categories based on a combination of factors. First and foremost, consider your academic profile: your GPA, standardized test scores, and course rigor. Compare these to the typical admitted student at each college you're interested in. If your stats are significantly above the college's average, it may be a safety school; if they're roughly in line, it's likely a match; and if they're below, it's probably a reach. Next, think about your extracurriculars, awards, and other accomplishments. Strong achievements outside the classroom can sometimes help compensate for a slightly weaker academic profile. Finally, consider factors like acceptance rates and institutional priorities. A college with a very low acceptance rate will inherently be more of a reach, even if your profile aligns with their admitted students. Remember, there's no exact science to this process, but keeping these factors in mind will help you create a balanced list. Best of luck!