Hello! I'm a junior working on my college list, and I'm trying to figure out how to balance reach, target, and safety schools. How many of each type of school should I apply to? Are there any guidelines for determining which category a school falls into? Thanks for your advice!
Hi there! It's great that you're already working on your college list as a junior. When it comes to balancing reach, target, and safety schools, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but I can share some general guidelines that might help you. A common recommendation is to apply to around 8-12 schools, with a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. You could consider applying to 2-4 reach schools, 3-5 target schools, and 2-4 safety schools. Of course, this varies depending on the student and their preferences. To determine which category a school falls into, consider factors like your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular achievements in comparison to the school's average admitted student profile. Reach schools are those where your credentials are below the average, target schools are those where you're on par with the average, and safety schools are those where you exceed the average. It's important to research each school thoroughly and choose ones that align with your academic and personal interests. Best of luck in your college search!
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