Hi guys, I've seen a lot of people mentioning reach, match, and safety schools on this subreddit. Can someone explain what these terms mean and how to determine which category a school falls into for me? I want to make sure I have a balanced college list. Thanks!
Hi! It's great to hear that you're working on a balanced college list. Reach, match, and safety schools are categories based on how likely a student is to get accepted into a particular college based on their academic profile.
A 'reach' school is a college where you have a lower chance of being accepted because your grades, test scores, or other credentials are below the typical average accepted student's profile at that institution. It's not impossible to get in, but it's more of a long shot.
A 'match' school is a college where your academic profile falls within the range of the average accepted student at that school, giving you a relatively good chance of being accepted.
A 'safety' school is a college where your academic credentials are above the average accepted student's profile, making it very likely you'll be accepted.
It's a good idea to have a mix of reach, match, and safety schools on your list to increase your chances of finding the right fit. Good luck!
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