Hey guys! I'm a junior putting together my college list and I'm unsure about the right balance between reach, target, and safety schools. How many of each should I have on my list? Should I apply to more reach schools to increase my chances, or focus on target and safety schools? Thank you for the guidance!
Every student's college list may look a bit different depending on their interests, goals, and qualifications. Generally, it's helpful to strike a balance between reach, target and safety schools. A common recommendation is to have around 25% reach schools, 50% target schools, and 25% safety schools.
Applying to more reach schools doesn't necessarily increase your chances unless you are truly competitive for those schools. Choosing more target and safety schools will give you more options where your chances of admission are higher. However, do not apply to any school you wouldn't attend if admitted.
Also, it's important to keep the amount of applications manageable, usually between 8-12 schools. Narrowing down your list by investigating each college's academic offerings, campus life, and financial aid can help you find the best match. Remember, apply to the schools you're genuinely excited about so you're happy with the options you have after decision time.
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