Eleanor Finch
When applying to colleges, it is important to understand the terms safety school, target school, reach school, and dream school. These terms refer to the likelihood of a student being accepted to a particular institution. A safety school is a college where a student has a high chance of acceptance, typically above 75%. A target school is a college where a student has a moderate chance of acceptance, typically between 15% and 70%. A reach school is a college where a student has a low chance of acceptance, typically below 20%. A dream school is a college that a student strongly desires to attend, regardless of their chances of acceptance. Creating a balanced list of safety, target, and reach schools is crucial when applying to colleges, as it maximizes the chances of acceptance while allowing students to aim high.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety School | A college where you have a greater than 75% chance of acceptance |
| Consistently admit students with lower test scores and GPAs than yours | |
| Should fulfil all your criteria for your ideal school | |
| Reach School | A college where you have less than a 30% chance of being admitted |
| More prestigious institutions with acceptance rates at or under 20% | |
| Should challenge you to do your best in your remaining semesters of high school | |
| Target School | A college where you have a 15-70% chance of admission |
| Your academic credentials and grades fall within the average range of students admitted |
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What You'll Learn
- Safety schools are colleges where students have a 75% or higher chance of acceptance
- Reach schools are colleges where students have a less than 30% chance of admission
- Target schools are colleges where students have a 15-70% chance of admission
- Dream schools are colleges that students dream of going to
- The ideal college list includes a balance of safety, target, and reach schools
Safety schools are colleges where students have a 75% or higher chance of acceptance
When applying to colleges, it's important to understand the terms "safety school", "target school", "reach school", and "dream school". These terms refer to the likelihood of a student's acceptance into a particular institution, and understanding them is critical when constructing a balanced list of colleges to apply to.
Target schools, also referred to as match schools, are colleges where students have a 15-70% chance of acceptance. Within this range, some sources differentiate between "hard targets" (15-45% chance) and "regular targets" (45-70% chance). Target schools are those where a student's academic credentials and grades fall within the average range of admitted students, often between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Reach schools, or dream schools, are colleges where students have a less than 30% chance of acceptance. These schools are often more prestigious institutions with highly selective admissions processes, such as Ivy League universities. While it is challenging to gain acceptance to reach schools, it is not impossible, and many students do receive offers from their reach schools.
The ideal college list should include a balance of safety, target, and reach schools. This strategy allows students to aim high while also ensuring they receive at least one offer of admission. The number of schools to apply to is flexible, but most sources recommend a minimum of six to eight applications, with at least two safety schools, four target schools, and two reach schools.
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Reach schools are colleges where students have a less than 30% chance of admission
Applying to colleges can be a tricky process, and the terms "safety school", "target school", "reach school", and "dream school" are often used. While the definitions of these terms may vary depending on the source, they generally refer to the likelihood of a student being accepted to a particular institution. Understanding these terms is critical when constructing a balanced list of colleges to apply to.
A "reach school" is a college or university where a student has a low probability of acceptance, typically less than a 30% chance. Some sources suggest that a reach school is defined as a college with an acceptance rate of 20% or lower, while others state that it is any school where the student's chances of admission are below 15%. Reach schools are often highly competitive institutions, such as Ivy League universities, that admit a very limited number of students or have stringent requirements.
When considering reach schools, it is important to evaluate your academic profile, including grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. While a reach school may be a challenge to get into, it should still align with your interests, goals, and priorities. It is recommended to include at least two reach schools on your application list, as this can motivate you to put forth your best effort in your applications and increase your chances of admission.
To identify potential reach schools, you can utilise online tools and resources, such as college search platforms, that allow you to compare your academic profile with the admissions criteria of various colleges. Additionally, consulting with college admission counsellors or advisors can provide valuable insights and help you determine which schools may be reach schools for your specific circumstances.
It is worth noting that the definitions of "safety schools", "target schools", and "reach schools" may overlap to some extent, and a school that is a reach for one student may be a target or safety for another. Therefore, it is essential to consider your individual profile and goals when constructing your college list.
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Target schools are colleges where students have a 15-70% chance of admission
When applying to colleges, it is important to understand the terms "safety school", "target school", and "reach school", as they will help you create a strategic college list. A target school is a college where you have a 15-70% chance of admission. This range can be further divided into "hard targets" (15-45% chance) and "regular targets" (45-70% chance). Target schools are colleges where your academic credentials and grades fall within the average range of students admitted, often between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
To determine whether a college is a target school for you, you can compare your SAT or ACT scores and GPA to the student body average. If your scores and GPA are within the middle 50% of admitted students, then the college is likely a target school. Additionally, you can use online tools and platforms that allow you to search for colleges based on characteristics like size, location, majors, diversity, and more. These tools can also provide an estimate of your chances of acceptance based on factors such as your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and demographics.
It is recommended that you create a balanced college list that includes a mix of safety, target, and reach schools. This will increase your chances of getting admitted to at least one school while still allowing you to aim high and apply to your dream schools. The number of colleges you should apply to can vary, but generally, it is suggested to apply to at least six to ten colleges, with a mix of two safety schools, four target schools, and two reach schools.
The terms "safety school", "target school", and "reach school" are relative and can mean different things to different students, depending on their academic profile, goals, and priorities. Therefore, it is important to identify colleges that are a good fit for your specific needs and goals and create a list that aligns with your academic, social, and financial requirements.
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Dream schools are colleges that students dream of going to
Applying to colleges is an important yet tricky step in the college application process. Students often dream of getting into certain colleges, but the reality is that they might not get into their dream colleges. This is where the concepts of safety, target, and reach schools come into play.
Safety schools are colleges where you have a high chance of acceptance, typically above 75%. These schools consistently admit students with lower test scores and GPAs than yours. While safety schools may not be your top choice academically, they should still fulfil your criteria for an ideal school and challenge you intellectually.
Target schools, also referred to as match schools, are colleges where your academic credentials and grades fall within the average range of students admitted, usually between the 25th and 75th percentiles. At target schools, you should feel good about your chances of admission, with a 15-70% chance of acceptance.
Reach schools, or dream schools, are colleges where your profile falls within the range of accepted students, but you have a low chance of admission, typically less than 30%. These schools are often highly competitive and prestigious institutions, such as Ivy Leagues. While you shouldn't rely solely on getting into a reach school, it's worth applying to challenge yourself and aim higher.
The ideal college list is well-balanced, typically including two dream schools, two reach schools, and two safety schools. This approach allows you to aim high while also ensuring you have a good chance of admission to at least one school. It's important to consider various factors when creating your list, such as location, financial aid, majors offered, and extracurricular activities, to ensure the colleges match your goals, needs, and interests.
Additionally, take advantage of available resources, such as college search tools and counsellors, to gain insights and determine which category each college on your list falls into. Remember, there is no magic number for how many colleges to apply to, but a balanced list with a good range of safety, target, and reach schools will increase your chances of getting admitted to your dream school.
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The ideal college list includes a balance of safety, target, and reach schools
When applying to colleges, it's important to understand the terms "safety school", "target school", and "reach school". These terms describe the odds of a student being accepted at a particular institution. Creating a balanced university list that includes a mix of safety, target, and reach schools is crucial to maximizing your chances of acceptance to a school you truly want to attend.
A safety school is a college where you have a high chance of acceptance, typically above 75%. Safety schools are those that consistently admit students with lower test scores and GPAs than yours. While safety schools may be chosen primarily for their higher acceptance rates, they should still fulfil your criteria for an ideal school, satisfying your academic needs and challenging you intellectually.
A target school is a college where your academic credentials and grades fall within the average range of students admitted, often between the 25th and 75th percentiles. Target schools are those where you feel good about your chances of admission, with a chance of acceptance ranging from 15% to 70%.
A reach school, or a dream school, is a college where your profile falls within the range of accepted students, but you have a lower chance of admission, typically less than 30%. Reach schools are often more prestigious institutions with lower acceptance rates, such as Ivy League universities.
To create your balanced college list, start by identifying your goals, interests, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities. Then, use resources to research different colleges, considering factors such as size, location, majors, diversity, and financial aid. Compare your profile with the accepted students at each college to determine which category they fall into for you personally. Finally, create a list of colleges that includes a mix of safety, target, and reach schools, ensuring that each school aligns with your most important goals, needs, and interests.
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Frequently asked questions
A safety school is a college or university where you have a greater than 75% chance of acceptance. These schools consistently admit students with lower test scores and GPAs than yours.
A reach school is a college or university that you may have difficulty getting into due to your current high school resume or acceptance rates. Reach schools are typically more prestigious institutions with acceptance rates at or under 30% or 20%.
A target school is a college where you have a 15-70% chance of admission. Within target schools, there are hard targets (15-45% chance) and regular targets (45-70% chance).
There is no magic number for how many colleges you should apply to. The College Board recommends between five and eight, while a 2015 report from the NACAC found that 36% of enrolled first-time freshmen had applied to seven or more colleges. A safe bet is to apply to at least six schools, consisting of two dream/reach schools, two target schools, and two safety schools.
