<p>When you are applying to match schools that accept more than 50% of their applicants, you have a good chance of getting into something when you apply to a number of such schools. The % are not simply additive since you don’t have a 150% chance of getting into 3 schools. Sometimes with the more selective schools, you may truly have had a much slimmer chance than you think you have even if your stats are in the mid range. Many of the admits, particularly in some of those smaller elites have very strong hooks. Those colleges with strong athletic programs but small student population have a disproportionate % of athletes, for instance, and if it gets a lot of legacy applicants, it can have a great impact on the true chances for entry. </p>
<p>One of my son’s choices had close to a 50% admit rate, which put it into a good solid match for him. Until we saw that the regular admits were more like at the 25% rate. We hastily got the app in by the EA deadline, scheduled a visit sooner than we wanted to do so, and he did get accepted early. This year they had a record low acceptance rate, so I don’t know how he would have fared had he applied regularly which was the original plan. </p>
<p>I always say that the safety is the toughest school to pick. It is so fun to pick among those name schools, but finding a good solid school that a student really likes with a near certain acceptance is not easy. I was dismayed that our state system, though with many choices, really did not hit my son the same way as the privates did. I could see differences, and I did not blame him for preferring what he did. But you don’t always get everything. My son got his favorite choice and his reach school, (2 diff schools) but each had its drawbacks.</p>