<p>OK, I know what these are in general, but what exactly does each mean?</p>
<p>Is a match a nearly sure bet, or a 50/50 shot? How high above the averages should you be to deem something a safety? </p>
<p>I did the counselor thing on Princeton Review and got some surprisingly selective colleges as matches (think Ivys). I think I have pretty good stats, but I'm not perfect, and was suprised. </p>
<p>Just wondering if there was a more definate definition to help me with my college search. Thank you!</p>
<p>Princeton Review matches by various things including your major and where you want to go to school and other things like that.</p>
<p>There is no real way to know any of this. You can be accepted to a school you thought you had no chance to and you can be rejected from a school that you thought you'd surely get into.</p>
<p>Generally, safeties are state schools that you have guaranteed admission into because of how you rank at your high school.</p>
<p>Reaches for everyone are HYPSM and most of the other Ivies/top LACs</p>
<p>When I tell someone they are a match, I mean a nearly sure bet, but I can't speak for what everyone else thinks =)</p>
<p>Reaches are schools where your test scores/GPA fall below what they usually accept. You've got a chance at getting in, but it's a bit of a long shot.</p>
<p>Matches are where your scores fit in with what they usually accept. It may be a 50/50 shot, however, just based on how competetive this year's applicant pool is. Matches are kind of like maybes.</p>
<p>A safety is a school that you're fairly sure you'll get into. Your scores/GPA exceed what they usually accept. Most safeties are state schools, like miss zanna said. They're also schools that you are more likely to get scholarships/merit aid from.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. xD I think everyone has a slightly different view on this, however.</p>