<p>Hello everyone,
I'm new here, so I'd like help with defining some of the terms commonly used on the Parents forum. I've been introduced to the terms Safety school, Match school, Reach schools; and also financial safety, etc. I've understood the terms to refer to a student's chances of getting into a college/university. The chances/percentages associated with each term are less important than the understanding that they mean the same thing to everyone. But how does it break down? My initial assumptions were:</p>
<p>Safety Virtual lock to get in 90-100%</p>
<p>Match 75-80% chance to get in (but I think I've been wrong in this assumption) Maybe it's supposed to be 50/50</p>
<p>Reach Maybe a 1-25% chance of admittance (or maybe 1-10%?)</p>
<p>I've also noticed that the terms are sometimes qualified, such as "solid match," "big reach," or the 'tweeners such as "reach/match." I assume we each have to define our own financial matches, safeties, etc.</p>
<p>Do we have a FAQ section on CC that includes commonly used terms with accepted definitions? Maybe a thread I haven't found? Are there other terms that may need operational definitions? </p>
<p>I want to repeat that I've learned a great deal from the members of this forum. Your suggestions and support are amazing.</p>
<p>There is no FAQ of these terms that I know of, but there have been previous threads. </p>
<p>My own definitions are less quantitative:</p>
<p>Safety: You're in.
Match: Not a gimme, but you've got a solid shot.
Reach: Long shot.
Big Reach: Go ahead and dream, but recognize it's only a dream.</p>
<p>doddsdad- S's Guidance Office doesn't even use the word "match". They call that category 50/50, which I think gives the right feel: ie, you "match" their profile of admitted students (say well within 25-75% SAT etc.), but you can't count on it.</p>
<p>Moderators - very often this question of terms/acronyms comes up (EA,ED, SCEA, EFC, BWRK.....) Could there be a FAQ/thread on definitions?</p>
<p>I'm still trying to work out TCK and probably a few others.</p>
<p>dodds - if you are new to message forums/IM as I was (am?),there is a link to generic internet acronyms (FWIW, IMO, IMHO etc.). My "good" computer is away being rehabilitated after a hijack, so I don't have the link here, but I believe it is netlingo.com</p>
<p>And, doddsdad, welcome! There is tons to learn here, and we have fun too.</p>
<p>doddsdad,
I may have replied (think so) to a similar question on another CC thread. I realize that many CC students, esp., like the percentage approach. I just find that less helpful. When it comes to numbers, I start with either the college's "accepted range" (25/75) as the base, or -- my personal preference -- their published Accepted Freshman Profile page. I particularly like the latter because it provides a fuller measurement (gives more info). From there I compare the applicant.
Thus, my "safety" definition would be: Applicant comfortably <em>exceeds</em> the higher ranges of either yardstick above.
Match would be: applicant's profile corresponds with the majority of acceptees.
Reach would be: applicant's stats & profile are within range of the accepted (whether you go with the high range or the low range), but (1) the margin of acceptance is slim to begin with for the general population, or (2) applicant's stats are within the lower range of acceptees. An Ivy or Stanford being a reach for most people -- example (1), while WUSTL may be a reach for some, match for others -- example (2).</p>
<p>P.S. Notice that for the Reach definition I still said, "within range" (even if low). That is based on the premise that all choices on a list should have some reasonableness attached to them -- that they all have some aspect of "fit" vis-a-vis both the applicant's record/ability + his or her personal preferences in a college. Yes, one could be a C student with average scores & with no hooks & still apply to Harvard; you could call that a super-reach, which some do. I just wouldn't think about it in the same way that someone's else Reach list might be.
Hope that's not too controversial, that is JMO.
And welcome to CC.</p>
<p>My definition of a safety school is a school that</p>
<p>1) is pretty much certain to admit my kid, based on its known behavior in acting on admission applications,</p>
<p>2) has a strong program in an area my kid is interested in,</p>
<p>3) is affordable based on its known behavior in acting on financial aid applications,</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>4) is likeable to my kid.</p>
<p>The state university in my state fits those characteristics for my oldest son. It pretty much admits people "by the numbers," and is not known to reject applicants who are successful in the accelerated secondary math program my son is now enrolled in there. </p>
<p>Of course, we will consider and apply to other schools as well. I took my son to college information meetings this school year, seeing representatives from most of the "top" schools in the country that are also strong in his chosen field. It's hard to say what will be a match for him, but it's pretty easy already to say which school will be his (one) safety school. He can apply to State U. by rolling admission before even the earliest early action deadlines, so when he applies anywhere else he can apply with confidence.</p>