<p>Could you please provide me a quantitative definition of "target", "reach", and "safety" colleges? I am trying to classify the various school's my son is interested into the above categories. </p>
<p>My son has a 3.75 unweighted GPA, Sat CR of 640 and Sat Math of 590.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>It mainly refers to SAT scores and GPA. When your SAT is below the middle 50% reported SAT range of the university, then it is a reach. If your SATs are write in the middle 50% then it is a target/match. If your SATs are in the top 25% of reported scores then it is a safety.</p>
<p>Examples:
Reach: University of Sourhern California (any school ranked 1-40, possibly less or more depending in the school)
Target: Penn State, Northeastern, Syracuse etc…
Safety: Purdue, Pepperdine </p>
<p>Best thing to do is to pick a few reach, several targets, and one, maybe two safeties.</p>
<p>Hope this helped!</p>