<p>The general policy at my school (elite private day school) is to apply to 2 safeties, 2-3 matches, and 2-3 reaches. I really want to apply to more reaches than that, and my parents are fine with it, but I don't know how my college advisor is going to react to that. She says she doesn't like students to apply to too many reaches because it can wreck their confidence in April. My personal opinion is that my chances at Ivies and other highly selective colleges are low, but they're zero if I don't apply, so it's worth a shot. Here is my tentative list, do you think this is too much? And how should I go about explaining this to my GC?</p>
<p>Safeties: Fordham, Duquesne
Matches: GWU, Villanova
Reach/Match: BC
Reaches: Penn (ED), UChicago, Yale, Columbia, Washington U. in St. Louis</p>
<p>Yeah I didn't apply to any Ivies but I did apply to JHU which is ranked pretty high (didn't get in). I do sort of regret not applying to any Ivies, so yes, definitely apply whether or not you believe you can get in.</p>
<p>apply to the schools you really would consider going to--including safties---- my friend had a 35 act 4.8 gpa .great ec's.....etc...got waitlisted from her 2 safties and got into none of her other 7 schools she applied to..usc, emory, nwestern, michigan..you get it</p>
<p>its ok to apply to the schoosl you want to, but just make sure you have enough match/safty schools--because nothing is a sure thing after this year......</p>
<p>While your GC's advice might have made sense a few years ago, given the demographics and what happened with this year's graduating class in college admissions, your plan makes sense right now. With the admissions statistics so grim at so many top schools, you increase your chances of finding a school that is drawn to a (tap-dancing archaelogist -- fill in the blank) like you to round out its class. Your GC only has to write one letter on your behalf no matter how many colleges she has to send it to. And particularly at an elite private day school, she should have the time to do what it takes to help you land in an appropriate school. Go for it!</p>
<p>Just love your safeties and realize that no matter how many reaches you apply to, there's a chance you may be rejected by all and some of your matches due to the competitiveness now.</p>
<p>if your guidance counselor for some reason refuses to send out the transcripts for the extra schools, see if you can convince a friendlier one whom you may not actually be assigned to to help you bend the rules a bit (Or you could camp out in the guidance office, wait for a day when your GC has taken a vacation/sick day, and ask to see someone else, pretending the need to get the transcript out is urgent, not mentioning to whomever you see that day that you've already "used up" your limit)</p>
<p>You get to apply to any schools you want to apply to. As long as you apply to the appropriate number of matches and safeties, go ahead and reach. Better to apply and get rejected than not apply and regret it later. Just have reasonable expectations.</p>
<p>Definitely apply to a few reaches, but only if you would love to go to them and they are a fit for you. Give them your all and let them know how much you want to go there, especially Chicago. My daughter really wanted to go to the U of Chicago and it was a big reach for her. Well, she got in, is getting honors in her second year and loves it. So try. But, definitely apply to several safeties and matches because getting into college can really be random. There are many wonderful schools besides your reaches. A word of caution about GW. It no longer is a safety. My daughter, who got into U of Chicago, was waitlisted at GW two years ago.</p>