<p>I was wondering how many of each category (safety, match, reach) most students recommend when applying to college. And how can you properly determine if the school is a "safety" or "reach".
thank you</p>
<p>Maybe something like 3, 5, 3 depending on $ and how much work you want to do. For a first approximation of reach/match/safety, look for schools' Common Data Set, section C9 through C12, on their web sites, e.g., <a href="http://web.reed.edu/ir/cds/cds0607/cdssecc200607.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.reed.edu/ir/cds/cds0607/cdssecc200607.html</a>, to see how you compare with the latest admitted class.</p>
<p>I did 3-7-5 this year and found that it was absolutely too many. I got into all 10 of my safety/match schools and 2 in the reach category.</p>
<p>I'd say if you have a solid safety, then you can just have 1 in that category. The number of matches depend on how many schools you're interested in...perhaps you would want to apply to more than 3 because each school can offer you a different environment or "feel." As for reaches, just apply to however many you really want to strive for. But do not APPLY TO ALL THE IVIES! That's a waste of your money and it's either you don't get into any, or you get into half of them. I'd say a 1-3-5 or a 2-4-4 pattern is good, perhaps even less. I don't think there's a necessity to apply to more than 10 colleges if you can aim well. I think the ideal number is around 7-8 in all actually, but I don't know how to structure it for you.</p>
<p>You can also go on to collegeboard.com and look at the SAT standards of accepted students. But, of course, that is less of an indicator than the Common Data Set. If you have money, go buy a college guide like PR's Best 361 Colleges or Frisk's Review. Those are 2 good college books.</p>
<p>I did 3-2-6. I would recommend a balance more towards 3-3-3. Of course my "safeties" included two top 20 schools (my guidance counselor phrased it as such, not me), so In reality it was more like 1-4-6? I dunno, but I only got into those 3 "safeties"...</p>
<p>I'll do 3-0-15 lol</p>
<p>DD applied to 7 in all, one a reach (the only one that did not accept her) with 2 we considered safeties. </p>
<p>Depending on your situation, consider financial aid as well. Finally, take a look at what the schools need for the application and think about the time commitment and costs for each (both application fees and the cost of sending tests). Doing applications well and carefully can take a lot of time if there are a lot of non-Common Ap applications, and even supplements to the Common Ap.</p>
<p>The general rule of thumb is: 6-8, a couple of matches, a safety or two, and a few reaches if you want.</p>
<p>I would recommend not applying to TOO many reaches, unless you can make every application, including those of your safeties and matches, really awesome.</p>
<p>i'd go </p>
<p>3 reach
3 match
2 safety</p>
<p>for a total of 8</p>
<p>thats.. my recommendation</p>
<p>Mine is going to be around..</p>
<p>2 safety
0 matches
20 reaches</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>seconded, jakor. maybe a match sprinkled in there for good measure.</p>
<p>I'm doing 1 safety, 3 match, 9 reach</p>
<p>Mine's either a 3-2-1 or a 2-2-2, depending on how confident I feel :-p
I'm never sure about my chances of getting into schools.</p>
<p>Mine is probably about 5-1-5</p>
<p>But... I have the tendency to believe I'm not going to get into a lot of schools... or at least the program in them, so it's probably more around 5-3-3 in reality... (don't ask why so many safeties...it's mainly to make a few people happy).</p>
<p>mine is:
if i get into either of my EA schools: 0-2-9
if i don't: 1-2-9</p>
<p>i'm applying EA to uchicago (match-ish?) and mit (reach).</p>
<p>I think it depends on how tough the reaches are. If your reaches are top 10 type schools with 10-15% acceptence rates than only have 2-3 reaches is, in my opinion, a bad strategy ... assuming you can submit quality applications I'd recommend more like 6-8 reach applications of you are in the HYPAW end of the world.</p>
<p>I'm doing six reaches, though some are higher (like Columbia) and some are lower (like Georgetown, Johns Hopkins). I think I'll probably do two higher reaches and four lower ones. Then I'll probably do four matches, and two-ish safeties. I'm kind of worried because I'm not sure how to factor the high reach v. low reach thing into it. Has anybody else had/is anybody else having this same issue?</p>
<p>Upsilamba, I think it's a good idea to apply to a wide range of schools, including high reaches and low reaches in addition to matches (high and low) and safeties. It always troubles me when students apply to just high reaches and safeties because the chance that they'll end up at a safety is unfortunately very good (which might be fine, but can be disappointing). You just never know how you come across as a candidate, or who you're competing with at an individual school. Casting a wide net is important, especially if you're looking at top schools and/or small schools.</p>
<p>If your safety is really a safety, I don't see why you would need more than one unless finances are an issue</p>
<p>At our high school, the guidance counsellors tell freshmen that when they are seniors they will be doing 2-2-2. They tell everyone that, not just high achievers. It seems like a reasonable rule of thumb. I think 2 safety schools is a good idea, just in case. 1 safety school seems not quite "safe" enough.</p>
<p>How does 4 reach, 2 match, 1 safety sound? (I'm guaranteed a scholarship to the safety already if I go there)</p>