<p>What should my ratio of safety/target/reach schools that I'm applying to be? For example, should I have more target or reach schools? and how do you determine for sure whether a college is considered safety/target/reach? Because the only thing we can base it on are the school's freshman profile of rankings, GPA and test scores. the rest like extracurriculars, essays, recs are all up to the admissions office.</p>
<p>It's different for everyone but 1-2 safeties, 3 matches and a reach or 2 is pretty good. I applied to 5.</p>
<p>Usually top students will have 1-3 reaches, 2-3 matches, and at least one financial safety, which would give considerable merit aid. I wouldn't recommend applying to more than 8 schools. Less is more.</p>
<p>2 safeties, 2 matches, as many reaches as you want.</p>
<p>for a top notch student, good grades, sat score above a 1400</p>
<p>UMichigan out of state, UWisconsin out of state, are really good safeties b/c you hear early w. rolling admissions</p>
<p>Depending on your sat's, act's, extra-curriculars, etc., you should apply to at least 5 schools, more like 10 if you are applying to the most competative colleges and universities. I have known several outstanding students who applied to 3 or 4 schools and were rejected by them all. </p>
<p>You do not want to risk having to roll over into your local public u, unless you have chosen to do so.</p>
<p>Columbiahopeful - Who, exactly, would Michigan be a safety for OOS? And rolling admissions makes no difference when it comes to safeties, if you know that you're going to get in anyway. </p>
<p>Anyway, assuming that your state's flagship is solid, that's typically the best choice for a safety. You only really need one or two. Maybe a moderately selective private as well. My thought is that if you're going to apply to safeties, they might as well be ones that you'll save money through (such as with in-state tuition or merit aid). </p>
<p>This would be the ideal breakdown, IMO: 2 safeties, 3 matches, 3 reaches. Total of 8 is good.</p>