<p>Precisely my point. Though I am not sure that applying to 2 reach, 2 match and 2 safety is viewed in a disfavorable light. If you apply to Carleton and Ohio State and Arkansas and Reed it might raise eyebrows…because they have NOTHING in common. No pattern or logic on any level.</p>
<p>But if you apply to 4 or 5 small colleges and one big in state college, they can see what you are doing and it makes perfect sense…to cover your bases.</p>
<p>Or 4 or 5 big state schools, and then Davidson or Washington and Lee, they might say…what is this kid doing?</p>
<p>There are also different levels of a college’s competition. One is, simply where they see kids applying who also apply there…and in the example you gave of BC, clearly BC is the safety school among the Ivy applicants. Nothing wrong with that…but it doesnt mean that BC is at the same level in attracting the same students. BC is a superb school, I might add. Another level of competition is really, where they see kids actually attending, and in that sense, I think BC has to pare down that list a bit…or consider geographical influences, which is huge for some kids.</p>