Match, reach, safety?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>How does one determine which category a school might fall into for a particular student? We're just starting this process with D and want to make sure we eventually pick a few schools from each category. </p>

<p>For example, we know her current gpa is well above the 75th %ile for a certain school that relies heavily on GPA. Test scores will likely be about 75th percentile. Would most consider this a safety school for her? What if they were about the 50%ile? </p>

<p>I know this is not clear cut but any advice/opinions are appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Welcome Rrah. We looked at above the 75% as a safety, about the 50% as a match, and below the 25% as a reach. That would be for standardized tests and GPAs. I have one in college now, one going in 2009 and one in the far future.</p>

3

<p>Don't apply GPA/SAT(ACT) rule to top 20 schools; they won't work that way. Achieving 75th on GPA/Test Score on lower tier colleges will probably work.</p>

4

<p>Thanks both of you! You both confirmed our thinking. </p>

<p>noobcake--from reading CC I've already learned that nothing is predictable when it comes to those top 20! </p>

<p>Erin's dad- our D will be '09 as well. S three years later.</p>