<p>Originally, I was going to apply to a bunch of random places that I kinda liked based on viewbooks, but then knocked some sense into myself and narrowed the list way down. </p>
<p>Some CCers, when I posted this, recommended me to get more reaches. Frankly, all the schools I would consider reaches, except Brown, which was my 1, were schools that I would not want to go to. Don't apply to schools that you would never go to just to fill a reach/match/safety formula.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm adding that the number of safeties is going to vary from person to person.</p>
<p>In some states, you can get guaranteed admission with very low stats. Case in point: KU, K-State, and the other 8 or so publics in the state require a 21 ACT for unconditional admission. So someone from around here would spend a lot less time looking at safeties because these are truly guaranteed, whereas someone in California can pretty much count on being admitted so some schools, but isn't actually guaranteed.</p>
<p>personally, i did 4 reaches, 2 match/reaches, 2 (what i like to consider)matches, 1 match/safety, and 2 safeties. i regret not applying to more reaches.....but thats only because its now. back in december, i didnt have that much time. i personally like the top heavy lists, one safety, a couple or few matches, and as many reaches as you like, as long as you really really like those schools, dont just apply to yale because someone else did and you think as long as they did, so can you because youve got some pride issues. dont just apply to an ivy because it was an ivy. be happy with your list. i say go 5 reaches, 3 matches, and 1/2 safeties. atleast. but my opinion is just as good as yours. what ever your list ends up, just have someone on cc look at it and if they say it sounds good, then go for it. thats what i did.</p>
<p>Why so many reaches? Because I really could not narrow the list down, they all seemed like great schools that I would be willing to attend in a heartbeat.</p>