Safety, Reach, and Match schools?

<p>For many well qualified students, I was under the impression that LACs like Amherst, Middlebury, and Bowdoin were reach schools and LACs such as Bard, Kenyon,and Oberlin were more matches. But because of their lower acceptance rates, are this schools also considered reach schools? If so, what are some LACs that could be considered matches? And then, what are some LACs that would be considered safety schools?</p>

<p>any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)</p>

<p>safeties, matches, and reaches differ depending on the applicant. How can we know if a school is a safety, match, or a reach if we know nothing about you?</p>

<p>arcadia is correct. But certainly there are some schools that are best viewed as "reaches" for almost everyone, because they accept such a small percentage of applicants.</p>

<p>Your prior posts show that you have a 4.0 GPA and are in the top 5% to top 10% of your class; and that the only standardized test that you have taken is AP Biology for which you got a score of 5.
LACs tend to be very sensitive to whether or not they are a student's first choice school (especially Kenyon). Amherst & Williams don't have to worry as much as the others in your list because they are either a student's first choice school or are competing with the most selective Ivies. Bowdoin College is also highly selective because it can be & is a first choice school for many of its applicants.
Middlebury, Bard, Oberlin & Kenyon are more likely to admit you than are Amherst & Bowdoin assuming that your SAT I scores are in line with your 4.0 GPA & score of 5 on AP Biology. But applying ED/EA (early decision/early action) can significantly increase a qualified applicant's chances at most any school.</p>

<p>^^ I agree with ColdWind's estimation.</p>

<p>Middlebury is a tough one if you are from the northeast. I am surprised at who was not accepted there from around here.</p>

<p>Coldwind--what makes you think that Bowdoin is any harder to get into than Middlebury?</p>

<p>And Middlebury is even more difficult if you are FEMALE, a "humanities" major and from the northeast!!</p>

<p>i think middlebury has as many first-choice applicants and attendees at bowdoin. i've never seen data to contest that. for the purposes of the OP, middlebury is as selective as bowdoin and should, like amherst and the rest, be considered a reach by most students.</p>

<p>Oberlin should also be considered a reach for most students.</p>

<p>Non of the top LAC's or universities can be considered safeties for anyone anymore. My child was accepted at U of Chicago and Johns Hopkins but rejected at Oberlin.</p>