<p>So, what are some good match schools or safety schools for me?</p>
<p>^ That would be hard to say without seeing your class rank, test scores, and ECs.</p>
<p>A rule of thumb for a “match” would be that your test scores and GPA/rank place you in the top 25% of enrolled students, the admit rate is above 25% or so … and the expected costs are manageable. You may be correct that schools in the USNWR 20-30 range (or wider) are good admission matches, assuming you are a realistic contender for schools like Brown, Swarthmore, and Pomona. Again, you might like Macalester, Kenyon, Whitman, or Holy Cross. Some higher-ranking schools (like Davidson) might be realistic matches if your qualifications are that strong. </p>
<p>A safety is a school where your qualifications virtually guarantee admission and your family definitely can afford the expected costs. One or more of your state’s public universities might work. If you want something smaller, check out schools on the “Colleges That Change Lives” list ([CTCL</a> Members | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list]CTCL”>http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list)). However, some of them are quite expensive and don’t have as much aid available as more selective schools.</p>
<p>Deciding which colleges are “right” for you means more than just sizing yourself up against rankings and selection standards. What is it about Yale, Chicago, or Swarthmore that appeals to you (other than high ranking and prestige)?</p>
<p>Whitman and Macalester both look like AMAZING colleges…I just did a bit of research and they seem extremely intellectual. I’ll definitely consider both of those. </p>
<p>About Yale, Brown, Swarthmore, Pomona, and Chicago…
I got a really good feeling while looking at their websites, student reviews, etc. From what I can tell, they seem like the type of college environment that I would like.</p>
<p>So…now I have some lists…</p>
<p>HIGH REACH
Yale
Brown
Pomona
(Small chance)</p>
<p>REACH
Swarthmore
Chicago
(Decent chance)</p>
<p>MATCH
University of California at Berkeley
University of Michigan
University of Rochester
College of William and Mary
Macalester
Whitman
(Pretty-very good chances)</p>
<p>LOW MATCH
?</p>
<p>SAFETY
In-state flagship</p>
<p>Other small colleges you might like (from more to less selective):
Carleton College, Wesleyan University
Oberlin, Grinnell, Reed, Bard, Kenyon
Colorado College</p>
<p>Alright! I think most of those would be matches and a few would be low matches. They all sound great…I have so many decisions to make now!</p>
<p>Your reach school choices are exactly the same as mine except I also included Vassar, Wesleyan and Bowdoin as reaches. Also, I think Swarthmore is more selective than Pomona. (It might have just been me though, I was waitlisted at Pomona and rejected from Swarthmore, but my sister does go to Pomona.)</p>
<p>Oh and you might like Pitzer as a match school and University of Puget Sound as a safety.</p>
<p>Vassar, Wesleyan, and Bowdoin also look like such great places. I’ll add Puget Sound to my safeties list.</p>
<p>Pomona had a 14.7% acceptance rate, and Swarthmore had a 16%…not really a difference, I guess. They’re probably both high matches.</p>
<p>Reed, Oberlin, Carleton and Grinnell all came to mind. Beloit as a safety as well.</p>
<p>Carleton is probably more of a reach.</p>
<p>haveford, swath, carleton
and</p>
<p>rice
rice
rice
rice and rice!!</p>
<p>@Zobroward
Do you go to Rice? What’s it like there?</p>