<p>I'm curious as to what the formal definition is. I have a good idea but I've seen the term "match" get thrown around to mean "safety" on these boards alot.</p>
<p>Also, do most people get into what they think is their "match" schools?</p>
<p>Match is essentially a target school that fits your stats well
Reach is either a school that you CAN get into, but would need extra effort or ED or something, or a school that is a complete crapshoot and really doesnt fit your stats well
Safety is a school that is a shoe-in. Youll get in. Stats are way above averages</p>
<p>So...if you apply to a match school, unless its a wierd fluke or something out of the ordinary, you will most likely get in?</p>
<p>Well, on your application, it lists all of your credentials - GPA, Class Rank, ECs, Volunteer Work, etc.</p>
<p>Reach - Your credentials are slightly below the normal level of this college (there is a chance you might get in, though it might be small)
Match - Your credentials match the normal level of the college (there is a rather good chance you will get in)
Safety - Your credentials are above the normal level of the college (you should get in)</p>
<p>But honestly - don't really listen to the "What are my chances?" threads and what not. No one really knows, not even the most intelligent CCers, know exactly what your chances are. Statistically you might have a good chance, but in the reality of college admissions, nothing is certain. The process has been referred to as "random" by many. No one is sure what is going through the adcom's minds on the day they read your app. No one is really sure what they are looking for. </p>
<p>An adcom might reject your app, but perhaps if they read in on a separate day, you would have been accepted. This may not seem fair, but it is how it works. </p>
<p>The college admissions process is "random" in a way - there is NO way of predicting the outcome.</p>
<p>ok. I just wanted to clear things up after reading "what are my chances"</p>
<p>I think reach means you probably won't get in but there is a small chance, match means your probably in barring any "randomness" that you suggested, and safety means that your most definitely in (ie: no room for random error)</p>
<p>Meanings vary. Reality:</p>
<p>Reach is where your chances of being rejected are significantly higher than those of being accepted: (a) regardless of how high your stats are, it includes any college that accepts less than 30% of their applicants, e.g., everyone who applies should assume their favorite ivy is a reach; (b) if it is a higher ranked public university in a state other than yours, it can be a reach regardless of how high your stats because the college may have a strong preference for in-state students, e.g., your stats could be perfect and you would still have a high probability of being rejected by UCLA or UC Berkeley if you are not from California; (c) for colleges other than the above, a reach is any college where your stats are not in the upper 50% of those usually admitted.</p>
<p>Match: your stats place you in the upper 50% of those usually admitted and the college is not one of those in (a) or (b) above. Your chances of admission are usually 50% or better. However, it does not mean you will definitely be admitted.</p>
<p>Safety: often referred to as a college where you have a high probability of admission, meaning your stats are in the upper 25% of those usually admitted and the college is not in (a) or (b) above for a Reach; however, a true safety is a college that meets those criteria but also has rolling admissions so you learn whether you are admitted shortly after you apply in the Fall. In other words, a safety school is really one where you are admitted by December of your high school senior year and thus no longer have to worry about whether you will get into college at all.</p>
<p>Fandangoya,</p>
<p>S. defined match the way you do, despite our efforts to convince him that drusba's distinctions more closely reflected reality. S just figured that since his stats matched his #1 choice he would get in; despite the fact that the school accepted only 1/3 of his applicants and despite record apps for 2006. He was one of the lucky -- and I do mean lucky -- 1/3, so all's well that ends well, I guess. </p>
<p>I've seen other threads extolling the superiority of the 2007/2011 classes -- so I'm sure you rising seniors will look at ALL the stats. And if you need a reference, print out drusba's post.</p>