What is a 'reach' for an average student?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>From Arizona. Okay, as application season slowly approaches.. I am really confused as to what schools to apply to, as I don't know what really counts as a 'safety', 'match', and 'reach'. I mean, I'm pretty sure my safety will be ASU (top 25% of my class, they have to grant me admission). But as for matches/reaches, I am confused as I'm generally pretty average.. </p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.61 (uw) upward trend, 2.8 uw freshman year.
APs!: AP Lang & Comp (predicted score: 5), AP Government (predicted score: 4/5), AP Macroecon (predicted score: 3/4)..My senior year I will be taking AP Physics B, AP Bio, DE Pre-calc H, AP Lit
Honors: World History, Biology, English 1-2/3-4, Geometry
SAT: 1920. only taken once. (CR: 680, M: 630, W: 610)</p>

<p>ECS:
Mock Trial--joined as a sophomore, currently secretary of the club. We also won our state tournament and are preparing to go to Nationals in Indiana. I also was placed on the Arizona All-State team, which is like, based on best performances in each round. We currently meet for 10+ hours a week. I will no doubt be president next year.
Low level competitive horse back rider: I started riding my freshman year, currently have a horse and we are competing at low level dressage shows..
Volunteering: 50+ hours at a local hospital. 25-50 hours at Horses Help, which is a therapeutic horse barn for special needs children, as well as adults.
SOFS: Society of Female Scholars, GPA based (3.5 and above) community service club. I am also an "honorary member" as I completed 4+ activities per semester.</p>

<p>Anyways, I really want to apply to:
Florida State
U of Florida
Tulane (is this even worth applying to..?)
UCF</p>

<p>Do I have balance? Matches/safety/reach-wise? Advice would be appreciated. If I could add better schools to my list, that'd be great.. I just don't know what is worth applying to/what isn't. Other school suggestions would be great!</p>

2

<p>reaches for you would be higher level publics such as UofM, and maybe the UC of your choosing.</p>

3

<p>Bump! I’m thinking about UCLA… but would that be reaching too high? Suggestions are cool, (PoliSci major, btw…)</p>

4

<p>you may have a shot at American? and they are top 10 for political science</p>

5

<p>UCLA is a reach. Average gpa and sat are like 4.1 and 2100</p>

6

<p>average gpa for UCLA is a 3.9, SAT 2000+. Good reach for you</p>

7

<p>Ok! Thank you guys!</p>

8

<p>I wouldn’t even say Tulane is a big reach for you- maybe a low reach or even a high match. You’re in the 50th percentile for SAT scores and GPA there. UCLA is fine as well- they don’t even count your freshmen grades (I think).</p>

9

<p>Really?! Okay. So I’ve think I’ve made a (finalized…for the moment, until I see the schools) list.</p>

<p>1.) UCLA --Reach
2.) UF --probably a reach
3.) FSU --high match
4.) UCF --low-mid match
5.) ASU --safety.</p>

<p>Should I apply to more match schools? As for reaches, the UCs are expensive, out of state, and UCLA would be the only one I’d go to for, y’know, $50,000 a year…and I have the pre-paid tuition plan for the Florida schools. But I think only one safety is fine–especially because ASU is close to me, and I’ve been to their campus/know their programs/etc. Thoughts…?</p>

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<p>Apply to tulane have some self confidence.</p>

11

<p>Cut it out. You are definitely not average. Average is a 1500 SAT, or so. If all average kids have 3.61 gpa’s then I don’t know what the world is coming to. Incredible grade inflation. </p>

<p>A better way to approach it is not “what can I get into,” but “what do I want in my college program and where can I best find it.”</p>

12

<p>I’m sorry, redpoint. I meant ‘average’ by CC standards, (for example, most ‘reaches’ on here go for Ivies/selective LACs) I should have clarified. I also look for programs–however, it is also good to know what is worth applying to, as my parents are not going to let me apply to 15 or so odd schools. UCLA has a great PoliSci program. If I had to go to ASU, I’d major in journalism instead. Same applies with UF. The goal is law, which FSU could be good for. Anyways, all potential colleges are screened on programs for me, rather than admission chances…but obviously, chances are a huge factor (for me, at least) as well.</p>

13

<p>lol UF is a match not a reach</p>

14

<p>Actually, I’ve heard admissions to UF is crraazzy competitive for OOS students. I may be mistaken… but since my scores are only pretty much in the 50th percentile, I’d say it’d be a bit of a reach. Unless anyone else has heard otherwise?</p>

15

<p>Check out the WICHE exchange link. It names schools from which Arizona residents get a OOS tuition discount, and it’ll show a lot of safety and match options. GL (BTW not all schools give discounts to AZ)</p>

<p>[WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/WUE_constituent2.jsp]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/WUE_constituent2.jsp)</p>