You should break down your schools into three categories- safety, probable, and reach.Safeties
are schools that you are very likely to get into.
Probable schools have students with similar grades and SAT scores that you have.
Reach
schools are universities whose average students possess SAT and GPAs well above yours.
Most guidance counselors will tell you to disperse your choices equally between the three categories. That works, but there's a
way to increase your chances of getting into a reach school. Apply to a similar number of safeties and probables, but send out applications most generously to your reach school. Here's the logic behind that
suggestion:
The odds are, you will get into your safety schools and a few probables. So, why not put more effort into schools you dream about getting into? If you apply to ten reach schools, the odds
are you might get into one or two. Wouldn't spending a little more time filling out applications be worth it if one of the top schools saw something impressive about you? Here's the optimal breakdown I
suggest when applying:
4 safety schools
5 probable schools
10 reach schools
Applying to this amount of schools will undoubtedly cost you time and money.
If
finances or time limits prevent you from applying to 19 schools, the more traditional breakdown is an acceptable alternative:
3 safety
3 probable
3 reach
Careful: Never dip below two safety school applications.
