Where Should I Apply?
“Reach,” “Match,” and “Likely” Schools
- A “reach” school is one where your grades, scores, and other qualifications fall below those of students who are typically admitted: however, you are still very interested in what this school has to offer. You should apply to about 2 reach schools. It may be a long shot, but it is definitely worth a try. Many reach schools offer compelling programs and generous financial aid.
- A "match" school, or "target" school, is one where you fall solidly within the range of students typically accepted. You should apply to at least 2-3 match schools.
- A “likely” school, or "safety" school, is one where you are almost certain you will be accepted: your qualifications fall above those of the students typically admitted. You should apply to at least 2 likely schools.
Getting an Idea of your Chances of Admission
As we've learned, colleges care about all the different pieces of your application, including your grades and difficulty of your course load, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, jobs, and family circumstances.
Here are some ways you can gage your chances of being admitted to a certain college:
1) Look at the school’s average SAT or ACT scores
On each school’s website and on their CollegeBoard page, there is a section about standardized test scores which lists the 25th percentile and 75th percentile scores of admitted students. If a school posts “SAT Math: 540/650,” for example, these numbers mean that 25 percent of admitted students scored below 540 on math, 25 percent scored above 650, and the other 50 percent scored somewhere between these two numbers. Don’t let these numbers discourage you from applying to any one school. However, you can use these numbers to help get a realistic idea of which schools are reaches, matches, and likelies. If you fall below the 25th percentile of a school’s scores, it is probably a reach; if you are between the two numbers, it is probably a match; and if you are above the 75th percentile, it is probably a likely school.
2) Look at the “Class Profile” on a school’s website, or the “Applying” section of a school’s page on CollegeBoard
This will provide information about students who have been admitted in the past, and will help you get an idea for where you stand. Important information includes the percent of student in the top half and top quarter of their high school class, acceptance rate, and average high school GPA.
3) Remember that college admissions are holistic
Schools really do care about all different aspects of your application. If a difficult life event or circumstances have negatively impacted your grades, or family obligations have posed a large time commitment, colleges want to know and will take this into consideration in evaluating your application. This type of information can be included in your Personal Statement or in the “Additional Information” portion of the Common Application.
4) Pay special attention to your “likely” schools
It is very important that you find at least two schools where you have a high chance of being admitted. It is also important to make sure that these schools are financial safeties—schools where you believe you can manage the tuition costs, or have strong reason to believe that you will receive a good financial aid package. For many students, a state or community college can serve as a good “likely” and financial safety school. In certain circumstances, students do not need to apply to two likely schools; for example, students who are accepted through early application programs or who receive guaranteed acceptance to their state universities.
**Go to the "Finding My Best Fit College" and complete the activity to earn 10 College Knowledge Points!!!**
