How to build a balanced college list
A good list has a mix, so you're aiming high without gambling everything on a long shot. Here's what the three kinds mean and how many of each to have.
Reach, target, safety
A reach is a school where your grades and scores are below its typical admitted student, or that admits so few applicants it's a long shot for almost anyone. A target is one where you're right in line with who gets in. A safety is one where you're above the bar and very likely to be admitted.
A school's admission rate and the scores of its admitted students tell you which is which, measured against your own. The most selective schools are a reach for nearly everyone, however strong the applicant.
The balance to aim for
There's no magic number, but a healthy list of eight or so might be two or three reaches, three or four targets, and two safeties.
The dangerous version is a list of all reaches with no safety. Every strong list has at least one school you'd be genuinely happy to attend and are very likely to get into.
Don't forget cost
A safety you can't afford isn't a safety. Look at what each school would actually cost your family after aid, not the sticker price, while there's still time to add an affordable option.
When you add your schools and your grades, we label each one a reach, target, or safety, and flag your list if it's missing a safety.
The short version. Aim for a mix, and make sure at least one safety is a school you'd be happy at and can afford.
Track every one of these dates
Add your schools and we'll email you 30, 14, and 3 days before each deadline. Look up any school first, no sign-up needed.