Choosing the Right Mix of Colleges

When applying to colleges, it’s important for students to create a balanced list that includes a variety of schools. We recommend applying to the following three types:

Reach Schools:
These are schools where admission may be more competitive. A student’s grades or test scores might be slightly below the school’s average admitted range—but acceptance is still possible!

Match (or Target) Schools:
These schools are a good fit academically. A student’s academic record and test scores are similar to those of the average admitted student, giving them a solid chance of being accepted.

Safety Schools:
These schools are likely to admit the student because their academic record is above the school’s average admitted range. Safety schools provide great options to ensure a student has secure admission choices.