Determining reach and safety schools

I'm trying to develop a balanced college list and was wondering how you all determined your reach and safety schools? Any tips or resources you could share would be really helpful!

When determining reach and safety schools, consider both your academic profile and each college's admissions statistics. Here are some steps to help you create a balanced college list:

1. Calculate your academic profile:

- Calculate your unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.

- Determine your class rank percentile, if available.

- Take note of your standardized test scores (if relevant).

2. Research colleges and gather admissions statistics:

- Look up colleges' average GPA, test scores, and acceptance rates. You can find this information on each school's website or through resources like CollegeVine or the College Board's Big Future college search tool.

3. Categorize the schools based on your profile:

- Reach schools: Colleges where your academic profile is below the average admitted student. These schools will be more challenging to gain admission to.

- Target schools: Colleges where your academic profile aligns with the average admitted student. These schools have a reasonable chance of acceptance.

- Safety schools: Colleges where your academic profile is above the average admitted student, making it highly likely you'll be accepted.

4. Consider other factors:

- Location, campus culture, size, availability of majors, and financial aid options are essential factors to consider. Make sure you'd be happy attending any school on your list.

5. Create a balanced list:

Aim for a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. The exact number of each category will vary depending on your preferences and capacity to apply, but a good rule of thumb is to have at least 2-3 safety schools, 2-4 reach schools, and 4-6 target schools.

Remember, admissions can be unpredictable, especially at highly selective schools. So it's essential to make sure all the schools on your list, including your safety schools, are a good fit for you academically and personally. Good luck!