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Duke University
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Safety vs. target schools?

Hey everyone, I'm having trouble determining the difference between safety and target schools on my college list. Can someone help me clarify the difference and how to choose schools for each category? Thanks!

a year ago

Hello! The difference between safety and target schools comes down to the likelihood of your admission based on your academic profile and the school's selectivity. Here's a brief explanation of each:

1. Safety Schools: These are colleges where your academic profile (GPA, test scores, class rank, etc.) significantly exceeds the average admitted student's profile at that school. Essentially, you should have a very high chance of being accepted at a safety school. When choosing safety schools, make sure you pick ones that you are genuinely interested in and would be happy to attend. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2-3 safety schools on your list.

2. Target Schools: These are colleges where your academic profile is consistent with the average admitted student's profile at that school. Your chances of acceptance are good, but it's not a guarantee. Target schools should be schools where you feel like you'd be a good fit academically and socially. It's recommended to have about 3-5 target schools on your list.

When building your college list, do your research on each school, taking into account factors like location, size, available majors, campus culture, and financial aid, among others. Make sure that each school aligns with your interests and preferences so that you have a well-rounded list of colleges that you'd be genuinely excited to attend.

Additionally, it's a good idea to include 1-2 reach schools as well, which are colleges where your academic profile is just below or at the lower end of the average admitted student's profile. These are more competitive and ambitious choices but still within the realm of possibility.

Good luck with your college search, and I hope this helps clarify the difference between safety and target schools!

a year ago

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