How should I balance my college list between reach, match, and safety schools?

When creating my college list, I'm finding it challenging to balance reach, match, and safety schools. How many of each type should I apply to and what factors should I consider when choosing which schools to include in each category?

Creating a balanced college list is an important step in the admissions process. The general rule of thumb is to have a mix of reach, match, and safety schools to increase your chances of getting accepted into at least one school. One suggested distribution is 40% reach schools, 40% match schools, and 20% safety schools.

When choosing schools for each category, consider factors such as the school's acceptance rate, your GPA and standardized test scores compared to the school's average, and how well your extracurriculars and academic interests align with what the school offers. For instance, if your GPA is lower than a school's average, but you have strong extracurricular activities, you may still want to consider it a reach school.

Make sure to research each school thoroughly, attending virtual college fairs or visiting the campus if possible, to determine if they are a good fit for you. Keep in mind that your list is not set in stone and can be adjusted over time as you learn more about the schools and your preferences.