Using the Safety, Match, and Reach Strategy to Help Choose Colleges
Not only are more students than ever applying to college, but they are also applying
to a greater number of colleges. The average student applies to 4-8 colleges, with
some students applying to many more than that.
Increase your chances of being accepted by following the strategy of applying to
colleges in three categories: Safety, Match, and Reach.
- A Safety College is one whose admissions requirements you meet or exceed, giving
you a strong chance of acceptance.
- A Match College is one where your grades, achievements, and test scores are within
the range the college prefers, meaning that your chances of being accepted are good,
but you may not be at the top of the entry list.
- A Reach College is one whose admission requirements you do not quite hit, but
you're still interested in attending.
Review the admission requirements for every college of choice to determine how to
categorize each. Look specifically at high school GPA requirements, SAT and/or ACT
scores, and course-specific requirements, such as math or science grades.
On your list of colleges, note which ones are Safety, Match, and Reach candidates.
Consider applying to at least two or three colleges for each category. Do more research
if you don't have enough options. After all, there are about 6,500 colleges in the
U.S. – and many around the world – from which to choose!
During the evaluation process, remember to check out each college's retention and
graduation rates. Retention rates indicate the percentage of students who transfer
to another college. Graduation rates indicate the percentage of students who graduate
after 4, 5, or 6 years.
Why Should I Apply to Safety Colleges?
A lot of high school students and parents believe Safety Colleges are an undesirable
option and an absolute last resort. Not true! Applying to Safety Colleges will calm
you during the application process. You'll be near the top of their applicant list
as one of the most desirable students to apply. More importantly, your Safety Colleges
may also offer you the best student aid package to encourage you to enroll.