University Enrollment: College Preparation
Applying To College
Got Your Game Plan?
Match, Reach & Safety Schools
Applying to college ain’t free—it can set you (or your folks) back anywhere from $40 to $80 a pop. So use a strategy that covers your bases without breaking the bank.
Start by creating a list of around 25 colleges that look good; then dig deeper with your research on them. Narrow it down to 15 colleges; then pursue your research even further. Ultimately, you should shoot for a final list of around seven or eight schools. Princeton Review recommends a list that combines reach, match and safety schools.
What are they?
Reach: Your academic credentials fall below the school’s range for the average freshman. This is where you shoot for the best. Yes, these are long shots, but make them realistic long shots—you won’t get into Harvard with a 2.0 GPA nor do you want to flounder beyond your academic depth.
Match: Your academic credentials fall well within—or above—the school’s range for the average freshman. This is your likely niche.
Safety: Your academic credentials fall above the range for the average freshman. This is your safety net—it may not be your ultimate destination, but be sure it’s still a place you’d be happy to attend.
Apply to a few schools from each category to be sure you’ve covered the spectrum. A common tactic is to apply to three reach schools, three match schools and two safety schools.
Your high school college counselor has their finger on the pulse of the different colleges and their acceptance track records. The aim is to be accepted to three or four institutions so you have a choice of destination and financial aid packages.