Selectivity when Building Your College List 

As our seniors finish their college applications, we are working diligently with our Junior students on building college lists.  Our brand promise is that when our students are done with our process, they will know where they want to go, what they want to do, and who they want to be.  We also want to make sure our students understand how “selectivity” works so that we can create a list that fits the individual profile of the student in front of us.

The college admissions process can be daunting, but one of the most important steps is creating a balanced college list. This list should include a mix of the target, reach, and selective schools. But what does that mean? Keep reading to find out!  You can also learn more by clicking HERE to learn more about our vibrant and inclusive parent community.

A target school is a college where your academic credentials fit within the middle 50% of students the school admits. For example, if you have a 3.5 GPA and 1100 SAT score, you would be in the middle 50% of students at a school with an average GPA of 3.3-3.7 and an average SAT score of 1090-1110.

Your chances of being admitted at a target school are good but not guaranteed. You should have solid grades and test scores. Still, you may also need to stand out in other ways, such as through extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, or your personal essay.

A reach school is a college where your academic credentials place you in the bottom 25% of students the school admits. For example, if you have a 3.5 GPA and 1100 SAT score, you would be in the bottom 25% of students at a school that had an average GPA of 3.8-4.0 and an average SAT score of 1220-1300.

Your chances of being admitted to a reach school are lower than at a target school, but it’s still possible to get in. In addition to strong grades and test scores, you’ll need to have other aspects of your application that stand out, such as extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, or your essay.

A selective school is a college where your academic credentials place you in the top 25% of students the school admits. For example, if you have a 3.5 GPA and 1100 SAT score, you would be in the top 25% of students at a school that had an average GPA of 3.0-3.2 and an average SAT score of 1000-1090.

At a selective school, your admissions chances are slim—less than one in four applicants will get in—but it’s still worth applying to some reach schools because you never know what could happen! As with reach schools, having strong grades and test scores is not enough; you’ll need to have other elements of your application that stand out for your application to rise to the top of the pile.

The takeaway is that it’s important to create a balanced college list with the target, reach, and selective schools. That way, you increase your chances of getting into at least one college while still shooting for your dream school! And remember: even if you don’t get into your first-choice college, there are plenty of other great options!

Let us help you build your college list-You can Join our Parent Community or Tell us Your Story to learn more about our 1:1 student coaching.