Do odds increase when applying to more reaches?

lvvcsf
Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:41:20 +0000

I think the statistics work when you assume all the students applying are the same. But they are not. Numbers carry the same weight when picking lottery numbers. Students are variables and what universities will look at will be variable, what a particular reader on a particular day will consider attractive will be variable, and it goes on. There are students who get into multiple top 10s and there are similar students who won’t get into any of them. A URM student with excellent credentials may improve their chances by applying to more top 10 schools simply because there are a limited number of them. I think it’s beyond a numbers game and is different than just chance. That said if a school has a 5% acceptance rate then that means they reject 95% of their applicants. That’s important to keep in mind if attending a selective university is important to you. I think it’s important to apply to the best schools (for you) not just the “best” schools.