<p>None of what you have said is condescending or snobbish. All of us here try not to rank schools, or say which one is good, better, or best (or hottest). It’s just not relevant. Some are more selective, but that just means they accept a lower percentage of applicants. No one in this forum could ever tell you how they make their decisions. We can’t even really consider any kind of stats, as opposed to in academic acceptances.</p>
<p>I can imagine it feels weird to say “aim lower.” Maybe you can use different words that will make you feel like you’re not judging a school. We tend to say “have a balanced list.” As haflokum’s metaphor shows, it’s really about finding characteristics you like (which are different for everyone) and seeing if there’s a mutual fit. </p>
<p>We are happy to be helping you - that’s why CC is here. You are friendly, honest and respectful. We all wish you the best of luck and hope you keep posting here.</p>