List with just one (great) safety and lots of reaches?

[ucbalumnus]

@mom4623

One consideration is that we have a very tight budget, and we expect based on the NPCs that some of the more competitive schools would end up being less expensive than her dad’s school. That is not the case for some of the matches and safeties her counselor has suggested, which would be more than we can afford, unless they come through with a lot of merit.

Those schools would have to be chanced based on getting a large enough merit scholarship, which typically means that they could be reaches (rather than matches or safeties).

@mom4623

Is it really that unwise to apply to one safety, one match, and maybe six or seven reaches?

No, if the safety actually is a safety where admission and affordability are assured, and the student would be happy to attend. Some students and parent underestimate the difficulty of admission to their “safeties” and get unpleasantly surprised in April.