Reach vs Match/safety

lvvcsf
Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:52:30 +0000

A university can be a “reach” for two reasons. First is because the school is truly an academic reach. The student will be at the lower end of the standardized tests scores, GPA and academic rigor for the university. The challenge for those students who might be accepted is that they will need to work harder and smarter than they have in the past to keep up and may require some catching up. There could be an argument that that school is really not a fit for them.

Second, is that the school receives a large number of applications from qualified applicants. Most of these students are likely to have the skills necessary to be successful at the universities. For students in this situation the school might be a fit for them even though it is also a reach.

The question of fit is important whether the school is selective or not. I wouldn’t recommend that a student apply to a reach if it did not meet their needs. On the other hand if the reach school fits their needs and they feel they could be successful there is no reason not to consider the school.