<p>I’m obviously applying for colleges right now, and compiling a list of where possibilities may lie. However, what’s the best ratio for dreamers:reaches:matches:safeties? I’ve heard 3:4:2 ratio works best, and is cost-efficient (combining dreamers and reaches).</p>
<p>For example:
My dreamers/reaches:
Yale University
Williams College
Brown University</p>
<p>My Matches:
Pomona College
University of Chicago
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Southern California</p>
<p>My Safeties:
University of Washington
Washington State University</p>
<p>But seriously, there’s no such thing as a best ratio of college applications. Some people apply to only one school, like some of my friends at UT, and others apply to like 9 or 10 schools, like my friend who got into Johns Hopkins and UVA Out-of-State. </p>
<p>I personally believe you should apply to at least two Safeties, that way you can compare financial aid offers. As for Matches and Reaches, apply to however many you wish, assuming it is financially feasible.</p>
<p>Two safeties should definitely be enough, and from there, I think it depends how much you’re willing to spend. I’m planning something like a 4:5:2 ratio - others will recommend applying to fewer colleges, though, so it’s really all about personal preference, tbh.</p>
<p>^ That was my initial thought, too. If some of your matches are getting to be borderline reaches, you might want to apply to a couple safer match schools in addition to your current list.</p>
<p>Yeah…well, after I complied my lists of prospective schools, I sorted them all into Dreamers, Reaches, Matches, and Safeties. I took two reaches and two matches and combined them into one category, idk why…</p>
<p>They aren’t matches…high matches maybe, but mostly low reaches.</p>
<p>Would applying to one safety be enough? What about a 5:4:0 or 5:4:1 ratio, if the matches are very strong matches and some of the reaches are low reaches?</p>
<p>If you consider Williams a dreamer, then Pomona isn’t a match or even a low reach. A high reach, maybe, and UChicago a low/med reach (their admissions are notoriously unpredictable).</p>
<p>Regarding the actual question, definitely have 1-2 safeties (only one is okay if it’s a true financial safety as well) and 2-3 matches. Reaches, go for however many is financially feasible.</p>
<p>Baelor, if you’re confident that you’ll get into most or all of your matches, and your reaches aren’t impossible, then a safety school isn’t a necessity. I also feel like my matches are strong, but I’ll have 1 safety school anyway (3:4:1). You never know what could happen, no matter how unlikely.</p>
<p>There is no “best” ratio for college applications, as each person’s situation is different. For example, if money wasn’t an issue, I’d be applying to every college I have some interest in that would be a good match, a list upwards of a doze colleges. However, since this is unfeasible for me, I’ve been looking more into the colleges to narrow it down. Aside from money, countless other factors come into play; how high are you aiming? are you a “self-selecting” student? do your test scores fall safely into the range of admitted students to a certain school? do you have that extra something that College X wants while College Y doesn’t care about? </p>
<p>Your ratio is your ratio, and it’s up to you to decide what works. Just be sure that your safeties are safe, and that your matches are strong. After that, aim high.</p>
<p>I also think there’s no one “ratio” for everyone. I would just make sure that you apply to enough safeties and “likely” matches that you will have options once the process is over.</p>