Reply to Target/Match vs. Likely/Safety

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A safety is a safety once you're in. Apply early. [b]We considered the process fluid. [/b]The list fluid. Applications went in, heard from some, schools could be dropped. Knew deadlines. Schools could be added. Btw, the ultimate safeties are schools in May-June that show up on the Space Available Survey. It's a thing.[/quote]
This is an important part of this conversation that too many people overlook. Safety/match/reach need to be treated as loose ideas. The timing of when/how you are applying (rolling, ED, EA, RD) also influences outcomes. For example, Pitt might be a safety if you apply to it early, but it’s not if you apply as an afterthought when you push the button on Nov 1 for other schools.

You don’t need 20+ applications if you are strategic and realistic about the process.

DC1 applied 6 places (2 rolling, 4 EA), was accepted all, and chose state flagship. Top stat DC2 applied 4 places EA, got into 2 deferred to RD on other 2. But that early T20 acceptance meant about 6 other schools dropped off the RD list. DC2 applied three other T10 schools RD, accepted into 2 (ended up choosing 1st school). I’m guiding kid #3, also high stats but different interests from DC2. 1 rolling app is done. Will apply ED to 1 school that seems to be strong match and EA to 3 others. The state flagship is a match, the other two EA are reaches based on admit rates.

1. Find a school with rolling admission that is a safety and that DC would be happy going to.
2. Look at all in-state public schools and figure out which one is a match with your program. Apply EA. (Lower ranked in-state schools are your safeties to apply to RD if you misjudged and don’t get into what you thought was a match.)
3. Higher ranked in-state public schools are reaches. Apply EA.
4. Determine if there is any school that you are sure you want to apply to as ED. Don’t just pick a reach school for ED “just to try”. If there is a match school you’d really like to attend, your chances are better with ED. If you really aren’t sure about a particular school, then don’t apply ED.
5. For any other OOS or private school, apply EA if they are a match or a reach. 
6. Wait …. When initial rolling, ED, and EA results come back, modify your remaining lists.
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