Anonymous
Post 10/13/2025 07:38     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:My DS has his reaches and safeties but doesn't have targets that he'd be happy to attend if the reaches don't work out.

What would you put on the list for target schools?
4.0 GPW UW/4.7 W
36 ACT superscore
Probably poli sci major
Strong ECs, no major awards but very involved at schools, internships

East Coast school location, not into big sports, frat or southern scene, not too rural


My kid, also MCPS, has a similar background but different possible major.

Her targets are UMD + (honors/scholars) and W&M. Elder sibling is at UMD in a limited enrollment major with merit and Honors (similar HS stats) and is happy there. Sibling was rejected or WL at all reaches.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2025 07:02     Subject: Target school list?
OP, it was hard to tell from your post, but your student should be sure their *safeties* are ones they’d like to go to if nothing else works out. If they aren’t actually okay with the school, like if they wouldn’t actually go there, it’s a waste of the $70 application fee.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2025 01:53     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:It's hard to find targets for this profile; it's either likely or reach it seems. Vassar, Weslyan may be targets?

This is why Holy Cross and Macalester are sweet spots.
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2025 01:29     Subject: Target school list?
St Andrews
Anonymous
Post 10/13/2025 00:25     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you in MD or VA? Which county? If out of DC area, we can't really help you well.


MD MoCo W


Thanks for that info. Is 4.7 in the top 10% at her W? University of Michigan worked out well for the very good, non Top-10% kids at our W last year. UVA took top 10% kids. W&M, you'll probably get a Monroe Scholars offer.


Michigan is a possibility.

Any interest in Syracuse?
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 23:51     Subject: Target school list?
DC really wants a strong department for his major, and not all the target or likely schools offer it. So how about applying ED/EA and if it doesn’t work out, apply broadly to all the schools that offer a strong program. If denied from all, then take a gap year or go to community college and transfer. Would this be the end of the world? Anything we need to consider?
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 20:38     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Tufts or Boston U or Georgetown


Those aren’t targets for anyone.

George Washington?


+1000

A target should be an acceptance rate between 20-50%, anything lower is a reach. Ideally you want a few targets where your kid is at/above the 75% for stats and the acceptance rates are 30-40%+ to improve acceptance chances


It has to be your high school’s acceptance rate, not general acceptance rate. GW at ours has an acceptance rate over 95%, it’s more safe than a safety.


I mean, by that definition UVA would be a target for my DD per her high school’s scatterplot. No one with her stats has been rejected. I still don’t consider it a done deal.


So it would be considered a Target and not a Safety.
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 20:22     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:With his stats schools ranked 26-40. So Uva, Tufts, Georgia tech if non CS.


Those stats are pretty common for OOS for Georgia Tech. 9% acceptance rate OOS
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 20:20     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Tufts or Boston U or Georgetown


Those aren’t targets for anyone.

George Washington?


lol. Ok whatever you say. Those are legit targets for OP’s kid.
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 19:59     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you in MD or VA? Which county? If out of DC area, we can't really help you well.


MD MoCo W


Thanks for that info. Is 4.7 in the top 10% at her W? University of Michigan worked out well for the very good, non Top-10% kids at our W last year. UVA took top 10% kids. W&M, you'll probably get a Monroe Scholars offer.
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 19:25     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:Dumb rankings, PP. Nice try, though.

Try for what?
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 18:21     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:Are you in MD or VA? Which county? If out of DC area, we can't really help you well.


MD MoCo W
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 18:20     Subject: Target school list?
Are you in MD or VA? Which county? If out of DC area, we can't really help you well.
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 18:19     Subject: Target school list?
Dumb rankings, PP. Nice try, though.
Anonymous
Post 10/12/2025 18:16     Subject: Target school list?
Anonymous wrote:Vassar - excellent in Poli Sci and IR.
Wesleyan - excelent in Econ and Poli Sci.

Both give a BIG BUMP in admissions for males. Take advantage, OP and good luck!

Of potential note, Wesleyan and Vassar place adjacent to each other in this analysis of faculty scholarship in the field of economics:

Economics rankings: US Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges | IDEAS/RePEc https://share.google/2mHrSu8yWT2wejlfA