Setting Your Target School List

Module 1.5: Setting Your Target School List

Elite admissions is a numbers game, but "spraying and praying" (applying to 20 schools without a strategy) is a recipe for burnout and mediocre essays. A focused, well-researched list is your best tool for success.

We recommend the 3-4-3 Strategy to build a balanced list of approximately 8-10 schools.

1. The "Reach" Schools (3 Schools)

Definition: These are schools where the acceptance rate is typically under 15-20%, or where your academic profile is slightly below their median.

• Examples: Phillips Exeter, Andover, St. Paul's, Harvard-Westlake.

• The Reality Check: For the top 10 boarding schools in the US, every applicant is a "Reach." Even if you have perfect grades and 99th percentile scores, the sheer volume of applicants makes admission unpredictable.

• Why Apply: You apply because you love them, and you have a chance. But you never build a strategy relying solely on these.

2. The "Match" Schools (4 Schools)

Definition: Schools where your academic profile (grades and SSAT scores) aligns perfectly with their reported median, and the acceptance rate is generally 20-40%.

• The "Sweet Spot": These are schools where you are a strong competitive candidate. You "fit" the profile.

• Strategy: This is the core of your list. You should be genuinely excited to attend any of these schools. Do not treat them as "consolation prizes." Many "Match" schools offer world-class education with slightly less hyper-competition than the "Reaches."

3. The "Likely" or "Safety" Schools (3 Schools)

Definition: Schools where your profile places you in the top 10-15% of their applicant pool, and the acceptance rate is generally 50%+.

• The Role of a Safety: This guarantees you have a high-quality option for the fall.

• The "Love It" Rule: Never apply to a safety school you would hate to attend. It is a waste of time and money. Find a school that is perhaps slightly less selective but has a specific program (e.g., a great robotics lab or a specific art program) that you love.

• Financial Aid Lever: Sometimes, being the top candidate at a "Likely" school can result in better merit scholarship offers (if the school offers merit aid).

Analyzing "School Profiles" for Your List

To categorize a school, you need data. Look for the "School Profile" on their website or use sites like BoardingSchoolReview.com.

• SSAT Ranges: If a school's average SSAT is the 85th percentile, and you have a 90th, it's a Match/Reach. If you have a 60th, it's a Reach.

• Yield Rate: Look at how many accepted students actually enroll. A high yield indicates a school is very popular and likely more selective than the raw acceptance rate suggests.

The Danger of the "Top Heavy" List

A common mistake is applying to 8 Reach schools and 1 Safety. This is high-risk gambling. If the admissions cycle is particularly competitive that year, you risk getting zero acceptances.

Your Action Item: Download the "School Comparison Worksheet" (Module 2) and draft your initial list. Label each school clearly: Reach, Match, or Likely. If you don't have at least 2 "Likely" schools, you need to do more research.