Reach, Target, Likely
Last week we wrote about decision rounds. This week we’re keeping the vocabulary lesson going by talking about the terms we use in list-building. It’s still a little dry... and still super important.
When we build a list for a student, we break schools into three categories: Reach (2-3 schools), Target (2-3 schools), and Likely (2-3 schools). For some students we add a fourth category: Wild Card. The single most important thing to note for these categories is that the schools in them will be different for every student. What determines this? Mostly academic fit. Translation: a student’s grades, overall GPA, and test scores. (We know, does the SAT still matter?! The short answer is it’s complicated. The longer answer is that it still matters when we’re building a list.)
So how do we define Reach, Target, Likely, and Wild Card? It starts by looking at a school’s statistics and asking, can this student get in? Or as admissions officers put it, is this student viable? And not only does GPA matter for this, but GPA in the specific high school’s curriculum matters… admissions officers know the difference between a 3.4 in all honors and AP classes at your high school and a 3.4 in general.
For a Reach school, we say a student has a chance of getting in, i.e. is viable, if her GPA is at the bottom of the average range for admitted students. The important thing here is that her GPA is still in the range of those of accepted students. Someone with a 3.2 GPA probably won’t be offered admission to a school where the average GPA of accepted students is a 3.89.
A Target school is one where a student’s GPA falls right in range with the average of recently admitted students. That same student with a 3.2 GPA is much more likely to be admitted to a school where the average GPA for accepted students is between 3.1 and 3.3.
A Likely school is one where a student’s GPA is at the very top or above the average of the most recently admitted class. A student with a 3.7 GPA has a high likelihood of admission to a school where the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.0.
The last category, Wild Card, is what we term Ivies and other uber-competitive elite schools; pretty much anything with an acceptance rate of under 15-20%. These are schools that could fill their incoming classes five times over with students boasting 4.0 GPAs, amazing activities, and brilliant personal statements. (Did you know that in 2019 50% of high school students graduated with a 4.0 GPA?!)
So where do test scores come in? Even though most schools are staying test optional for this admissions cycle, it can still be helpful to look at their average test scores when assessing a student’s viability. Again, looking to see where a student’s scores fall within a college’s range will help evaluate viability, even if that student chooses not to submit those scores. If I scored a 1060 on my SAT and the average SAT score for my dream school is 1400, well… that’s an indication that my chances of getting in are on the slimmer end. If my transcript (not just my grades but my grades in a challenging curriculum) and activities are outstanding, my letters of recommendation amazing, and my personal statement is well written, compelling, and tells a great story then admission is possible. And this is where we come in...
We love building lists for our clients and we love helping them put together their strongest applications possible. The best time to get started is in the fall of junior year... Send an email to info@yourmayfirst.com or call (617.447.0186) and let’s chat.
I struggled in math. Now what?!
Last week we got a call from the parents of a student finishing his sophomore year. He’s a great kid and an excellent student-- hard-working but doesn’t take himself too seriously, engaged in his coursework, and curious about the world around him. In spite of this, he’s had a tough year in his math class. Where he earned A’s in all of his other courses, his final math grade is likely to be in the C+/B- range. He’s had some difficulties with the teacher-- they’re not a great fit for each other-- and Algebra is just tough for him.
His parents called to get our advice and thoughts on a few different questions:
How will this grade -- lower than anything else on his transcript -- affect his college applications?
What can they do over the summer to make sure he is prepared for the math portion of the PSAT (usually taken Fall of Junior year) and SAT (he’ll take it next Spring for the first time)?
How can they boost his confidence so the difficulty of that one course doesn’t affect how he feels about school or his ability to work through difficult academic situations??
Here’s what we shared:
The important thing to remember is that one less-than-perfect grade isn’t going to keep a great kid from getting into great colleges. While this class was a struggle for our client, we’ll help him build a narrative that tells the story of this struggle, including what he learned about himself and his ability to work through challenges. We’ll also strategize a plan for success in future math classes so that his transcript shows a trajectory of growth and improvement.
While we think it’s a great idea to spend some time this summer getting familiar with the PSAT, SAT, and ACT and doing some healthy prep work for them, we think it’s equally important to take a break from stress and anxiety and get some breathing room. And this brings us to #3…
Take a break! This past year (really 15 - 16 months) was really hard, like really really hard. High school students suddenly found themselves at home. With their parents. All. The. Time. Some students started this year fully remote, some hybrid, and some full-time and in-person. Some had their academic schedules totally reshuffled and classes taught in longer or shorter blocs. Some students who struggled with a particular class for a ton of different reasons couldn’t get the support they would usually have access to in normal times. It added up to a lot of extra stress and a lot of extra unknowns.
So what does taking a break look like?
In this case, we advised our client and his parents to focus on finishing out the year strong-- getting through final projects and tests with as much grit and grace as he could muster. And then, slamming the door on it for a few weeks, ideally a full month.
He needs some time to let his brain rest, to have some fun, to get some distance from the stress he’s been under. When he’s feeling restored, we suggested he start doing some twice-weekly work in math to review what he worked so hard to learn this year, to re-engage with what was confusing and keep working towards understanding, and lastly, to begin working with a test-prep tutor. While we expect most schools will stay test-optional for the coming year, it’s still a great idea to be prepared to take the SAT or ACT. There are amazing tutors out there who not only understand the tips and tricks for success but can also seriously help reduce test-taking anxiety, which always results in higher scores.
Whether you’re struggling with what to do after a tough course, want some advice on how to choose classes next year to strengthen your college applications, or want to build a strong narrative telling your story, we’re here to help. Give us a call (617.447.0186) or email us at info@yourmayfirst.com and let’s chat.