Reach, target, and safety schools
Quick comparison
The jargon of reach, target, and safety schools is used in the context of college admissions.
| Type and names | Desirability | Difficulty of getting in | Stage of likely rejection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach school (aka dream school) | Very high | Very high (i.e., very low probability of acceptance) | Highly likely to not get past first screening. |
| Target school (aka core school) | High | High (i.e., low probability of acceptance for any individual target school, but high probability of getting accepted in at least one of the target schools) | Will definitely get past first screening (based on grades and SAT/ACT scores), but might get rejected because of highly competitive admissions process. |
| Safety school (aka likely school) | Low or moderate | Low (i.e., high probability of getting into any individual safety school) | Will likely get an admission offer. |