What is a Reach School?

When you’re putting together your college list, it’s important to understand what a ‘reach’ school is. A reach school is a college or university where getting in might be a bit of a long shot. This doesn’t mean you have no chance (even though it might feel that way when you see super-low acceptance rates!), but your chances are lower based on a few key factors.

Why Would a College Be a Reach?

Reach schools tend to be more selective, with lower acceptance rates and higher academic standards. But that’s not the only reason a school might be a reach. Maybe your grades or test scores are just below their average admitted student, or the program you’re applying to is extra competitive. All of this can make a school harder to get into.

Balancing Your College List

Including a few reach schools in your list can be exciting—after all, these might be your dream schools. But don’t overload your list with too many reach schools. It’s essential to have a good mix, including target and likely schools where you have a better shot at getting in. This way, you’re setting yourself up for a more successful and less stressful application process.

How to Tell if a College is a Reach

Grades and Test Scores

One of the easiest ways to figure out if a college is a reach for you is by comparing your grades and test scores to the school’s admitted student profile. If your GPA and test scores are below the 25th percentile of the college’s recent admits, that school is probably a reach.

Most colleges publish these stats on their admissions pages or in their Common Data Set, and it’s best to look for the middle 50% range of GPAs and test scores rather than just an average. Keep in mind that strong grades are usually the most important factor in college admissions. While solid essays and extracurriculars can help, especially in holistic admissions, falling below these academic benchmarks generally means the school is a reach.

Acceptance Rates

Colleges with super low acceptance rates—typically under 20%—are considered reach schools for almost everyone. Some people even call these schools “highly rejective” instead of “highly selective” because of how tough they are to get into. Schools like Stanford, Harvard, and MIT fall into this category.

Here’s the thing: it’s not about you or your application; it’s just math. With around 20,000 high schools in the U.S., there are 20,000 valedictorians and another 20,000 salutatorians. But Harvard only admits around 2,000 students with a less than 5% acceptance rate. They can’t accept every qualified student—even if they want to!

So, if a college has an acceptance rate this low, it’s a reach, no matter how strong your application is.

Impacted Majors

Applying to a super competitive or impacted major can also turn a college into a reach, especially if the school admits students by major. For instance, NC State University in North Carolina admits by major, and some programs are way more competitive than others. On the other hand, UNC Chapel Hill doesn’t admit by major.

Programs like engineering, business, computer science, and nursing often have lower acceptance rates than the college overall. Make sure to research how selective your desired major is because it can seriously affect your chances of getting in.

Early Decision vs. Regular Decision

Acceptance rates can be very different between Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD) applicants. Some colleges accept a higher percentage of ED applicants because these students are committed to attending if admitted.

Plus, every ED admit takes up a seat that’s no longer available for EA or RD applicants. Some colleges fill about half of their incoming class with ED admits, so the larger EA/RD applicant pools compete for fewer open spots.

If you’re considering a reach school, applying to ED might increase your chances. However, ED is binding, so you must be sure that the school is your top choice and can afford to attend.

Out-of-State Residency

If you’re applying to a public university, your residency status can impact your chances of getting in. Many state schools prioritize in-state students, meaning lower acceptance rates for out-of-state applicants.

This can actually work in your favor if you’re applying to a public university in your home state. For example, 82% of incoming students in North Carolina have to be in-state residents. So, if you’re from North Carolina, getting into a public university there is easier than applying from out of state.

But it might be a different story if you’re applying to a public university in another state. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply but know that being an out-of-state applicant can make the school more of a reach. Colleges often share the percentage of in-state vs. out-of-state students on their admissions website, so look. If a school has a really high percentage of in-state students, it might be tougher to get in as an out-of-state applicant.

Additional Factors

A few other things can affect whether a school is a reach for you. Check out a college’s Common Data Set to see what they consider important in admissions. Things like extracurricular activities, essays, demonstrated interest, and interviews can all play a big role. Also, if you have legacy status—meaning a family member went to that school—that could boost your chances at some places.