Start with the number
Eight to twelve schools is enough for almost everyone. Fewer than six leaves you exposed; more than fifteen means your supplements get thin and generic, which lowers your odds everywhere.
The three buckets
- Likely (3–4): your stats sit above the school's middle 50%, and the admit rate is comfortable. At least one should be affordable without aid negotiation.
- Target (3–5): your stats sit inside the middle 50% and the admit rate is moderate.
- Reach (2–4): your stats sit at or below the middle 50%. Schools admitting under 20% always show Reach · selective school. At a 35% estimate or higher, your profile is competitive, but nothing is guaranteed.
Test each school against four filters
- Academic: does it actually offer your intended major, with depth?
- Financial: run the net price calculator with your family before adding it.
- Fit: size, setting, distance from home, and how you want to spend a Tuesday night.
- Outcome: what graduates in your field do next.
The rule that matters most
Never add a school you would be unhappy to attend. A 'safety' you resent is not a safety. Build the likely bucket first, make sure you love it, and then let yourself dream at the top of the list.