Question

Which of the following is true about reach schools?


All students should include an Ivy League school in their list of reach schools.

The majority of schools in your College Matrix should be reach schools.

Even if you don’t match the typical academic profile for admitted students, your extracurricular activities, community involvement, and other strengths might help you get in.

Some reach schools have open admission policies.

Answer 1

Only statement 3 is true.

- 1 (All students should include an Ivy League school) — False. Including an Ivy is optional and not necessary; reach schools should be based on your goals and profile, not a checklist item.
- 2 (The majority of schools in your College Matrix should be reach schools) — False. A balanced list usually includes a mix of safeties, matches/targets, and a few reaches (not a majority).
- 3 (Even if you don’t match the typical academic profile, other strengths might help you get in) — True. Many selective colleges use holistic review, so strong extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, leadership, unique background, or special talents can offset weaker test scores/GPA.
- 4 (Some reach schools have open admission policies) — False. Open-admission schools admit nearly all applicants and are not “reach” schools; reach schools are selective by definition.

Quick practical tip: aim for a balanced list (for example: 2–4 safeties, several matches, and 2–4 reaches) tailored to your interests and strengths.