How to build a balanced school list

A good school list is a portfolio, not a wish list. The goal is to give yourself real options in April, which means being honest about probability now.

Sort every school into reaches, targets, and safeties based on your actual profile, not where you wish you stood. A target is a school where a student like you is admitted more often than not.

Weight the middle. Most strong lists are heavy on targets, with a handful of genuine reaches and at least two safeties you would be genuinely happy to attend. If you can't name a safety you like, the list isn't done.