Understanding your match scores
What the percentage scores mean and how to interpret them.
Updated March 2, 2026 · 1 min read
Each school in your list shows a match score from 0 to 100. This is not a prediction of admission. It measures how well your profile aligns with the school based on historical data.
Score ranges
The score is one input to the category, not the whole of it. A school that admits almost everyone is treated as a Safety on those grounds alone. Otherwise, Safety needs a score of at least 85 AND academics above the college's admitted range; Target starts at 70; anything below that is a Reach, as are highly selective schools regardless of score. That is why a strong score can still read as Reach where very few applicants are admitted.
Scores reflect quantitative factors like GPA and test scores. Admissions also weighs essays, recommendations, and personal qualities that cannot be fully captured by a number. Treat scores as one input, not a verdict.