How should I interpret William & Mary admissions statistics when deciding if it’s a reach, target, or safety?

Use William & Mary’s middle 50 percent academic ranges, not just the overall acceptance rate, to decide whether it is a reach, target, or safety for you.

The most useful numbers are your weighted or unweighted GPA in the context of course rigor, your SAT or ACT if you plan to submit, and whether you are in-state. If your transcript is at or above William & Mary’s typical admitted-student range, with strong AP, IB, or honors coursework, and your scores are in the upper part of the school’s middle 50 percent, that points more toward target than reach. If you are below the middle 50 percent on GPA or scores, especially as an out-of-state applicant, you should probably treat it as a reach.

For most students, William & Mary is not a real safety because admission is selective and holistic, and many well-qualified applicants are denied. A target would usually mean your academics are solidly in range and aligned with the rigor William & Mary expects, not just barely meeting averages. A reach would mean your numbers are below range, or they are in range but the admit rate and applicant pool still make the outcome uncertain.