When choosing to apply to schools, it is important to follow the common advice: pick out safety, target, and reach schools. There is an even further dichotomy within these categories, as I will explain. Safety schools should be chosen with mostly cost and location in mind. A safety school by definition is one that your credentials indicate that you will almost certainly get into. If you aren't shooting for the stars with this school, it is most plausible to find a cost-effective school (which often means staying in-state too). A target school is one where your application will be competitive...