starbright

Lots of good advice so far and you might have good reason to rule out your safeties but...I want to mention that as a professor who has taught at a smallish Ivy and a large state school...don't naturally assume a large public means not knowing your professors. You can absolutely build close relationships with them, with just a tiny bit of initiative on your part. You will be likely very very pleasantly surprised. Don't get sucked into the mythology.

I'm positive about this. In fact, getting to know your profs will set you apart from most of your classmates (who'd never seek them out) and you can do research with them, be mentored by them, and so on. Trust me on this. I've been there, I see it all the time (and its something I counsel my kids about as well). Just make an effort to meet with them and their doors will be open.

Rose123

I’m confused about how posters can call schools like Chicago, Emory and Georgetown safeties. Really? It could be about the definition of safety, which will vary. For my S, I define safety as 95% chance of admission and affordable. Even with strong stats, it would be hard for me to consider these top schools as safeties.

I’d really be interested in anyone explaining their reasoning on this.

My URM S has somewhat similar stats, but lower GPA and higher test scores. We consider Santa Clara a safety, albeit more of a match/reach in terms of finances.

tk21769

Maybe what the OP needs is more "match" schools, not safeties.
Some of the UCs may seem less than ideal compared to YPS or Amherst, but among private colleges and OOS publics, how many true admissions & financial safeties really outshine the UCs?

I'm thinking of a school like Brandeis. It's less selective than most of the private schools on the OP's list, but very good. It's in the Northeast, Boston area, not rural. ~3200 undergrads, decent student-faculty ratio. I don't know about their aid policies with respect to need-blind or no-loan. However, they do grant merit scholarships; OP probably would have a shot at a good one.

The Brandeis student body seems to be about comparable to Berkeley's in qualifications. But you get smaller classes with more undergraduate focus, plus the New England change of scene.

Erin's Dad

Rose, If you'd read to the bottom of that post you would have found this:
"Of these schools, IMO, schools in the range of Richmond, Trinity, St. Olaf, Bates, Occidental and Lafayette would be safeties."

HMom was just listing the colleges which meet full need because the OP needs a lot of FA.

caltennis92

Thanks everyone for all the input and suggestions! I'm looking into Brandeis, and UC's are still on my list.
HMom: thanks for the list of schools that meet full need! very helpful!!

MojaveMocha

My recommendation would be Tulane. There are a number of merit-based scholarships that I think you have a shot of winning & in addition they have a new "No Loan" policy:

"For qualifying students, Tulane ensures that the cost of tuition, fees and transportation will be met with a combination of Tulane scholarship, the family’s institutional expected family contribution (EFC), and certain federal grants and/or ROTC scholarship. Because Tulane’s student body is unique in that over 75% of its students travel over 500 miles from home to attend, budgeted travel costs to and from the university will also be factored into the no-loan need-based aid awards."

>>In addition I think you may like the size. I would more likely call this a very strong match then a safety though.