Safety Schools - How many?

[ucbalumnus]

Be careful, however, that many not that selective schools cannot be counted on as safeties, due to considering subjective factors or "level of applicant's interest" in admissions, or being less than certain on affordability.

[mathmom]

I believe in having two safeties so you have choices if the worst happens. If she likes LACs I'd look for ones that offer merit aid and a film program. I'd also look for any college with a good film program that might offer merit aid as well as being a safety. Don't forget that if you have a school with EA or rolling admissions on your list, even a match or reach can become a safety if you are admitted. My younger son dropped his second safety when he got into a reach school.

[northwesty]

You need to think of safety/match/reach in terms of admissions and also cost. Recognize that your "admissions reach" schools will also likely to be your "cost reach" schools.

Based on that thinking, for my most recent kid we did one safety (in-state state U), two reaches and nine matches. Since we were looking for merit money, my matches might have looked somewhat safety-ish to some people -- places where my kid was an above-average applicant and therefore likely to get some money.

With the Common App and $50 app fees, why not bulk up on the match category? You'll wind up with a large group of schools (i) where your kid got in and (ii) which you can afford.

The kiplinger database pasted above is a great tool. So is the NY Times article from this summer. Notice, for example, that of the schools you mention Harvard does zero merit aid, NW does almost none, but USC does a lot (if your kid is an above average applicant at that school).

[thumper1]

If your daughter has a safety that she really likes with guaranteed acceptance...that is affordable, then one is enough.

That being said, it's nice to have choices. If her reach schools don't pan out, she might want to have another safety Donahue can choose between the two.

[1214mom]

As math mom pointed out, the result of early action are important. My son applied to two schools early action, and was accepted at both. After that he only applied to our state flagship (because I made him) and one other school he like as much or more than the ea schools. If he hadn't been accepted ea, we would have done things differently.

[swizzle13]

I applied to three safety schools- Quinnipiac University, Marymount Manhattan College, and Central Connecticut State University. I'm basically a guaranteed admit for CCSU, and I fit right in with QU's stats and they're not thaaaat selective. The lowest combo of GPA and test scores they've accepted from my high school were a 2.7 with a 1300 CR+M+W. And my stats are a lot higher, so I'm considering it a safety. My stats are also a lot higher than Marymount Manhattan's, and it's not really that selective. They're all rolling/EA, so that really helps me out.

The financial safety is CCSU, I guess. I'd get a ton of merit aid from Marymount. My favorite safety school, which is also in my top 4, is also the one that would give me the least aid-QU. I'd get a lot from them, but I'd have to take out quite a bit in private loans to pay for it. So, yeah. Since they all have fairly high acceptance rates I'm definitely considering them safeties.

UConn's on my list, and I could technically call it a safety since my stats much up with what they normally accept, but I'm calling it a match/target just because.

[ucbalumnus]

Yes, an early acceptance with sufficient financial aid and scholarships (if needed) from an EA or rolling admissions school turns the school into a safety, which can allow dropping applications to any less desirable school (whether it is otherwise a reach, match, or safety).

[ucbalumnus]

Originally Posted by swizzle13

My favorite safety school, which is also in my top 4, is also the one that would give me the least aid-QU. I'd get a lot from them, but I'd have to take out quite a bit in private loans to pay for it.

It is not a safety if you would have to take unreasonable amounts of debt to attend.

[thumper1]

I'm not trying to be discouraging, but here are my perspectives.

I'm not sure how successful that SAT and GPA would be for QU now. We know kids with far higher stats who did NOT get accepted there.

QU is more than twice the cost of attending as UConn or CCSU. You would have to be at the tippy top of their applicant pool to garner enough merit aid to bring the costs down similar to the instate publics. QU does NOT guarantee to meet the full need of all accepted students...and they don't. So even need based aid might leave you short on funds.

RE UConn...get your application completed ASAP. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of acceptance. Last year...some students with acceptable stats did NOT get accepted because they simply waited too long to apply and the slots were all filled. If you really intend to apply to UConn...get that application suitted pronto.

[CountingDown]

OP, Chapman in CA has a film program, IIRC.

If you are searching for merit $$, it helps if your D is at the tippy top of the applicant pool. I would not assume stats in the top 25% of the applicant pool will garner merit $$ *unless* the school has some specific guidelines for merit awards (i.e., Alabama, Miami of Ohio, etc.).

Realize that even if your D's stats place her in the top 25% of the applicant pool at a particular college, if the acceptance rate is under 25%, that school is not a safety for anyone.

Be sure to show the love to schools where she would be at the top of the pool. Some schools don't like to be considered safeties, and this can trip up kids who really ARE interested in those places because they are looking for merit $$.

Once you have some PSAT/SAT/SCT scores, we can offer better suggestions on schools. Has she taken any APs/does the school offer any?

[swizzle13]

@ucbalumnus The amount of money I'd have to take out isn't "unreasonable". I've done my research, I've talked to who I need to talk to. Thanks.

@Thumper Like I said, that was for MY school, from this past year. I personally know the girl who now attends, so it's not like I'm making things up. I know what you're saying, though, and I can assure you that I have far higher stats than that.

Also, UConn recently changed their policy. They only have RD now and they aren't reviewing applicants in any specific order, according to their admissions office.

[jnm123]

ShabaMama--yes, you should probably have one more safety--from an acceptance and/or financial standpoint--other than Iowa.

But boy, what a cheap and solid in-state safety Iowa is, if that's what she decides. If she truly wants to go the film route--and undergrades have been known to change their minds about vocation once, twice, TEN times--pay the $20K per year instead of $50K & save it for her grad school.

I am a little biased. My wife, older D & myself are all Iowa grads, and wouldn't have had it any other way.

[ShabaMama]

@CountingDown .... she took the PSAT on Wednesday morning. They are saying we should have those results in December. She's scheduled to take the PLAN in November. She has the annual Iowa Assessments next week.

I hadn't looked at Miami of Ohio. It would be nice to have another mid-western alternative.

[SteveMA]

Something to keep in mind when she starts applying, many schools have gone to free online applications or send fee waivers via email or during a visit. Keep an eye out for those schools that are safety schools and send test scores to those schools when she takes the ACT/SAT (you can send 4 scores for free--use them). Hopefully by then she will have an idea of which schools she wants to apply to--or at least some schools. To send scores after you take the test is $12/test/school so it can add up.

[ShabaMama]

@SteveMA .... sheesh, they get you coming and going with those fees, don't they?