I’m willing to make compromises.
I think I’d like a school in any part of the country culture wise, I like the south and California because of the warm weather.
I’ve decided already that both Cal Poly and UCSB would be bad choices for me given that they are so expensive and don’t offer great education majors.
I am not focused on name recognition for bragging rights, but mostly because no schools without name recognition have everything else that I’m looking for. I don’t really know the right way to explain it. I guess it’s not that important though.
Look at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. Great campus, safe neighborhood, not far from the beach and from the LA airport. They do have a teacher’s ed program where you can get a teaching certificate in 4 years. With your stats, you will be a contender for some merit money to bring the sticker price down. And I commend you for planning a teaching career. We need bright and motivated people in our classrooms.
I think it’s important to consider what @extra21 wants to do rather than what you or I would do, even though I probably agree with some of your points. This thread is indeed long, but the OP has made clear two points: 1) she (?) wants a classic university experience (probably like a well-regarded state flagship or perhaps a particular private university (though Vanderbilt would be a very tough admit), and, 2) she says that her family can afford the OOS costs.
If this second point especially is true, then she is in a good position. If I were in her place, I would look at schools across the nation as well. Sure, if cost were an issue, I might say to my child, “Why don’t you go to Illinois State U. instead of UIUC? It’s half the cost and ISU started out as a teacher’s college and its commitment to educating teachers is strong.” (NOTE: I’m originally from IL). Or I might encourage her to look at private schools that are assured to award large merit, since private schools cost the same in-state or OOS. But costs are, according to the OP, not an issue.
Thus, if I could comfortably afford to send my two children anywhere? Well, I’d let them go anywhere! Plus, if the OP finds that what she wrote in post #2 is not accurate, or is not as accurate as she thought (“They can pay for any college, price shouldn’t be an issue”), then I’m sure she’ll adjust her list.
I could always apply to ISU or any other in state or super cheap colleges. I just checked though and with the scholarship I’d get at Alabama, the price would be almost exactly the same as at ISU, and I’d just rather go there.
Then apply to Alabama in July. Have all the rolling admissions schools done in July/August, use them as training wheels for your Vanderbilt Ed app where it’s going to be another ballgame.
Keep in mind there’s an alternative route for top school majors: TFA. You major in whatever you want and apply for TFA (it’s quite selective but selectivity has decreased since the job market for graduates is rather good have equally prestigious venues), teach elementary school for two years and get certified on their dime, then decide to continue as an elementary school teacher or not.
This would open up a lot more top schools. Then again maybe you don’t need that.
What’s your list as of now?
I didn’t know I could apply in July. I want to apply asap though so I will.
My longer list as of right now is this:
Safety: UIUC, Alabama, FSU
Match: UF, UW, Penn State, UGA, Baylor, UCF, Tulane, LMU
Reach: USC, UT, UVA, BU, BC, UM, Wake Forest
Dream: Vanderbilt, Brown, Cornell, UNC, Duke
And then narrowed down:
Safety: Alabama, UIUC
Match: UF, UGA, Penn State, UW
Reach: UT, UVA, BC, UM
Dream: Vanderbilt, Duke, UNC
Alabama opens in July for sure. UF too AFAIK. Penn State in August. Check for the others. At your safeties and matxhes apply to honors colleges.
When will I hear back from the rolling admissions schools if I apply as soon as they open?
Georgia has posted their essay questions if you want to get an early start. http://ugaadmissions.blogspot.com/
Depends on the schools but typically before the end of December for sure, earlier if you’re lucky. THen you have till May 1 to decide.
Basically, you will either 1° hear back from Vanderbilt that you’re in and so everything else is moot or 2° you don’t get into Vanderbild but you hear that you got into one/some of the safeties and matches and you have till April to pick which one, assuming you don’t get in anywhere else RD. So, basically, in December, you know you’ll have a good choice. 
Thanks so much!
So I’m still a little confused. I don’t want to apply too early, but every time I try to find the dates for when applications for each school open, I can’t. Where do I find those?
And I know that I’ll apply to UA and to Vanderbilt, which others from my list should I apply to? Those are honestly the only two that really stand out to me as my top choices.
Anyone?
The Common App does not open until 8/1 so any schools on your list that use it won’t open until then.
Ok thanks! I just started working on my essays so hopefully I’m done with those by then.