<p>...I don't want to go to the school that badly and most certainly won't get in?</p>
<p>This is related to Stanford and Rice. I am also pressed for finances and having to pay to submit the CSS profile to them is a big factor.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0UW, 4.2W (top 5% out of ~300), 2200 SAT, and meh ECs, which is why I'm not sure I should even apply. Stanford supplement is also fairly lengthy. They're not "dream" schools either; I'm kind of indifferent...</p>
<p>Do not apply anywhere that you would not attend. Do not apply anywhere that you like less than your "safety". </p>
<p>If you do like these places enough to attend if one of them offers you the best financial deal, then keep them on your list.</p>
<p>You have a strong academic profile. Look at less selective schools and you might get some academic scholarships, along with whatever Fafsa and CSS provide. One of my kids got money at several of the places he applied and we were really surprised by that. Give it a try. No reason to spend application money on places you're not interested in. Every university experience is what you make of it! good luck!</p>
<p>If you're not interested, don't apply. But if you're just disheartened and you can get the money together, go for it. Are you seriously worried about a 2200 SAT and a 4.0 UW? Those are great. Honestly, who can judge your EC's, anyway? They're so subjective, who's to say that they're "meh" except for the admissions committee?</p>
<p>4.0 UW and 4.2 W intimate a fairly easy course load.
Does your school not offer many AP/honors? Or did you just decide not to take them...</p>
<p>Of course not. While you could probably get into Rice, it also has a long supplement, and since it's not a safety school and you would not go there, why bother? Stanford would be even more of a waste, since it's a high reach and it also has long supplements. You'd be wasting money and time to apply to schools you don't want to go to. Why would you even consider applying if you probably would not attend?</p>