Suggestions for safety schools?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I’m a sophomore but I figure it’s never too early to start considering college apps. Here are my credentials as of now:</p>

<p>SAT I: Not yet taken, but aiming for 2300 or higher
PSAT: 230 this year
GPA unweighted: 4.0
Class rank: 30/659, although this will be much higher at the end of this semester
EC: Piano for 9 years, science bowl, writers’ club, Chinese club. Next year I’ll be in French Club and NEHS. I also write for a true crime website (PYSIH).
Awards: 1st place in biotech competition
3rd at Houston Science Fair (largest regional fair in US)
Pending: Medals at Scholastic Writing and Writing Conference
Pending: 3 piano competitions, one of which could take me to state
I’m also considering trying for a Davidson Fellows for literature, although that’s probably going to be a long shot.
AP exams: Not yet taken (AP World and European History in May)
Volunteer: Local library last summer, waiting for an interview with a hospital, would like to help with the St. Bernard’s Project over Spring Break, summer camp counselor this summer
Internships: One in Beijing for an IT company this summer and a medical-related one next summer
Summer programs: Writing camp this or next summer, summer school for APUSH and AP Govt/Eco</p>

<p>I’m stuck between wanting to major in creative writing or medicine. I’ve already got my heart set on the University of Chicago, but since that’s pretty selective I’d like to think about some schools to fall back on in case Plan A doesn’t work. If it helps, I’d like to attend a private college in a big city. What schools do you think would be reasonable safeties for me?</p>

2

<p>relax and enjoy your high school experience. the college admissions forecast is going to be so different in two years, so talking about that kind of thing with you as a sophomore would be almost in vain. work hard, enjoy yourself, and keep up with what matters in the near future.</p>

3

<p>Unless you are applying to a six-year direct admit med program, there is no reason why you would have to choose between creative writing and pre-med. Pre-med is not a major, it is a series of courses. You can major in whatever you want and still squeeze those courses in.</p>

<p>A safety school needs to meet these four criteria:

  1. You can pay for it without any aid other than federally determined (FAFSA) aid and/or guaranteed state aid and/or guaranteed merit-based aid from the college/university itself.
  2. You are guaranteed admission because of your grades and test scores (lots of public universities post this right on their websites) and/or your high school has years of records that clearly indicated that no one with your profile who applied there was ever denied admission.
  3. Your potential major is offered.
  4. You would be happy to attend if you don’t get in anywhere else that you can afford.</p>

<p>Sit your parents down, and have The Big Money Talk with them. When you know what your budget limit is, you will be able to start tracking down safeties.</p>

4

<p>Read post #3 again.</p>

<p>Note that your in-state publics are often the best safety candidates. Many private schools do not like being used as safeties, and reject or waitlist high stat applicants who “do not show a high enough level of interest” (look up “Tufts syndrome”).</p>

<p>Some out-of-state publics with low out-of-state list prices that you can afford (pending the money discussion with your parents) may also be worth considering as safeties. However, most out-of-state publics are not generous with financial aid to out-of-state students.</p>

<p>Check the “net price calculator” on each school’s web site to get an idea of cost after applying estimated financial aid.</p>

5

<p>What is it about Chicago that you like so much?
If you’re just looking for a less selective private research university in an urban setting, possibilities might include Tulane, George Washington, Northeastern, or Boston University.</p>

<p>If you’re trying to find a similar intellectual atmosphere in a less selective urban/suburban school, regardless of size, then you might be interested in Reed College or Macalester College. </p>

<p>The above schools probably would be match schools for you, not safeties. For true safeties, take ucb’s advice and start with your in-state publics.</p>

6

<p>1) Have the “money talk” with your parents about how much they’ll spend. Private schools are running about $50-60k per year. By the time you go to college, they will be costing $60-70k per year.</p>

<p>2) Do not assume that you’ll get the financial aid that you’ll need. Most schools expect parents to pay a LOT more than the parents expect. Many families find out that they don’t qualify for ANY financial aid or very little. Estimate that your family will be expected to pay about 30% of their gross income towards college costs. That number could be higher if you have assets or could be lower if you have a modest income.</p>

<p>3) Many of the elites do not give Merit-based Scholarships. The ivies, MIT, and Stanford do not give merit based scholarships. I don’t think the top LACs do either. Schools like UChi give a few for some highly desirable hooked students. Don’t count on those.</p>

<p>4) Safety schools rarely give much need-based aid. However, some give large scholarships.</p>

<p>5) You’re on track to be a NMSF if you score high on your junior year PSAT. Be sure to take that test. If you make NMSF/F, there are safety schools that will offer you very large scholarships.</p>

<p>6) As a pre-med student, you can major in anything you want. You just have to also take the 7-8 pre-med pre-reqs (year Bio, year Gen Chem, year OChem, year Physics, math)</p>

<p>7) sometimes your instate flagship cannot be your safety if you’re not sure how you’ll cover the costs. those who can’t pay full freight to their flagships often find that they aren’t affordable…especially if their flagships are on the pricier side. Most state schools do not meet need. Some give scholarships, but many do not or don’t give much.</p>

<p>As for possible safeties for you…</p>

<p>Santa Clara…good for pre-med and writing. Large scholarships for students like you.
Grinnell…same as above.
URochester…don’t know about writing there. good for pre-med. Scholarships.</p>

<p>If you make NMSF/F, there will be a lot more safeties for you.</p>

7

<p>Are you from TX? With a very high class rank UT would be a great safety.</p>

8

<p>My Uchicago attending son loved Mac and you should consider it, though I would not call it a safety. It has an ‘on the rise’ profile of sorts, IMHO. My DS really had a hard time turning Mac down.</p>