<p>Common thinking is to have two safety schools - both of which are academically and financially a fit. This is because if for some unusual chance you only get into safeties, you at least have a choice, which feels very different than being “stuck” with one school next spring.</p>
<p>My D’s two safeties, although both larger public schools, in cities, have very different feels and very different programs. She has chosen not to have a small college safety, but as a parent I have suggested this. I’ve also suggested that she apply to a safety that will take her to the part of the country she wants to be in (she prefers the east coast to the midwest), but at this point she’s choosing not to add them. She feels very sure that she will at least be able to choose between these two schools, and she’s happy with them both, so that’s her decision.</p>