<p>There are several options for “safety” schools. My son ultimately decided to make Columbia College Chicago his “safety.” Its location and curriculum made it more attractive than other schools that would also have been sure-shots. I had encouraged him to apply to a state college that would have been pretty safe for academic admission, but more selective for its auditioned BFA. He would have the acceptance under rolling admissions under his belt, while other decisions were pending. He simply didn’t like the school. He did opt to apply for the regular arts & science college at our state university, along with the fiendishly selective auditioned BFA at the specialized arts faculty. With one academic safety, and one affordable near-safety, he applied mainly to highly-selective “reach” schools. He attends a somewhat less-selective auditioned theater school now. In all he applied to nine colleges: 6 auditioned, 3 non-auditioned. He was accepted at two of the three non-audition schools, and one auditioned one. He received a talent scholarship, which brought his private BFA program within $10k of our state university. He is very, very happy where he is. We held our breath through the process, wondering how we would deal with an acceptance at a school like Emerson, if it came with no money. I tell people never to apply to a school where you wouldn’t be willing to go.</p>