What schools should I apply to as safety schools?

Applying to College Admission Stories
1

I go to a public high school in Napa, CA and have taken very rigorous courses throughout my high school career. I’ve taken AP US History, Literature, World History, and Chemistry, got an A in all four classes and a 5 on all tests except for a 4 on chemistry.
Next year I am taking AP Calculus BC, AP Language, AP Gov, and AP European History.
I have around a 4.3 cumulative weighted gpa and around a 3.9 unweighted (I can’t be sure right now because this information won’t be available until September 10th.) I am ranked 23 in my class of 605 putting me in the top 3%.
On the SAT’s I got a 2020, 720-CR, 650-M, and 650-W (I’m taking these again in October, because I know I can score higher on both writing and math).
On my SAT II’s I got 770-World History, 760-US History, and 720-Literature.
I have been an editor for my school newspaper for two years and next year will be the editor-in-chief. I was on jv/varsity track for 3 years, and mock trial for 2 serving as both a witness and attorney. I have also been an officer in my school’s Sierra Club for three years, and a girl scout for ten, earning my silver award (the second highest award).
I am very interested in journalism, history, and possibly political science. The classes I have enjoyed most in high school have been my English, history, and journalism classes.

Some of the schools I’m interested in are:

Amherst
Brown
Columbia
Cal Poly
Colby
Middlebury
Princeton
Reed
USC
UC Berkeley
Williams
Yale

Do any of these schools seem to far out of reach? Which one’s do I have a good shot of getting into, and what are some schools you can suggest as safety schools based on my academic record and interests?

Thanks for the help!

2

Get those SAT scores up!! Start major prepping if you haven’t already. It’s a glaring weakness in your application, and you have some top colleges in your list. For them, you’ll have to aim higher on your SAT scores. Besides that, your EC’s and grades look great. Good luck!

3

Well Ivies can always be considered as reaches because even with high GPAs and SAT/ACT scores and extracurriculars, the admission process is unpredictable. As for backups/matches, you could consider NYU, Boston University, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, or state schools.

4

Vanderbilt and Chicago are not safety or match schools. Vanderbilt is reach, and Chicago is high reach… don’t know what you’re smoking.

5

For safety schools, I would say most state schools (especially in your state). UF is a pretty good one, IMO. For matches, I would put any school with a 25-40 percent acceptance rate. maybe BU.

6

Work on those SATs! The majority of the schools on your list sound like good matches/slight reaches. I would also suggest:

Bard
BU
NYU
McGill
Northeastern
Northwestern (esp for journalism!)
Bates
Bowdoin
Elon