I feel I am a pretty good applicant so far and aim next year to apply to some Ivies and other top 20 schools (Duke, Hopkins, etc). I want to know what are some good quality safety schools which I can count on as a back-up which are also high quality schools. However, I heard many of these schools reject students of this type because they know its just a safety school for that kid.
Here’s my info so far
I’m a junior–
SAT: 1470 (720 CR, 750M)
ACT 33 (35 E, 31M, 34R, 33S) – probably sticking with it with a goal of 34 or 35
SAT II: Bio 770, Math I 660 (I plan on taking another SAT II so math I is ignored since colleges only look at the best two)
AP Euro 5, AP Bio 4 BUT I self-studied these… in the proces of self-studying AP Calc this year
EC: Speech and Debate (9, 10, 11) – captain this year; Science Olympiad (10, 11) – vice president this year; Computer Tech Club (10, 11) – Secretary, several other clubs; Boy Scouts – Senior Patrol Leader (highest youth position) this year, OA (order of the arrow – scouting’s “honor society”), soon to be Eagle Scout; NHS; I started a tutoring company this year
You are going to be a strong applicant anywhere with those scores, grades and ECs (which include some good leadership and initiative). That said, the schools you are talking about will have many applicants with similarly strong credentials. Other factors will come into play, including the region of the country you are applying to, your high school’s rep, your ethnic background, etc. You will be “in the running”, but you do need some safeties.
What you might consider as ‘safety’ schools: The Honors Program at a state flagship school. It’ll be a lot less expensive, you’ll be treated as someone special, you’ll get a high quality education (and preferential treatment in professor and class selection) and you’ll get to enjoy all the great things a state school can offer-- usually great research facilities, school spirit, more clubs than you can imagine and a welcoming environment to start more of them. The Honors programs at Georgia and Alabama are both great, for example. Also, you’ll get the benefit of a powerful alumni network that is as good as any at most of those top schools-- and more motivated to really help a promising smart young grad from their alma mater’s Honors program.
Ignoring money, which you shouldn’t do, I would say
Wisconsin - great academics, not cheap, not as expensive as Michigan which is not a safety.
Pittsburgh - has nice honors program which you should get into
Ohio State - has nice honors program which you should get into
McGill
Toronto
Each of these schools is primarily numbers based. If you apply right when applications open, the American schools listed often let you know before your final January applications and you can have a high quality safety under your belt greatly easing anxiety. The Canadian schools are 100% numbers based. Beware that McGill will MAKE you take your AP credit, so if it’s not something you want, don’t report it. Not sure about Toronto.
Pittsburgh and Ohio State have some great scholarships.
Alabama has an honors program and great scholarships if you qualify. Not sure if the 33 does the trick. Others will let you know.
I’ve also heard great things about University of Delaware’s honors program.
NYU ought to be a safety if you can pay. Their financial aid is notoriously bad. Same for Boston University.