<p>Hello, I am going to be a senior in the fall and have currently conducted a list of seven schools to which I am certainly applying- Duke, Princeton, UPenn, Cornell, Georgetown, U of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins - but I feel as though I should add one or maybe two sure fire safeties to my list. Do you agree? And if so, based on my stats which schools would you recommend for that?</p>
<p>Academics:
GPA: 4.0
Weighted: 4.9 on five-point scale, although my school uses a six-point scale on which my weighted gpa would be 5.54
Rank: 1/315
SAT: 2200(CR-700, M-770, W-730) most likely will retake
SAT MathII: 800
SAT Subject US History: 780
SAT Subject Physics: 740
SAT Subject Lit: awaiting June results</p>
<p>AP Exams:
US Government and Politics- 5
World History- 4
Calculus AB - 5
Took US History, Psychology, Calculus BC, Spanish 5, and English Language and Composition this year. Expecting 5s on all but Spanish (4)
Next year will be taking Statistics, Physics B, English Lit, Macro and Micro Economics, Comparative Government, and Environmental Science</p>
<p>Member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and Mathematics Honor Society
Have been recognized as a National Merit Scholar this year- awaiting results for semi-finalists
Maryland Distinguished Scholar
Advanced Placement Scholar</p>
<p>ECs:
Three year varsity soccer player, co-captain junior year; also assistant coach of youth soccer team
Captain of academic Quiz Bowl team
Tutoring coordinator
President of my school's Science NHS chapter
Class representative in Student Government Association
Participated in state-wide Model Congress and Model United Nations
Won both regional and state competitions held by MESA for effective communications
Placed third in regional physics olympics competition</p>
<p>I definitely agree, but I also think it’s really important to make your safeties schools that you <em>like</em> - all of these schools are extremely competitive, and while I think you have a very good chance at admission into one or more of them, you also need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.</p>
<p>Where do you live? If your state or a nearby state has a flagship that you like and think you will get into (particularly an honors program), apply there (i.e. I live in CT. My safety was UConn Honors - a good school where I knew I’d be accepted with $). This is important because in-state schools can also be financial safeties - if you don’t get enough FA anywhere else, they provide a good option.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re interested in bigger research universities, based on the places to which you’re applying (random tangent –> by the way, I actually applied to several of the same schools as you are!). I’m not sure how these universities would fly with you personally, but I’d suggest looking at places like Tulane, Boston University, American, Brandeis, mabe Georgia Tech. I’ll probably get killed for naming those - they’re all excellent schools! - but I think you’d have an incredibly good shot at admission into these schools.</p>
<p>If it helps at all, my safeties were Hamilton College and UConn Honors…but I also looked at a lot of LACs, so it really depends on your preferences. Hope I helped!</p>
<p>Have been recognized as a National Merit Scholar this year- awaiting results for semi-finalists</p>
<p>FYI…you’re not a NM Scholar yet. Those don’t get named until spring of senior year. You’ll find out if you make NMSF in the fall. What was your PSAT?</p>
<p>YES, you definitely need a couple of financial safeties. </p>
<p>Have your parents told you how much they will spend on your education? If not, you need to find that out. Otherwise, you could end up with a bunch of unaffordable acceptances and no choices. </p>
<p>You probably need to apply to your state flagship and at least 2 schools that will give you **assured **big merit for your stats. That way you’ll have some backups if somehow your top choices don’t work out - either acceptance-wise or financially.</p>
<p>Someplace that will inform you early! University of Michigan isn’t exactly a safety but it is slightly easier than the schools you listed. Definitely apply early action to Chicago. Maybe add a few small schools to the list so you have sizes to compare come decision time. Davidson is supposed to have good merit aid. Trinity, Hamilton, Colgate could be safer than what you have. Amherst, Middlebury and Bowdoin would be almost as hard to get into as the schools you have and certainly aren’t safeties but might be worth considering.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, last year’s cut-off for Maryland was 221. Unless it really drops…</p>
<p>*My home state is Maryland, but I am not a huge fan of UMD College Park. *</p>
<p>Then, you need to find a couple of other Financial Safety schools. </p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents will pay each year? If not, then ask…you need to know that. However, if your parents will pay for the school of your choice, then their are many possible safeties we can recommend. </p>
<p>If money is an issue for your family, then there are some schools that would give you big merit for your stats…and there are some other schools that <em>might</em> give you merit for your stats.</p>
<p>You’d get honors and likely full tuition, possibly “Chancellor’s” free ride at Pitt. It’s very strong in sciences, philosophy, languages/linguistics… They also have some guaranteed grad school admission programs, including guaranteed med school admission (to their top 10-20 med school).</p>
<p>You would get better advice if you related your interests (academic and non-academic) and preferences (big or small, LAC or research, urban/suburban/rural, geographic location, etc.).</p>
<p>In state admissions safeties this case would include UMBC as well as UMCP. Depending on the county of residence, one of the honors programs at Montgomery College might work for the first two years - especially if money is an issue at all.</p>
<p>There are good threads in the Financial Aid Forum about guaranteed scholarships and the like. Pop over there and do some reading.</p>
<p>A safety should be a school that you would want to go to, not one which you think you can tolerate if necessary. Hence my question about your preferences.</p>
<p>Well in terms of college preferences, I am interested in pursuing a mathematics degree with a concentration in cognitive science (so math and science focus). I would prefer a smaller school that is not liberal arts based. Financial aid is not an issue.</p>
<p>It sounds like you want a school with more of a preprofessional focus, so for a match/safety, I’d say a school like Case Western. Additionally, I’d look at Northwestern, WUSTL, UVA and Carnegie Mellon (not safeties, I know).</p>
<p>Most good large universities can offer Math and cognitive science. Ohio State, Purdue, etc. For any but the most exclusive (UVA, UNC, UMich) I think those would be safeties.</p>
<p>I have heard that University of Michigan is a rather strong institution for mathematics. So thank you Erin’s Dad for mentioning it; can anyone give me a brief statement regarding my chances there? Would it be a safety for me and worth applying to?</p>
<p>Smaller math/science safeties are Case Western, RPI, WPI, and Rose-Hulman. No idea what the cog sci offerings are, though. And this is empathetically NOT a safety, but have you considered Harvey Mudd? It looks like you can get the cog sci at Pomona…</p>
<p>ETA: based on my classmates who have gotten into Michigan, I would be very surprised if you were not accepted there. You can apply there EA, too.</p>