Another "safety" to apply to?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm currently working on college applications, and so far I'm applying to Stanford, Yale, WashU, and the University of Arkansas (safety). I'm planning on a double major in political science and economics, and I'd like to apply to one more school that's really good in those fields but not such a high reach to get into. Right now I'm thinking Georgetown; any other suggestions?</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: I think between 4.5 and 4.7
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
ACT: 36 (single sitting)
Math: 34
English, Science, Reading: 36
SAT:2250 (first try, single sitting, will probably take one more time)
Class rank: 5/486</p>

<p>APs:
10th: AP US History (4) , AP World (5)
11th: AP Cal AB (5) , AP Bio (4), AP US Govt (5), AP Comparative Politics (5), AP Lang and Comp (5), AP Latin (self studied, 3)
12th: AP Cal BC, AP Physics, AP Human Geography, AP Lit and Comp</p>

<p>Senior classes: AP Cal BC, AP Physics, AP HuGe, AP Lit, Newspaper, C++, Economics, basketball</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Track (9)
Cross Country (10)
JV Basketball (9,10)
Varsity Basketball (11,12)
Newspaper- Sports Editor (11) Feature Editor (12)
Yearbook-Editor (9)
Worship & Music Committee at church (9-12)
Play piano for church when needed-traditional, liturgical service (9-12)
Link Crew-mentor a group of freshmen throughout year (11,12)
Interned in IT at a company for a month this summer-turned into job during school year</p>

<p>Honors:
Attended Governor's School last summer-only 400 students across the state are accepted
State runner up twice in high level piano competition
AP Scholar with Distinction
Probably National Merit Semifinalist at least (PSAT 227)
NHS
Maxima Cum Laude on National Latin Exam
In 6th grade I won the state Reader's Digest Word Power Competition and went to nationals in Orlando-not sure where to put that on common app though</p>

2

<p>You’re obviously an extremely qualified candidate but I would say Georgetown isn’t a safety, but a fairly ‘secure’ match.</p>

3

<p>You really need a safety which is a good fit- what so similar between U of Arkansas and Yale? NOTHING.</p>

<p>You’re a very competitive applicant- the majority of schools in the country are ‘safeties’ for you.</p>

<p>So what location are you looking at? Urban or rural? I’m assuming you’re looking for a mid-sized school. Do you have a problem with religiously affiliated schools? There are so many questions other than “can I get in?”</p>

4

<p>I assume that there are financial issues. Otherwise why Arkansas?</p>

5

<p>A safety meets these criteria:</p>

<p>1) You are flat-out guaranteed admission based on your grades/scores/special talent or ability. You know this because you meet or exceed the standards for guaranteed admission that are posted right on the institution’s website.</p>

<p>2) You can pay the Cost of Attendance with no aid other than guaranteed federal aid (FAFSA) and/or guaranteed state aid and/or guaranteed merit-based aid offered by the institution itself.</p>

<p>3) You are happy to attend if you aren’t admitted anywhere else that is affordable.</p>

<p>4) Your potential major(s) is(are) offered.</p>

<p>Your current list has two lotteries, one reach, and one presumed safety. If U of AR doesn’t post the grades and stats that guarantee admission, you can’t count on it as a real safety. You have to put it into the pretty-d*mn-safe category.</p>

<p>There are scads of matches and reaches out there for you. Run the search engines and take your pick. As for safeties, take a long hard look at the threads on automatic and competitive merit-based aid that are at the top of the financial aid forum. Your stats qualify you for serious money at some places that are not merely tolerable.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

6

<p>The only reason I’m applying to Arkansas is because my parents want me to as one of my safeties. I guess what I’m more looking for is a school that’s maybe not top 10-20 but is still considered well above average. I’d like urban midsize and religious affiliation isn’t a problem.</p>

7

<p>More possible safety candidates:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Non-safety candidates:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>How much are your parents willing to pay?</p>

<p>YES, you will make NMSF. Your score is above the highest cutoff. Congrats.</p>

9

<p>With National Merit, this list may be of interest:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-49.html#post15297679[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-49.html#post15297679&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>This list is only good if you expect to go to UALR. The reaches are too low admit rate to count on one coming through. You need some great matches where you will get good funding. With your stats you should be able to find some. And you can look at the guaranteed scholarship list for another safety. Don’t be too stingy to put in a few more apps to get a nice selection of choices come spring.</p>

11

<p>University of Wisconsin is a great safety if you can afford it. It has rolling admissions so if you apply today, you will hear back in October and be admitted before any common application is due. </p>

<p>McGill and Toronto are great safeties that are completely numbers driven. </p>

<p>University of Minnesota is a less expensive public than most for OOS. Freshwater economics school. </p>

<p>University of Pittsburgh will likely award you a full tuition scholarship if you apply today. You will hear back in the October/November time frame. </p>

<p>Ohio State Honors will be a safety and you will likely be awarded merit money with your 36. </p>

<p>University of Rochester will be very close to a safety if you visit and interview. Another freshwater economics school. They have excellent economics. </p>

<p>SUNY Binghamton is a smaller ~12000 flagship school that is not that expensive for OOS. Again, apply early.</p>

<p>And please don’t waste your time on the SAT. You have a 36 on the ACT! You’d look foolish.</p>

12

<p>

Why would you bother? Your scores won’t keep you out of any school. Sleep in.</p>

<p>You have plenty of good safeties in the threads above and CRD’s list. Pick the kind of school you’d like to attend and narrow down that way.</p>

13

<p>And please don’t waste your time on the SAT. You have a 36 on the ACT! You’d look foolish.</p>

<p>Right…he doesn’t need a higher SAT. But he does need to send his existing SAT score to NMCorp to move on to NMF status…code 0085</p>