Can't decide on safety schools? :(

<p>I don't really know how to pick any safety schools...Any help provided would be greatly appreciated.
I'd prefer the schools to be in an urban/semi-urban environment (CA, WA and NY preferred)
Nice, sunny weather would be a bonus.
I like the environment at LACs like Pomona. Size doesn't really matter, to be honest.
I'm interested in majoring in either computer science, some sort of pre-med major or engineering.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.85 UW, 4.33 W
SAT: 2280 (1 test)
ACT: 32</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
Orchestra (0 period)
AP Government
AP Calculus
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics B (online)
AP Comp Sci
AP English Lit
Marketing Seminar (7th period, for DECA)</p>

<p>WA and NY + sunny/warm = problem!</p>

<p>Look into Elon, High Point, Guilford, Mills (if girl), Westminster, Hendrix, Millsaps for nice weather and LAC “safeties”, but they’re not urban.</p>

<p>Not in your preferred states, but urban with nice weather - Georgia Tech?</p>

<p>A safety school must be affordable.</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>

<p>Not in your area, but Alabama would give you free tuition. If you did their CompSci/Premed track, you’d get free tuition PLUS $2500 per year. Remaining costs would be very low.</p>

<p>Gorgeous campus, state of the art facilities, brand new Science complex, sunny weather, city-surroundings, but has a “real campus,” sits on a beautiful river, …and a good number of Calif kids attending. Calif is #5 in sending kids to The University of Alabama for college.</p>

<p>What can your family afford? Part of being a safety is being able to afford to attend. Most LACs do not offer engineering or Comp Sci. You can look here for safeties:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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

<p>If I were you I would plug my statistics, location preferences, and an engineering major into the college search engine and see what pops up for matches. CS and pre-med sciences are usually very strong at any school that has a good engineering program, so you can develop your preliminary list by focusing on engineering.
(Be sure to expand the number of matches returned, using the drop-down at the top)…
[College</a> Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential - College Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm)</p>

<p>The reason I keep Washington and New York in my preferred states is because Washington is my home state and I’d be comfortable there. New York, because I’ve always loved the environment.</p>

<p>I’m already considering UW Seattle as a safety. </p>

<p>Also, I’d prefer if the college/university was friendly towards students of gay/bisexual orientation, as anything otherwise would make me distinctly uncomfortable. </p>

<p>My parents are fairly flexible in terms of what college I attend.</p>

<p>Ohio University has some good merit scholarships and I think they’re pretty accepting</p>

<p>I already know schools where I can apply and get considerable merit aid in my area…</p>

<p>Whether or not I can get a full ride or considerable merit aid at the school is not my primary concern, which is what many of the suggestions on this thread seem to be focused on. </p>

<p>I’m more concerned about whether or not I’d actually be happy at the school…and whether or not I’d get a meaningful academic experience. TBH if none of the colleges I get into are ones I can afford, I’ll just go to the local community college and attempt a transfer.</p>

<p>New user/1st post.</p>

<p>Wait…sorry. I read further and found the link. Thank you.</p>

<p>Uh…what? o_o</p>

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<p>The big scholarship threads tend to come out when people ask for safety suggestions but either do not mention their cost constraints (meaning they don’t know) or mention low cost constraints.</p>

<p>Washington CS is extremely competitive, so it may not be a safety for frosh admission; if you are admitted to the school but not the CS major, you would face another competitive admission process to get into the CS major after completing the introductory courses.</p>

<p>Look into Fordham - Rose Hill in NY. You could qualify for merit aid and they have non binding early action so if you apply early you should get an admissions decision by mid to late December.</p>