@NJDad68 Well it’s not a safety its a low match. I would have expected her to get in but its not an absolute shock that she didnt. You can get rejected from low matches and accepted to high ones. Interesting article BTW
Thank you for the insightful article @NJDad68. I must admit, I was slightly shocked to have been deferred from Tulane, but they had a very competitive applicant pool for EA. I considered it to be one of my top contenders for “mid-reach” schools, so I was pretty upset. However, I have not be deterred. I am sending in another letter of recommendation from my Yearbook teacher (one which I’m sending to other colleges too) and a letter reaffirming my interest in Tulane. Hopefully this helps my chances. @laphysica you’re completely right. I was accepted to Georgia Tech (a stretch considering their average ACT was a 33!) and deferred from Tulane w/ an average of 30 (what I have). Regardless, whether it be Tulane or any of the other school’s I have applied to, I will find my place like the article said 
Thanks everyone!
@ClarinetDad16 my instate options would be the most financially feasible (I didn’t put them on here because they were safeties. I actually find out about a full ride later this month). I don’t qualify for much federal aid, but will get aid at private universities. So, Berkeley and Georgia Tech are probably the most unrealistic, but by some chance I got a scholarship they would be the best for what I want to do. Because of my GPA I hope I would qualify for academic merit, so places like Boston U, Northeastern, Tulane (if I can reverse my deferred status), or Case Western would probably have the lowest net cost.
@theaussie, my advice for reversing your deferred status at Tulane is to emphasize your commitment to community service, which is an integral part of the experience at Tulane. The school has really come on strong to support the city in its rebuild and its complete overhaul of the schools. (Tulane’s past President headed the commission.) The other things that Tulane looks for are (i) a strong international focus, with solid achievements in foreign languages and a thirst for study abroad, and (ii) an interdisciplinary focus to your studies – that is, a well grounded, logical and demonstrated interest in studying two disparate fields and connecting them to your future in a way that makes sense. Tulane’s new President, Michael Fitts, has really come on strong in developing this interdisciplinary approach. All that being said, there are wonderful things to say about all the schools on your very impressive list, and I’m sure you’re doing all the research. (Oh and, for the record, Georgia Tech and Tulane have identical ACT mid-50% ranges – both are 30-33!) Best of luck to you!
@NJDad68 thanks for the advice! I was misinformed about the ACT scores, so thanks for letting me know!
The 30-33 range for Tulane is for admitted students. The range for attending students should be expected to be lower.
For a comparison of all colleges by standardized scores, the Business Insider online article, “The 610 Smartest Colleges,” can be useful.
Tulane’s scores are very high of course. Georgia Tech’s, however, appear to be even higher, and represent the highest in the U.S. for any public university.
@merc81 Yes both are getting a lot higher, and are rising. College these days!
You did very well to get into G-tech.
Thanks for the chance! I’m not incredibly familiar with engineering admissions at all these schools, but I’ll do what I can. Your GPA is great, but the ACT is low, and for engineering your ECs don’t stand out. What were your math and science subscores?
Rice - Reach, due to your scores and ECs.
Tufts - Low reach.
Emory - High match IMO…
Georgetown - High match.
UC Berkeley - Reach, their engineering is just TOO good. You have to be near perfect for it.
Northeastern - Match.
Boston U - High match.
Case Western Reserve - Match.
Georgia Tech - Low reach.
Tulane - Low reach.