I’ve been putting my list together of where I want to apply this fall based on some research and some posts here. I’ve tried to pick some safeties, matches, and reaches, but I’d really appreciate any insight or thoughts about the schools I picked and any other schools that might be a good choice. I’m looking for schools with good IR programs on the east coast and preferably located in or near a decent sized city (although I overlooked that with schools like W&M and UVA), and I also like mediumish sized schools (not LACs) although I did apply to Ohio State as a safety. I’m a URM with a 34 ACT and a 4.0/4.6 and good but not spectacular EC’s.
Local Safety School
Ohio State (safety)
Georgetown SFS (reach)
Yale (reach)
Columbia (reach)
Tufts (low reach)
George Washington (high match)
UVA (high match/low reach)
William and Mary (high match)
UPenn or UChicago (reach)
BU (low match/ maybe safety)
American University (match/maybe safety)
Consider Northeastern and University of Rochester for added matches. NYU if possibly affordable.
None of these will be a safety except for maybe OSU looking at this past admission cycle, where virtually every school here got more competitive. Make sure you add more safeties unless you are 100% good with OSU.
You’ve put together a solid list otherwise!
Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll look at Rochester, I’ve looked at Northeastern but I don’t know if their co-op program is really what I’m looking for. And yes, you’re definitely right, I’ve seen the admission rates of schools I would expect to get into like GW and BU drop a lot this year, so nothing is for sure at all. I’m not completely sure that I’d be 100% good with OSU, so I’m definitely going to look for more safeties.
A couple things to consider. There’s more to a reach/match school than just stats. Cost should be your #1 consideration. If it’s a private or out of state school, it could be a statistical match, but a big financial reach without a scholarship. Talk to your parents on how much school they’re willing to pay for. The student loan cap for a 4 year degree is 27k. Anything over that has to be covered by your parents or a scholarship. If you don’t have a scholarship, and the school is requiring a parent contribution of $150k, most parents are going to think twice about paying that.
Clark U in Worcester is strong in IR, and easier to get into. Both Worcester and the school may be on the small side for you, so double check that.
Are you male or female, and if female, would you consider an all women’s school?
BU and American are not safeties for anyone.
Yes, I have definitely been considering money and merit aid. I’ve taken a few schools off this list that I’m unlikely to get money at and added a few schools that offer a decent amount of merit aid for those with my stats. My parents say that they can pay full pay, but that they obviously want me to look for scholarships. But honestly, I don’t think I could stomach making them pay so much money even for a school like Yale if I received a full/partial scholarship to a still amazing school.
I am female, but I don’t think I’d consider a female school just because I would prefer being at a co-ed school. But thanks for the suggestion!
Yes, I didn’t realize how much their admission rates had fallen in the last few years, and I was looking at data and stats that were pretty old. I realize now, especially looking at this year’s admissions, that they have become a lot more competitive now and can not be called safeties at all.