Do I need a safety? I'd appreciate any input, please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>White
Pennsylvania
Somewhat competitive public HS
SAT I: 740 M, 710 V, 700 W
SAT II: 710 Lit, 800 Math 2
APs: 7 by the end of HS (everything else is honors except a few freshman electives and the required gym classes)
Taken: 5 Lit, 5 Calc AB, 4 Euro
Planned: Gov, Stat, Calc BC, Bio
GPA: 4.833 W, 4.0 UW
Rank: 3/362 W, 1/362 UW
Great recs, essays (I hope)
No visits, one interview (Northwestern, not until Sunday)
Only a few awards (PHEAA Certificate of Merit, National Merit Commended Student, AP Scholar, and school honor roll)
Horrible ECs (just Mock Trials and Amnesty International, both only for one year)</p>

<p>I'm applying to the following:</p>

<p>USC
NYU
Columbia
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Emory
UCB
Rochester</p>

<p>All for film/film studies (USC and NYU are both studies; the rest only have one program with both curricular paths).</p>

<p>Realizing the competitive programs I'm applying to (for USC and NYU), the fact that I'm out of state for UCB, my horrible ECs, and my lack of "proven" interest... Do you think I need a safety? I'm considering applying to Pittsburgh, but I don't want to deal with the red tape at my school again, and I'm paying waaay too much for all of this application stuff.</p>

<p>Additionally, if you could give me my chances for the mentioned schools, I'd appreciate that as well.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Shirobot:</p>

<p>UCB: Match (out of state)</p>

3

<p>I would apply to one sure bet safety. You will probably get into a good school and i would say Rochester is a match to near safety. However, I'd go with one more safe school (Pitt sounds good).</p>

4

<p>Yes, you need a safety. Rochester and USC are both safe matches, but you have no safeties.</p>

<p>Northwestern and Columbia are reaches. The rest are matches (Emory, JHU, UCB, and NYU)</p>

5

<p>Actually, USC's film school is rumored to only accept around 5% of its applicants (I heard that number specific second hand from someone who wasn't even quite sure, but I know it is rather low), so that one is definitely a bit of a long shot. Film also tends to be difficult to get into at NYU (compared to some other programs/school, I mean).</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks to the people who replied. I will probably look at applying to Pitt. I'd still appreciate any takes on my chances for those schools, though.</p>

6

<p>You don't need a safety, Rochester is a safety for you.</p>