Do I need more safety schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I've narrowed down my list of top schools that I'm going to apply to. But I'm struggling with whether or not I need more safety schools... I know I have a decent shot at most of the schools I've listed, but I want to know if you guys have any safety school recommendations. Also, any general application recommendations would be much appreciated! Anyway, here are my stats and the schools on my list:</p>

<p>Harvard
Georgetown
UPenn
Columbia
University of Chicago
UVA
University of Michigan
UNC - Chapel Hill
Northwestern
Princeton
Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>GPA: 4.2 (w)*</p>

<p>Honors/AP courses are weighted 4.5, not 5.0
My course load is the most demanding offered.</p>

<p>*We are limited in the number of honors/AP courses we can take prior to Junior year. My junior year GPA was a 4.4 (while still limited to 4 honors/AP courses). </p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>ACT:</p>

<p>35 Composite (35E, 36M, 34R, 35S, 10E)
35 Composite (35E, 34M, 36R, 33S, 12E)
35 Composite (35E, 35M, 36R, 32S, 11E)</p>

<p>SAT:</p>

<p>2230 Composite (710 M, 760 R, 760 W) *</p>

<p>*I will be retaking this, though not in time for early applications</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests/AP Tests:</p>

<p>U.S. History (5 AP/800 SAT II)</p>

<p>I will be taking Physics and Math II in October, I anticipate an 800 on Math II and a 750 - 800 on Physics (according to practice tests)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Extensive Political Experience, including managing a State Assembly Campaign and interning on a presidential campaign in a different city for a summer (I was the only high school student among those in the internship program)</p>

<p>Extensive Community Service: I have created two community service clubs at my school, been on the board of all of the community service clubs available to me, and have received an award from one of the three organizations I have volunteered at since 8th grade.</p>

<p>Extensive Mock Trial participation: I have been heavily involved in my school's mock trial team and have received multiple awards, and have won a national mock trial tournament and placed in the top three in multiple state tournaments.</p>

<p>There are a few other leadership positions, but those are the main extracurriculars I've been involved in. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>

2

<p>…</p>

3

<p>I’d say your list looks good, but none of them really scream safety to me. You definitely need one or two more schools that you can be sure to get in and is also a safety in terms of finances.</p>

4

<p>Any schools you’d recommend?</p>

5

<p>It seems like you’re interested in polisci (sorry if you aren’t), but here are some good polisci schools that aren’t quite the same caliber you listed.</p>

<p>usc, uc berkeley, uc irvine (definitely a safety). and it’s not necessarily got a fantastic polisci program, but look at tufts :). it’s not a ~safety~ but it’d make a great likely.</p>

6

<p>What state are you from? I would say you always apply to your state flagship school because it gives you a good financial option at the very least.</p>

7

<p>You have no safeties-- you could conceivably be rejected from every single one of those schools.</p>

8

<p>Safeties for you in the northeast:</p>

<ul>
<li>American</li>
<li>U of Rochester</li>
<li>Bucknell</li>
<li>George Washington</li>
<li>NYU</li>
</ul>

9

<p>Second on the state flagship and American.</p>

10

<p>None of those are really safety schools for anyone. Now, you have very good stats and great chances at many of those but you should include one or two legit safeties. Consider schools like Boston University and George Washington where you would surely get into.</p>

11

<p>You don’t need to take the SAT again. Your list is pretty good and you’ll get into all of the public schools you listed plus Georgetown unless if you do something stupid on your application or if all your teachers hate you. That said, you should apply to your state’s flagship school just in case.</p>

12

<p>You will surely look as if you’re score obsessed when colleges look at your application. Come decision time, you will not bode well.</p>

13

<p>Will I really look score obsessed? I regret taking it so many times, but my school wanted to up the number of perfect scores they had so they pushed me <em>hard</em> to take it until I got perfect…</p>

<p>And then they wouldn’t let me not send some of them…</p>

14

<p>Also, I’m probably tacking on the University of Arizona because they give $30,000/year to National Merit Finalists and it would allow me to get out of my state (Arkansas)</p>

15

<p>Add Yale to you list! And by the look of your stats you’re sure to get into any of these schools so I wouldn’t worry about any more safeties :)</p>

16

<p>I guess I’ll cave - anyone mind doing general chances for the schools I listed? With the addition of the University of Arizona and Wake Forest?</p>

17

<p>…</p>

18

<p>OMG hahah we do have almost the exact same stats!!!
(sorry if this is really creepy, your post sparked my curiosity hahaa)</p>

19

<p>For a safety, might look at Holy Cross(don’t have to be religious) very good school 1 hour from Boston. HC is a Jesuit school like Georgetown but easier to get into. Roll Call (Washington political publication) ranked Holy Cross#1 per capita in number of graduates that are US Senators, and Congressmen. Chris Mattews of MSNBC and Obama’s chief speechwriter are both HC grads. In addition Holy Cross has 3 affiliations on Supreme Court(includind 1 alum). HC sponsors Washington internships and like the Ivies is need-blind for admissions -good financial aid.</p>

20

<p>@cuddle - I know, it’s bizarre! Look at another chances thread I did…the ECs get even more similar…</p>