Do I need more safety schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Schools: UVA, UCLA, Emory, Pepperdine, UNC, UT Austin (Automatic Admission)

Here’s my stats:
SAT: 2080
GPA Unweighted: 4.0
GPA weighted: 5.05
Rank: 30 out of 800
SAT Subject: 720 Math level 2, 680 Chemistry
AP Scores: 4 Human Geo (9th grade), 4 World Hist (10th), 5 English Lang (11th), 3 Chem (11th…had a bad teacher)
Senior APs: Bio, Eng Lit, Calc AB, Phys 1
Extra-Curriculars: Super involved in choir (made state, section leader, historian), NSHS, Latin Club

What are my chances? I am worried I don’t have enough safety schools and that my SATs are too low to be very competitive. I would also most likely need to make it into the honors program to be affordable enough for me. I am a white male and I don’t have a legacy at any of these schools. My essays and recs should be good. I was also wondering if anyone had any suggestions for great safety schools with good bio programs. UVa is my dream school so I am especially interested in my chances for there. Thanks for the input!

2

If you have auto admit at UT, then no. You have a great safety.

3

UVA and UNC are reaches because of their preference for in state. Your SAT isn’t that bad but you are a better student than test taker. Yes you need a couple more safeties but UT Austin in state is a great way to go. Maybe you should consider William & Mary. A great school, not quite as hard as UVA to get into. Is money a factor at all?

4

Money is a pretty big factor. I also heard that William and Mary has not aged that well. Is that true?

5

@Wje9164be would wake forest be a better option than UNC? I haven’t visited either but am in the vicinity to take my sister to college.

6

“Money is a pretty big factor”
Then take UCLA and ANY OOS public U’s off the list, as you will have to pay high OOS Tuition.
OOS students pay full tuition, which is used to supplement the lower instate costs that residents pay.

7

With your current score, financial consideration, and auto admission at UT Austin, I don’t understand why you are still looking at the other schools. They are mid to high reach for you and are too expensive. UT Austin is your best bet and best deal.

8

@billcsho I don’t think I should go to a school just because I have auto admit. There are other factors.

9

Yes, you may apply to other schools. But you should not look at some schools that are not affordable to you. It does not make sense to put financial reach schools on the list.

10

Could someone suggest better non-Texas private schools that would be safeties for me?

11

And also what about Emory? I was originally thinking it was my highest reach school, but is that still the case because it is private not public like UCLA and UVA?