<p>I'm referring to a school way below your standards. </p>
<p>Also, just wondering, which do you think is better?:
1. going to a school where you pay next to nothing but is not highly ranked or known
2. going to a prestigious university with tons of loans</p>
<p>Actually, most safety schools don’t give much need-based aid.</p>
<p>However, if your stats are high for the school (well-within the top 25%) then you might get a large merit scholarship if the school gives them.</p>
<p>I’m referring to a school way below your standards</p>
<p>That’s really not the way to look at safeties. My kids went to a safety school and yet it isn’t “way below” their standards. They have been well-challenged and have many very smart classmates.</p>
<p>Schools way below your standards probably don’t have as much money to give out as very well-known, highly ranked universities. So it really depends what they have available, and not how “safe” they are for high-achieving students.</p>
<p>You seem to be under the impression that there are only two options - a highly competitive prestigious school and one way below your standards. You may be surprised to find some schools that are somewhere in between and still more affordable for you. And the school doesn’t really matter as much as the program. Some highly ranked schools have low-ranking programs among other high-ranking ones, so you need to consider your major and whether that particular department is strong at the schools you are looking at.</p>
<p>I agree with NovaLynnx. As long as it is an accredited college, you won’t be getting a degree by playing tic-tac-toe all day. Sure, you might have a class or two that’s a breeze – but colleges everywhere are working hard to stay relevant – that means they have to crank out graduates who can get jobs in today’s economy. </p>
<p>Where you might get some bonus is if you are in a demographic that the college is seeking to beef up. For instance, if you happen to be a strong math student and male, you might do well at a small college that has 55%+ female enrollment and is working to boost its STEM majors. Not only might you get a nice aid/grant package, you might move from high school doofus to campus studmuffin. Trust me, there still would be some professors determined to get your brain to think. </p>
<p>But you insult colleges, professors and students everywhere if you carry on thinking there IS such a thing as a stinko safety that is “way below your standards.”</p>
<p>I don’t think it increases your chance of need based financial aid, but there are schools that give merit scholarships to students who have high stats for that school. My D applied to 3 safeties and 2 matches, and one of those safeties is tied for her first choice. It is a school that was extremely easy for her to be admitted to and that’s giving her a very generous scholarship, but she doesn’t think for a minute that it’s way below her standards - or below her standards at all, for that matter. She’ll get a first rate education if she chooses to go there. </p>
<p>I would not want to go to a highly rated school and come out with a ton of loans, nor would I want to go to a school with a very poor rating, even for free. However, a high stats kid can find schools with fine ratings that offer wonderful educations that are safeties for him and will give him merit aid.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The research indicates otherwise. According to the authors of “Academically Adrift,” the “vast majority” of college students across all schools study less than 15 hours a week (many far less), and a substantial minority never have to take a course where they are expected to read 40 pages per week or do more than 20 pages of writing for a course. Yet the average GPA is 3.2.</p>
<p>Yes, I have to agree. Simply choosing an “accredited university” is no guarantee at all that you’ll receive a real college eduction. I’ve been shocked at some of the poor quality programs that I’ve uncovered, even at well-respected, expensive schools. There are a lot of worthless, easy programs out there.</p>
<p>You need to do your homework to find a school that delivers a quality program in your areas of interest, and you can find that at a good price. Just be sure to investigate.</p>