finding safeties -- how?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As I've understood it, it is good to apply to a range of schools- some reaches and some matches, but also some safeties. I'm having a hard time with the last category. </p>

<p>I'm sure I can find schools that I most likely will get in to. The problem is that that is hardly a safety, since getting in is not enough. I'm going to need a lot of aid to be able to attend. Is there any way to find schools where it is fairly certain that I'll get in AND get enough aid? (State schools are out, 'cause I don't live in the US, although I am American)</p>

2

<p>Look on the sticky under financial aid for schools that give merit aid.</p>

3

<p>If you get good test scores you could find some schools. For instance, if you were a National Merit Finalist you could get free tuition(and maybe room and board, depending on each school) to places like Arizona, ASU, Fordham, Alabama, Auburn, and schools like that.</p>

4

<p>Obviously you'll want to research to make sure a school your interested in as a safety does give good aid, but part of the good aspect is that in order to consider a school a safety, you're stats need to be significantly above their average, and this also happens to be what will get you the merit aid at that school.</p>

5

<p>Some states have colleges that they want more students to go to so they offer in state tuition (or low tution) to out of staters, so they are inexpensive for everyone. Since you are American, I would assume you would qualify for the out of state tuitions. Maybe apply to one of these, just in case the scholarships don't work out. (I had posted this before but had Canadian colleges on it; it turns out the Canadian colleges are not bad but there are extra fees: the ones on this list appear to be quite inexpensive for everyone. Check into them; sometimes a lower tier school has a nice program in the major you are interested in.) These colleges offer out of state tuitions of 7200 or less per year. I personally think the Oregon and Minnesota colleges might be good for safety schools, all with tuitions under $6500 per year. These are colleges that -at least when I last checked- offer the same reasonable in state tuitions they have for local kids to any out of state students who apply.</p>

<p>First column is School name
Second "column" is Tuition and fees (in state)
Third "column" is Tuition and fees (out-of-state)
Fourth "column" is room and board</p>

<p>Univ. of Arkansas–Monticello "$4,150 " "$4,930 " "$3,366 "
Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. "$3,461 " "$5,687 " "$4,100 "
Eastern Oregon University "$5,826 " "$5,826 " "$7,776 "
Southeastern Oklahoma State U. "$3,372 " "$5,998 " "$3,190 "
Northern State University (SD) "$4,962 " "$6,153 " "$4,102 "
Southwest MN State Univ (MN) "$6,240 " "$6,240 " "$5,324 "
Bemidji State University (MN) "$6,490 " "$6,490 " "$5,628 "
Univ. of the District of Columbia "$3,210 " "$6,510 " N/A
Murray State University (KY) "$4,998 " "$6,788 " "$5,226 "
University of South Alabama "$3,510 " "$6,820 " "$5,872 "
Peru State College (NE) "$3,800 " "$6,860 " "$4,816 "
Chadron State College (NE) "$3,855 " "$6,945 " "$4,065 "
Morgan State University (MD) "$3,209 " "$6,982 " "$3,495 "
Southern Arkansas University "$4,890 " "$7,080 " "$3,930 "
Wayne State College (NE) "$4,013 " "$7,088 " "$4,470 "
South Carolina State University "$3,639 " "$7,161 " "$2,559 "</p>