<p>Hey CC!
I need help deciding my safeties.I intend to major in electrical engineering/ EECS (Where it's available)
My stats are
34 ACT (35 M 33 R 33 E 34 S)
2330 SAT 2 (780 math 2, 780 physics, 770 chem)
And I also have 97% in 11th grade
(American citizen studying in India)
Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>Cost constraints?</p>
<p>55K per year ceiling. </p>
<p>That leaves a lot of options. What characteristics in a school are you looking for?</p>
<p>Also, what would your high school GPA be on the 4.0 scale (A = 4, B = 3, etc.)?</p>
<p>Purdue and GaTech? :P</p>
<p>Most state flagship schools are pretty good in engineering. For example, the Civil Engineering department at UT-Austin is one of the best in the country. When I was looking at schools, many years ago, it was an easy decision to go to UT rather than MIT or some other costlier colleges.</p>
<p>WPI, RPI safeties
Look at Franklin Olin also. You are very bright.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say GaTech is safety. It’s more like a match.
Depending on your class rank, Texas A&M University (College Station campus) might be a genuine safety.</p>
<p>Are you saying that the most your parents will pay is $55k per year? If so, you can apply to virtually any engineering school that would accept you…practically any flagship.</p>
<p>Did your parents SAY that they would pay $55k per year for a SAFETY??? ASK THEM…many will NOT pay that much for a safety. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids See, my situation is super weird. My definition of a safety is NOT one where I’m guaranteed aid but rather a school with a GOOD engineering program. </p>
<p>If you do not have a school where you are assured of admission and affordability, what will you do if you do not get admitted anywhere?</p>
<p>@kaustubh0328: “My definition of a safety is NOT one where I’m guaranteed aid but rather a school with a GOOD engineering program.”</p>
<p>The definition of “safety school” that most people on CC use is a college/university where admission is guaranteed and which is affordable. If you are an American citizen studying abroad, you will have a domicile (i.e., state of which you are a legal resident); look at the engineering programs in the public universities in that state for your “safety” schools. See post #5 above.</p>
<p>As others have already said, safety schools are the “nuclear option”. It’s the school or list of schools where, if all else failed, you would get into and have no problem affording.</p>
<p>Personally, I would add any state schools or privates to your list where your stats put you above the 75% percentile of students accepted, and where total costs are below (preferably well below) $55k a year. </p>
<p>New Mexico Tech?
University of Arizona?
University of Wyoming?</p>
<p>Just to name a few that I am familiar with. These are all relatively affordable schools with solid engineering programs.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I go to school in India and I’ve already gotten into a really good engineering school here, so I have that.
@gandalf78 I lived in Arkansas so… the lack of good schools there is (not) surprising. And anyways, even though my dad still pays Arkansas state tax, I’m not an instate student.
@fractalmstr Thanks a lot man! I’ll check those out.</p>
<p>“even though my dad still pays Arkansas state tax, I’m not an instate student.” – I believe that in-state residency is based on where your parents are domiciled, not necessarily where your physical presence is at this moment. So if your parents (one or both) are domiciled in Arkansas, then you should be able to get in-state residency there. You may wish to discuss that with an admissions officer; if indeed you would be considered as an in-state student in Arkansas, then apply the the University of Arkansas as a safety school.</p>
<p>If you are NMF, the University of Oklahoma – for one – will give you a full ride.</p>