I have a 4.0 uw with the hardest schedule and have scored a 35 on the ACT test. Based on this alone, what good schools would be safeties for me or good students in general? Thanks!
Generally the state flagship but that will vary by state. This question can’t be answered without a budget. A safety should be 100% chance of acceptance and affordable.
It is hard to answer without more information. What state you are in, ECs, “hooks” (such as URM), and budget are some areas where more information would be useful. However, for most students the state flagship would be a good place to start. If you are in California then UCLA and UCB might not be quite safe, but instead very good match schools with other UC’s being almost safe.
For my daughters with 4.0 and about 3.95 uw and 1400+ SAT, schools in Canada were also very safe (they don’t care much about ECs up there).
Yes, cost constraints and intended or possible majors are some of the things that can help you determine whether a school can be a suitable safety.
You have given no clues here. Field of intended study? Urban, rural, Greek life, sporty, liberal, conservative, big small, etc…?
I see sooooooomany top stduents apply to all reach scholls and end up at the only safety they threw in, just in case. Often, they end up at the safety, which is ususally the local instate public. I suggest you find a safety school you actually would be happy to attend. And show interest. Schools doent like being used as safeties.
The USA has over 4,000 Title IV degree-granting colleges/universities.
Even if you consider only the ~200 “national universities” ranked by US News (let alone all the ranked LACs and “regional” universities), the majority would be admission safeties for your stats. Only the top 25 or so would be admission reaches; the next ~25 after that might be admission matches. Although, for all we know, a larger number would be out-of-reach for you due to costs.
If you can’t provide appropriate details about your budget, interests, preferred location, etc., then (as others have suggested) just look at public colleges in your home state. At least one of them may even be within commuting distance. However, there may be private (or public OOS) schools that are even better admission/financial safeties in your case. At some, large merit scholarships may be automatic for your stats.
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Many colleges in the 25-75 rank range, especially private colleges, will deny or waitlist applicants with tip top stats because they realize that they are being used as a safety. This is especially true if the college considers demonstrated interest.
@TomSrOfBoston, My twin DD’s, with a similar profile, didn’t have that experience with LAC’s in the UNWR #20-30 ranking - they demonstrated interest and were accepted 3/3 at Bates, Kenyon and Oberlin, with large merit scholarships at Kenyon and Oberlin. In addition, they were 3/4 in the #7-12 LAC ranking, but only 1 WL and 3 denials in the #1-6 ranking.
@chembiodad I would not call Bates, Kenyon or Oberlin safety schools for anyone.
@TomSrOfBoston, understand that perspective, but when you achieve 35 and have a 4.0 you are at the tippy top of those schools distributions.
I think, too, the “Tufts effect” has waned as an admissions strategy as the acceptance rates continue to plummet at the tippy-top schools. The likelihood of a top student being denied at all their reach schools is higher than ever. So match schools (won’t call them safeties) have a better than ever chance of enrolling a student for whom the college is not a first, or second, choice.
@Chembiodad That is my point. Colleges are concerned about yield. They don’t mind being considered as a backup school, but a safety, no. Such applicants may not bother to do an optional essay or they may write a mediocre essay thinking “How can they possibly deny me, I’m superior.” There are many, many posts here on CC to support this. They generally go “But X University was my rock bottom safety, how come they denied me?”
@Chembiodad my kid got into a Clark U (her safety), which admits 55% of applicants. When we checked the scattergram, there were students with higher grades than hers that were denied. It is incorrect to imply that the three colleges you named are safeties for anyone. USNWR ranks American U as #74, 35% acceptance rate, but Clark U is #75. It’s pretty safe to say that AU is more likely to be a low match for this student, and Clark is likely to be a safety. The rank literally will not factor in AT ALL. Both schools consider interest.
Furthermore, the USNWR ranking is only one of dozens of rankings. Forbes, IMO a better ranking system, ranks AU at #124 and Clark at #188. That doesn’t suddenly change AU’s acceptance rate. Rankings don’t factor into what colleges constitute safeties, matches and reaches, and are irrelevant. Acceptance rates ARE an indicator, but not the sole means. A student needs to look at the stats of accepted students to more accurately judge their chances.
Look for schools that had non-binding EA (if allowable based on other schools you apply to) and/or rolling decision for safety schools as we you should get a decision by December.
Keep in mind that a safety school should be a school that is affordable and that you would be happy to attend.
Sorry everuone, I didn’t give much information. I am looking to major in economics or math at an urban or suburban university. I would like the school to have school spirit and good sports, but Greek life not dominating the social scene. MONEY IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY.
Honors programs within flagship universities sound like they may work for you… if you are ok with large flagships. A few that come to mind are Ohio State, U of Pittsburgh, U of Maryland. Maybe Wisconsin as well?
I’m just trying to go to the highest ranked university possible that fits my criteria.
Do you have size or geographic preferences? A school like Wake Forest would not necessarily be a safety, but I do think you would get in. It’s a D1 school with spirit but it may be too Greek. Lehigh is another one if you show interest but again… large Greek presence.
OP, if you are seeking advice regarding universities then demonstrated interest won’t generally be a factor, but as they have a greater pool of applicants than LAC’s a safety is likely a school such as #44 Lehigh. #27 Tufts and #27 Michigan would be matches with #19 Wash U as an achievable reach and then anything above that a reach for everyone - IMHO.
Wow, what??? @Chembiodad as they say in Blighty, you’re having a laugh. That is truly ridiculous. Lehigh considers interest as Important and has a 25% acceptance rate. Tufts has a 14% acceptance rate and considers interest. 16% acceptance rate at Wash U. It’s a reach for all. Unless the OP is from Michigan, it’s a reach, with a 28% acceptance rate. EVERY one of those schools is a reach for anyone except Malia Obama. Sorry, but that is bad advice. And again, who gives a monkey’s about the ranking? What ranking is that anyway? Why is that relevant to OP needing a safety school?