<p>I'm in the top 5% of my class and have a 1510/1600 on my SAT, and am, therefore, guaranteed a full ride as well as admission to the honors program at Rutgers, my state university. Is Rutgers too "low" of a safety for me? Should I apply to some other schools that might give me money that have a later deadline?</p>
<p>Middle 50% of First-Year Students Percent Who Submitted Scores</p>
<p>SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 630 99%
SAT Math: 560 - 670 99%
SAT Writing: 530 - 640 99%</p>
<pre><code>* 41% in top 10th of graduating class
* 81% in top quarter of graduating class
* 99% in top half of graduating class
</code></pre>
<p>I think you should look at the strength of the particular major you are intending to take (if you know). Rutgers is ranked quite well, nationally, for a variety of programs.</p>
<p>A number of my friends and relatives go or have gone to Rutgers, and my impression is that you can get a terrific education there and won't lack for other quality students if you are taking ambitious classes.</p>
<p>Four year ago, I too was eligible for a free ride at Rutgers. I got into Princeton early, so it was a moot point. However, while I think really top tier schools are worth the extra expense, I hope that if I had gotten into, say Brandeis or Tufts and was looking at paying a considerable amount there versus a free education at RU, I would have had the sense to stay in state. I remember a girl in my year who ultimately made that kind of decision. Brown was her absolute top choice, and she would have made the financial sacrifice for it, but once she didn't get in there, she chose money at Rutgers versus Haverford. As far as I know, she was very happy at college.</p>
<p>That's not even considering what I see as the very silly choice of going to another college's state school (barring the "public Ivies") or a marginally more selective private university like Syracuse or GW over Rutgers just because you think it has some more cachet.</p>
<p>I am not a huge Rutgers fan because I think the State of NJ is in the process of screwing their state universities due to lack of funds. If you can get a good economic alternative for yourself, I would do it. However, if Rutgers turns out to be the best option, I think you can get a good education. With your stats I think you can do a lot better and have a better college experience all the way around. Another problem with the NJ schools is that NJ is a small enough state that a lot of people bail out and go home on the weekends.</p>
<p>Another factor is that Rutgers, in-state, is really not a huge percentage cheaper than some other schools, OOS. It's really surprising, when you consider the in-state ticket price of schools such as U of MD, then look at Rutgers in-state (over $10k more, I think). The money factor requires some serious comparison shopping.</p>
<p>As a true safety, both academically and financially, Rutgers is fine. But you should be applying to a range of schools. Are you looking for merit money, or need-based aid? Where else have you applied to date?</p>
<p>Doesn't really matter, though. The full ride covers tuition and living expenses. My family makes too much money to qualify for need based aid, so only merit aid. I've applied to McGill, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Rutgers, SUNY Binghamton, and Stony Brook so far.</p>
<p>My son also got a free-ride. It's staying on the table until he gets all his other acceptances & sees what $$ they offer. Then, he can make the decision in light of other options (as said above, may be willing to go into debt for an excellent school, but if comparing free ride at decent school to significant debt at a school ranked only somewhat better than free ride---that would argue for the free ride option---especially if you are contemplating grad school).</p>
<p>It's hard to make a reasoned assessment (I think) until you've got more of your choices in the mix.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you apply to the University of Rochester, if their deadline has not passed. It's an excellent school, strong across a broad range of academic areas, an easier admit than many on your list, and gives merit aid.</p>
<p>Just a question, if I want to get work after graduating (before going to grad school), if I have a really high GPA from rutgers, a marketable major, a strong senior thesis, and high LSAT/GMAT scores, will I still be at a big disadvantage compared to graduates of elite schools?</p>
<p>To OP: I think you would be making a smart move by going to Rutgers, IMHO. From your list the only ones that might be worth paying full price (compared to Rutgers full ride) would be Harvard, Princeton and maybe Columbia.</p>
<p>Well, clearly doing really well at Rutgers isn't as impressive as doing really well at an Ivy level school. However, by definition only a small percentage of the top-level students who get into Ivies will remain at the top of their class at college. Personally, I suspect that doing extremely well at a respectable state school is probably more impressive than being a middle of the road B/B+ student at one of the elites. </p>
<p>Again, I'd say if you can afford and get into an elite school, by all means go. But Rutgers is fine as a safety.</p>
<p>I think Rutgers instate/full ride is far preferable to either of the SUNY schools the OP mentions. And the other options he or she mentions are all Ivies except for McGill, which is an interesting choice and probably fairly inexpensive, reasonably prestigious and in in an appealing location. </p>
<p>So I don't think Rutgers is too "low" a safety at all. Good class rank and 1510 SATs are not a magic ticket to superselective admission. (And being from New Jersey is a drawback because there are so many qualified applicants from NJ to the superselectives. </p>
<p>I think, too, that a stellar performance/high GPA and good recs from professors at Rutgers will get you into a top grad or professional program. (A number of Ivies are known for major grade inflation--although that isn't the case with some of the smaller elites, there are no LACs on the OP's list.) Remember, too, that getting a tenure-track job and, ultimately, tenure, at Rutgers is a significant accomplishment, so you will have access to highly qualified professors who are likely to be respected in their fields. And at any flagship state university, there will be always be some extremely bright and able students who are attending a public school close to home for various reasons. So I would not worry about having smart enough classmates, either. You will.</p>
<p>That was long before the recent financial market meltdown and recession and the entire state's financial position is pretty terrible right now. My only advice is to do your own research.</p>
<p>My family is in NJ, which sort of makes McGill a tougher sell. I feel like I messed up essentially. Should I get rejected from all the ivies, I have two choices (rutgers/mcgill, I don't like the SUNY's) that have serious drawbacks. I can only wait and see what happens, but I clearly made a mistake.</p>
<p>Let me begin by saying that I am a professor at Rutgers, as well as a mom. For a student who is organized, curious and self-motivated I can't think of a better university. Such a student will become a star, with opportunities unrivaled by almost any other university. I also agree that there is a complex bureaucracy at Rutgers, but there are also many, many people willing to help. Dealing with life at Rutgers is good training for life--and, after all, I think that is part of what college should be.</p>
<p>I feel like the academics would be more than challenging enough. My main concerns with Rutgers is its bad reputation. They accept some of the worst people at my school, really anti-intellectual, unmotivated, often scary people. If I were an employer, I wouldn't want to hire them, and can see why a Rutgers degree would put me at a disadvantage. Also, as a high achiever academically, there's some stigma associated with going to Rutgers. I can't see how people who get sub-1620 on the SAT will be able to do rigorous, college level material, and that's 25% of Rutger's class. Ultimately, I would like to go to a prestigious university to signal to employers that I'm intelligent. If I went to Rutgers, wouldn't that do just the converse?</p>
<p>The great thing about a big university like Rutgers is that you find your own level--top students push each other to accomplish more and more. Like other professors, I have been astonished and delighted at the increasing quality of Rutgers students over the last several years. Certainly I have had students something like the people the OP describes from his/her HS--not very committed intellectually. Believe me, though, you will find students like that anywhere. On the other hand, I have had students who could not be surpassed by any Ivy League undergraduates. </p>
<p>My experience has been that both employers and graduate schools find a Rutgers degree very appealing. Indeed, what seems "prestigious" when you are looking out at the world from a high school vantage point is not always the same as what looks prestigious at the other end of college.</p>
<p>Nevertheless--you should not got to a school you don't want to attend! That is a recipe for misery.</p>