<p>I know that berkeley, UCLA, Harvey mudd etc and all the brilliant elite universities/colleges have phenomenal programs, but what about some other less competitive colleges? </p>
<p>I would imagine Cal Poly has a good program.</p>
<p>Do you mean CSU SLO?</p>
<p>Actually it’s California Polytechnic State University, SLO. You could have found that out with a quick google.</p>
<p>Cal Poly = Cal Poly SLO</p>
<p>There is no CSU Slo to be precise. </p>
<p>Cal Poly does have brand science facilities with a good chemistry department. </p>
<p>what are you plans for chemistry? what are your stats? are you a CA resident? are you an international? what can your family afford? </p>
<p>All this would help us out.</p>
<p>UCSD and UCD are also good options, since they are much less difficult to get into, but offer the same rigor as Berkeley. </p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO, not CSU SLO. Good chemistry program, especially if you are interested in polymers, but still competitive as it looks like their Chem admission rate is <20%. </p>
<p>I’m international with ib 40/42 predicted, but with a terrible sat 1 (1940). I’m planning to switch to act. I would prefer public schools because private schools are far more expensive. but private schools could be a possibility.</p>
<p>and what are you plans for your chem degree? will you go to graduate school? go home and teach?</p>
<p>and what can your family afford because as an international you’ll find it tough getting anywhere in California, public or private?</p>
<p>The one exception that comes to mind is Stanford. I cannot think of another. Your GPA/IB is excellent, but Stanford might want to see more than that, I don’t know. And I don’t know if they would provide you all the aid you need.</p>
<p>The question here is where can the OP find enough aid (whatever that is) to attend a 4 yr college outside of California.</p>
<p>i’m not sure what kind of chemistry i want to go into (maybe organic). i will go to grad school, and i hope to work in a research firm etc. I don’t really have any preference of what i want to do yet, given the fact that i’m still 16. But i don’t think i am going to be a teacher. @jkeil911 , stanford? my sat reasoning is so low!!! 
won’t this hinder my admission?</p>
<p>well, Stanford can afford to make up its own rules. I do know they’d be impressed by those IB scores. </p>
<p>You could however study very hard, pay a tutor, do whatever it takes to get prepared, and then take the SAT over again. Whether that would be enough to get you into Stanford is known to no one. Whether Stanford would provide you with enough support is known to no one.</p>
<p>I suggest you spread your search to include all of the US, or at least those schools known to offer intl students aid. Here are three websites to investigate for more information. There may by more such websites:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/financial-aid.php”>http://www.educationusa.info/financial-aid.php</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware”>http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2013/09/19/colleges-that-give-international-students-the-most-financial-aid”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2013/09/19/colleges-that-give-international-students-the-most-financial-aid</a></p>
<p>I cannot be certain of their accuracy.</p>
<p>Could anyone recommend any safety schools - acceptance rate >50%?</p>
<p>Safety schools have to be affordable. How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>Chemistry is such a staple major that there are literally hundreds of schools with good programs. Have a good Chem dept is not unique.</p>
<p>btw…there are two Cal Polys…SLO and Cal Poly Pomona. </p>
<p>what was your M + CR on the SAT? retake it and also take the ACT.</p>
<p>UC Riverside would be a good safety if you are interested in attending a UC. Their acceptance rate is around 60% and their Biochem department is highly rated along with some interesting research opportunities. They also offer upward to $10,000 scholarships (renewable yearly) for high STAT students. </p>
<p>I have heard CSUs have great research opportunities for undergrads; some say research for undergrads is better at a CSU than a UC. But I don’t know for sure</p>
<p>BTW, I know this is a bit off topic, but if you are pursuing a Chemistry degree you must know great study sites. If you do, can you pass them along, they would be very useful to my Chemistry study group!</p>
<p>What are your planes in utilizing the chemistry degree? Do you intend on going to med / grad school? If so, undergraduate research opportunities will be a must. I’m not exactly sure on the difference between UC’s and CSU’s for undergrad research, but I’d imagine it would go by differently from each individual university, instead of the two “categories” of public in-states in Cal.</p>
<p><<<
UC Riverside would be a good safety
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<p>Has the OP said how much his family will pay? and would a 1940 SAT get much/any merit…especially to an intl? do they give merit to intls?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids: I did see at least 1 international student that was accepted with a $5K scholarship on the Class of 2018 Accepted thread.</p>