Help Me Find a Safety School?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! So I am a rising senior in NJ and already have a list of schools that I am applying to. I may add 1 or 2 more but it's pretty much set:
-University of Southern California
-Tulane
-Syracuse
-Boston University
-Rutgers
-Northeastern
-University of Pittsburgh
-University of Miami
-Case Western Reserve
-UC San Diego</p>

<p>My Extracurriculars:
-3 years school volleyball and 1 year club volleyball
-1 year school softball
-2 years spring track and field (pole vault)
-Spanish and Community Service clubs
-future founder and president of fashion club
-15 hours volunteering
-2 job experiences</p>

<p>Tests:
-SAT (superscored 2 tests) 1950
-ACT 29 (taking again in september)
-SAT II Math I 730
-SAT II US History 650</p>

<p>School:
around 3.8ish GPA (I think unweighted)
Total APs: US History, Spanish Language, Biology, Psychology, AB Calculus, English Language
Total Honors: Geometry, Spanish II, Spanish III, Chemistry, English II, English III, US History </p>

<p>Extra:
-National Honors Society
-First Generation College student
-Older brother goes to USC as part of the honors program</p>

<p>My counselor wants me to add more safeties. I'm thinking my safeties at the moment are UMiami, UPittsburgh, and Rutgers, but I want 1 more certain one. I want a very urban school with a somewhat party scene on the weekends. I am also majoring in Biology.
Thank you</p>

2

<p>UMiami and Pitt are definitely NOT safeties.</p>

3

<p>Cost constraints?</p>

4

<p>I think the cost constraint is about 60K total</p>

5

<p>$60,000 total for all four years?</p>

<p>In that case, you need to run net price calculators to check financial aid estimates.</p>

<p>You may also want to see these lists (which can give you targets to aim for when retaking SAT and ACT):</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>?</p>

<p>Are you saying that your parents will pay $60k per year? </p>

<p>Or that your parents will pay $15k per year?</p>

<p>or…how much will your parents pay per year?</p>

<p>Miami and Pitt are not safeties. </p>

<p>I know that your bro is at USC, but your scores are going to rise for a decent chance. USC rejects kids regularly with ACT 32 or SAT 2100 regularly. USC is score crazy.</p>

<p>For a school to be a safety, you have to know that all costs are covered. If your parents will pay all costs, then it will be easier to find safeties for you. If you need any aid, then it will be more of a challenge. </p>

<p>What is your intended career with Bio?</p>

7

<p>What are Miami and Pitt then? 60K per year but I’m relying on scholarships to pay for a good chunk. My intended major in biology is forensic investigation and cosmetic chemist in graduate school.</p>

8

<p>*What are Miami and Pitt then? 60K per year but I’m relying on scholarships to pay for a good chunk. *</p>

<p>Miami and Pitt may be matches.</p>

<p>Please clarify…If you’re “relying” on scholarships, then will your parents PAY $60k per year if you don’t get any scholarships??? </p>

<p>Have you asked your parents if they’ll pay $60k per year if you don’t get ANY scholarships??</p>

<p>Frankly, your stats aren’t high enough for much/any scholarships from USC, Miami, Tulane, etc.</p>

9

<p>I am going to assume you would ilke to attend school near your brother at USC</p>

<p>Safety–Cal State Northridge, Loyola Marymount</p>

<p>50/50 UCSB, Pepperdine</p>

10

<p>^^^
Those might be safeties if we know his parents will pay ALL costs without any scholarships. His posts haven’t been too clear.</p>

11

<p>My parents are probably going to cover the costs or I’ll go through student loan. @mom2collegekids I’m a girl hahaha.</p>

12

<p>FYI- I think Miami is a match or a bit of a match/reach for you.
I don’t expect them to give you enough merit based on SAT/ACT though you may get additional or grant money for first generation.</p>

<p>I think the problem with your list is that you do not have financial safeties other than Rutgers. You need to pick some safeties that will offer you generous financial aid/grants/or merit $. You need to apply to more NJ state schools as well as think about those schools known to give good $ to students with your stats.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

13

<p>My parents are probably going to cover the costs or I’ll go through student loan. @mom2collegekids I’m a girl hahaha.</p>

<p>Sorry…lol. :)</p>

<p>Well, just keep in mind that YOU can only borrow $5,500 …which is very little. So, talk to your parents and ask them how much they’ll pay. You don’t want any surprises next spring.</p>

<p>If your goal is to be in Calif and you want some merit scholarship money, then look at some schools that might do that…Whittier College, Redlands, USD, etc.</p>