Help me find my single "True Safety School"

<p>I want to find a single safety school, where I will pretty much be guaranteed acceptance and that it be a financial safety, so that I don't have to get into debt. I really want just ONE safety school if that's possible. An acceptance safety and a financial safety at the same time.</p>

<p>EFC = 0
Family income = 20K/year
GPA = 3.6/4.05
Rank = Top 10%
SAT = 2080 (740/670/670); retaking in Oct and aiming 2250+
SAT II = French-800, Math1-750, US-730</p>

<p>[ul]
[<em>]Any location is fine, but preferably not in the south... haha.
[</em>]I want a BIG school, at least 10,000 undergraduate students.
[<em>]If it uses the Common App, that's a HUGE plus.
[</em>]I want to spend as little money on this safety as possible (if I have to go there). Something with guaranteed scholarships or good aid or something. However, since I only want a single true safety, the financial aspects have to be somewhat guaranteed as well. No selective scholarships.
[<em>]Because I'm in the process of moving, I don't think I'll qualify for in-state public options at in-state tuition.
[</em>]I was considering either ASU or Alabama, however my family hates UAlabama, and ASU might not be the best financial safety. However, ASU might also be my best option.
[/ul]</p>

<p>What is my True Safety School? ASU seems like my best option for now, but I'll take any suggestions.</p>

<p>I’am also looking for ultimate safety school(s) ( I’am also looking for other additional schools to add to my list).
So far, ultimate safetys I’m surprisenly debating on are:
Western Michigan University ( preferably honors)
University of Iowa ( already plan to apply here, according to RAI I’am likely to be admitted, my only concern with the university is financial reasons)
Ohio University
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
George Mason University</p>

<p>Those are the main ones I can think of right now as very good chance of admission. Haven’t looked at any liberal art safeties yet, but know many liberal arts that would not be safeties.</p>

<p>Will you be a NMF? That would help considerably. Otherwise, I don’t know of very many automatic full rides (since your family obviously can’t contribute much).</p>

<p>Unfortunately, no, I got a 188 on the PSAT.</p>

<p>I understand that I probably won’t find a safety school with a full ride. However anything that meets the criteria I described, as well as being my most affordable option, would work. So basically any other big safety school that might be cheaper for me than ASU…</p>

<p>U of Alabama
Louisiana State University
Marshall University (competitive for Yeager Scholars)
Ohio University (full in-state tuition for you)</p>

<p>EDIT- Forgot to add that Indiana U will give you full in-state tuition, as well, because of your weighted GPA.</p>

<p>You may qualify for a full ride at:
North Carolina State University ( gives need base aid to all students reguardless of residency)
Ohio University</p>

<hr>

<p>Both of the schools listed above are not elite in stats etc… but very well recognized and respected institutions.</p>

<p>thanks for the suggestions everyone. here’s my take on the schools suggested…</p>

<p>U of Alabama: like I said my parents hate this place (prejudice). I would like going to this school, but it’s not worth the trouble with my family, and there has to be another option.</p>

<p>Louisiana State University: same as Alabama, unfortunately</p>

<p>Marshall University (competitive for Yeager Scholars): since I’m looking for an “ultimate safety” i would rather not dabble with any competitive scholarships. mostly just good aid (+ automatic scholarships if they have those)</p>

<p>Ohio University (full in-state tuition for you): thanks for this one, I’ll look into it.</p>

<p>North Carolina State University ( gives need base aid to all students reguardless of residency): thanks for this one too, I’ll try to see how much it would cost for me.</p>

<p>the last two seem good. I’ll pick the best one out of those two and compare with ASU. any other suggestions would be great</p>

<p>Temple University</p>

<p>flyingllama, didn’t you post that you’re caught in a residency bind between 2 states? Do you now belong to Alabama? </p>

<p>The other state (if it’s the one I think) has wonderful public options. On the other hand, if you are a high-achieving student from a low-income family in Alabama, then you’re in a good position at the reach end of the spectrum. Especially if you can achieve your SAT goals, you should be a desirable candidate at some of the most selective schools.</p>

<p>In that case, I’d say apply to Indiana U (or Ohio, or any public school that can offer you in-state rates). Focus your other efforts on well-endowed match and reach schools with no-loan aid policies, all-expense grants to students below a certain income, or full tuition merit scholarships. In the event these options fail, then attend the safety part-time, if that’s all you can afford, while your family establishes residency in the other state. Then transfer (again, attending part time if necessary). Or am I missing something?</p>

<p>^ where is the information about getting in-state rates at IU? I’ve been over and over the site but have not seen anything about it.</p>

<p>As one who qualify for need base financial aid, I’am also looking for a true safety, or say true safeties.</p>

<hr>

<p>I don’t see myself considering Alabama and Louisana due to political reasons ( schools are conservative), and geographic location ( I actually prefer east coast, west coast, and midwest). Other than that I think both universities are good schools, and being a conservative state ( Alabama, Louisana), it would be very different for me in which I rather not attend those schools ( resident of Michigan).</p>

<p>aha, yes I am in between two states: UT and CA. However, because of the complications of state residency, and since I’m aiming for an ultimate safety, I don’t want it to have to do with in-state residency.</p>

<p>i have looked at temple, NC state, and ohio. the only one that’s showing me guaranteed money is ohio, unless I’m missing something.</p>

<p>so far it’s Ohio University and ASU as my safeties</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>We dont have a formula-driven scholarship system. Our Honors Program average is 3.85 and 1330/1600. If you retake the SAT like you said, and receive a 2250+, you would be very competitive for a full ride.</p>

<p>that actually sounds good… still i’m trying to avoid safeties with competitive scholarships. i’d rather focus my energies on match/reach schools with no-loan policies and such. that’s why i’m looking for a guaranteed safety/financially that i won’t have to worry about.</p>

<p>and is the 3.85 unweighted?</p>

<p>Okay, the reason why I mentioned Marshall is because I have a feeling its Yeager Scholars program isn’t too “competitive”, primarily due to its lackuster statistics and West Virginia location. However, it is still a stellar program. Here’s a link if you want to check it out:</p>

<p>[Yeager</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://www.marshall.edu/yeager/]Yeager”>http://www.marshall.edu/yeager/)</p>

<p>Also, Indiana U WILL guarantee you $9,000/yr. with your combo of GPA and SAT. In-state tuition is about $8,500/yr. Here’s a link:</p>

<p>[Automatic</a> Academic Scholarships: Office of Scholarships: Indiana University Bloomington](<a href=“http://www.scholarships.indiana.edu/pages/automatic.php]Automatic”>http://www.scholarships.indiana.edu/pages/automatic.php)</p>

<p>And you are also “competitive” for the Hutton Honors college there:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.indiana.edu/~iubhonor/hds/admissions.php[/url]”>http://www.indiana.edu/~iubhonor/hds/admissions.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Flyingllama, If your replying to my message, I was basically saying that I do not want to attend a conservative school such as Alabama and Louisana.</p>

<p>Also flyingllama I would consider University of Iowa, great school…</p>

<p>Also I don’t see how ASU is your safety? They don’t give need base financial aid to out of state students at all.</p>

<p>Also, if you’re possibly looking to stay on the West Coast, the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon is an incredible program.</p>

<p>OHKID: thanks for those links. I looked through the Yeager program and it looks great, but only 6 students were selected for the last class… I probably could be selected, but I’m really looking for a safety that will just relieve stress by giving me some sort of guarantee. otherwise, Yeager at Marshall looks I a fine place i definitely wouldn’t mind attending.</p>

<p>now, Indiania U guarantees 9K/year? that’s really great. I’ll compare it with Ohio University and see which one I’ll apply to, based on factors like which would end up cheaper overall. The honors college looks good too.</p>

<p>so it’s Ohio vs Indiana</p>

<p>other suggestions always, always welcome. again I’m looking for a school that would offer some sort of guarantee, like how indiana would give 9K/year, and Ohio would give in-state tuition etc…</p>

<p>diontechristmas: I looked up the Clark honors college, and it also seems like a fine program, but I’m looking for at least some kind of financial guarantee which they can’t offer. at least not like Ohio or Indiana from what I’m seeing right now</p>

<p>Re Post #5 and 10–Indiana does NOT offer instate tuition for GPA’s or SAT scores.<br>
It does have automatic scholarships, as mentioned, but even the $9000 doesn’t put it as low as instate tuition.</p>

<p>^In-state tuition is $8,500/yr. for IU. Scholarship is $9,000/yr.</p>

<p>That means it covers the cost of in-state tuition and offers an additional $500/yr. Pair this with the fact that it offers excellent business and journalism schools, among others, and you have a lethal good combo for students like the OP.</p>

<p>A side note to the OP: APPLY NOW!!! Their scholarship money is known to run out early, and their app. was released Aug. 1st. Your stats are perfect for the school already, and no improvements to your credentials will be necessary, plus their application is super easy to fill out (like 15 minutes max.).</p>

<p>Good Luck!!!</p>