Mount Holyoke is test optional, I think that makes their average score look higher. Not sure.
If a high quality music program is a ‘must have’ then I would definitely keep St. Olaf on the Safety list.
I know you’re not looking to add schools, but has she considered Emory & Henry? It seems to have literally everything she is looking for - major, swimming, equine studies program, music opportunities, outdoor activities galore, etc. She would likely qualify for the honors program which Comes with a $20k scholarship.
If you’re not familiar with it, E&H is one of the “colleges that change lives” and is really an underrated school.
The reason for so many “safety” schools is money. All are great schools that might give her merit aid. Significant merit aid would help. Maybe I’m dreaming though. Set me straight friends.
Reed is a great school and almost singular in its comparison to other schools, but I should say, it can be very counter-culture for some, and for those who don’t care for it, they really don’t care for it–so investigate it well.
We visited St. Olaf and the orchestra there is UNBELIEVABLE. My younger daughter (yep, going through this whole rigamarole again next year!) is definitely applying there purely for the opportunity to be in their orchestra. Great school for a student who is serious about music, but doesn’t want conservatory.
@Daddio3 I wondered about Vassar; I’ve heard the music program is excellent as well as the sciences. People seem to like the vibe there. I guess that’s another reach probably. Bryn Mawr and Haverford’s music program (combined) is still a bit of an unknown even after visiting. We heard the conductor is crazy and hard to work with. Not too appealing. My daughter liked the Quaker ideals and the honor code, the lovely campuses and the easy proximity to Philly by train. We live in the middle of nowhere upstate NY (near Corning), Vassar and Philly are about equidistant from us.
@boolaHI I agree about Reed (same applies to Oberlin). We have lots of friends who attend or have attended Oberlin and one at Reed. Both are a little far out there for my daughter, she’s a hybrid - hippie homeschooling mom and military officer test pilot dad. 
@jcc I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never even heard of Emory and Henry. Goodness, just when you think you’ve looked at them all!
@Earthmama68 - I know you really really don’t want to add more to the list - but is there a reason Bard is not on the list? Seems to fit a lot of her desires. Great music program, and they’ve even got an equestrian team. http://www.bardathletics.com/sports/2010/12/8/intramurals.aspx?tab=clubsandintramurals And they like students who choose alternate paths for the sake of learning.
I hate the term safety school which is why I put it in quotations. As some posters pointed out, college acceptance is a funny thing. You never know. Also, going to Ecuador and not having fall semester grades to submit may hurt her badly at some schools. She wrote to about 12 schools to ask them. Most were very enthusiastic and said that forging her own path could only help her application, but some more or less said if you don’t have fall grades to submit, you can forget about coming here (Bryn Mawr, Scripps, and Middlebury). Middlebury said she should apply for February admittance if she was applying at all. Some never replied at all (Skidmore, Grinnell, and Colorado College, if I’m not mistaken). It was an interesting exercise actually, to see how the schools responded. Some were incredibly helpful. Only one was dismissive and condescending.
Vassar is somewhat easier than Haverford to get into (24%-25% admission rate but Vassar has a 30-33 ACT range Haverford 31-34). Vassar is a 2-hour train ride to NYC, certainly not as convenient as Vassar, but I’d rather visit NYC 
Bard kids tend to not graduate and leave with a lot of debt compared to the other schools we’re looking at. I’ve never known anyone to go there for 4 straight years.
@Earthmama68 Well, wouldn’t the school’s responses help you pare down, anyway? Might as well scrap Bryn Mawr’s application if they already told her she wouldn’t be considered without grades. Is she comfortable being a Feb admit at Midd? If not, scrap that application, too. You want schools that will embrace your daughter and support her unique path in life, not look down upon it. I say if they don’t share this philosophy (and/or if they treat her rudely or condescendingly!), that’s not a school she’d want to be at.
Emory and Henry 33% graduation rate! What is going on there???
Uh, where did you get that number?? http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/highest-grad-rate/page+2 Where in the world are you researching your data?
@Qwerty568 Good point. We did cross Scripps off because of that and also my daughter would prefer not to go that far away anyway. On the other hand, Whitman which is also far away gave a very helpful response, so it stayed on the list. If the school seems like a good fit in other ways, it may be silly not to apply just because of the response of one admissions officer who hasn’t seen her whole package. I guess that’s how I feel about Middlebury. We have friends there, twin girls, who have a lot in common with my daughter and they both love it there.
@Earthmama68 - admittedly my son took five years to graduate from Bard - but that was because he was in a special dual degree program, and it was with a full tuition scholarship for five years. So, no debt, but, yes took longer than four years! All of his friends graduated on schedule except for a composer friend who stayed to work on his music for an extra semester. Not sure what makes you think Bard students don’t graduate, nor that they’re all loaded down with debt. The school offers both generous financial and merit aid. On the other hand, as I said before, you aren’t looking for more schools. Just wanted to correct a misconception.
@momofzag, it looks like College of Wooster does have non-binding early action so I think that’s a great option!
@“Erin’s Dad” I looked on Collegedata.com. I don’t see Emory & Henry in the link you posted. It’s not the same school as Emory U. in Atlanta. 
Emory & Henry is in VA and someone here recommended it for my daughter. But after looking at its stats, I’m guessing it’s not a great fit for her. College Board website says 47% graduate within 6 years. Eek.