<p>I am looking for some advice on finding more safeties/matches. Here is the thing, I'm not exactly sure what I want to major in, but I definitely want a school with a... good enough math and science program (sorry that is so vague... most likely math, some sort of engineering, or physics, ... ???). So far I have:</p>
<ul>
<li>MIT</li>
<li>Stanford</li>
<li>Caltech</li>
<li>HYP
as reaches, and</li>
<li>UCs as matches/safeties (berkeley, ucla, ucsd, davis) (I live in CA)</li>
</ul>
<p>As far as stats, I have a good enough SAT score/GPA, I take I think a pretty demanding courseload, and most of my extracurricular stuff has to do with math (usamo, though i've never made mop).
.
But I would really like some out-of-state matches/safeties (though if you know of any really good CA ones i've missed please let me know); I kind of want to keep my options open as far as location, since my reaches are never a guarantee or so I've heard. As far my research/talking to friends has led me to consider Olin and Harvey Mudd, but I can't say that much of my research has been particularly helpful (ie, unbiased), or maybe I'm just looking in all the wrong places. Either way, I would love some input/more to add to the list, and also any other suggestions on my college list (is it too long?). Thanks!</p>
<p>Since we have no idea about scores/grades this is a shot in the dark. Look at Case Western, RPI, Rose Hulman, Purdue.</p>
<p>Case is a good one. And if you can use Berkeley as a match, you'd probably get merit money there. </p>
<p>How about Lehigh?</p>
<p>How big of a school? Big city or suburb or rural? Sports scene, like Stanford, or not? Some liberal arts to leaven the science, or hardcore technical orientation?</p>
<p>Male or female? URM?</p>
<p>If White/asian male, neither Mudd nor Olin will likely fit your criteria for safety (Mudd maybe a match if you just barely have missed MOP, have math beyond Multivariable and Differential, etc.--but only 17% of males got in last year). Based on last year at Olin, an argument could be made that it should be considered of at least equivalent selectivity as MIT and HYP for non-URM males.</p>
<p>Having engineering as an option limits you somewhat. As you probably know, Harvard is strong in math, but not in engineering. Others on your list will be the same. University of Chicago is great school for sciences and math--but no engineering. My son only applied to one ivy league school (Cornell as a semi-safety) because he is nearly certain about engineering.</p>
<p>Rennselaer? Rochester Institute of Technology? </p>
<p>Have you considered Cooper Union? It's not a safety but it might be a good option.</p>