As a rising senior this year, I’ve been trying to make a list of schools with reaches, targets and safety’s (safeties…?). Whenever I bring up safety schools to friends or family, they try to placate me and tell me that most schools will accept me because I have a fairly high SAT and GPA, but I’m aware that nothing is guaranteed. So, honestly, what are some good, small (1,500 - 10,000) safety schools in the northeast (I’m from NJ) for someone with a 2290 (730R, 770M, 790W), average/good EC’s and a 4.18 weighted gpa?
Your stats aren’t “fairly high”, they’re great!
What’s your budget? Safeties must be affordable.
My family is medium to low income so honestly most schools that I’m looking at (small liberal arts) aren’t going to be affordable for us unless I qualify for financial aid. I think around $20,000 a year without aid is doable, although I’m not totally sure.
I would really highly encourage you to get a realistic financial contribution from your parents. If your parents can contribute $20,000 a year, you are not low income.
Go to the schools NPC calculator to input the fin information to see what amount the school expects your family to contribute.
You have very good stats. Go to the schools that you are interested in and look up Common Data Set then compare your stats to accepted students.
Are you limited to the NE? Would you consider other schools who may want the geographical diversity that you may bring?
Academic interests?
I will ask them soon because I’m realizing I honestly know nothing about financial aid (yay!) but I got that estimate from knowing that my sister’s tuition is around that much. Thinking further, it would definitely be a stretch for them to pay that much for each of us and it certainly couldn’t happen without significant loans.
I’m technically not limited to the Northeast, but I really love it. I think the only way I would go much farther is if it was a fantastic school or if I got a large scholarship.
Interested in STEM, most likely biology related. Possibly a math minor because I love that too.
St. Lawrence is a beautiful college with a good math department. URochester is excellent and would be a fairly safe admit for you. If you are female, Bryn Mawr and Mt. Holyoke could be options. Holy Cross would offer you a still different type of school.
You need to work with your parents ASAP to run net price calculators. Depending on your financial situation, look at Dickinson as a low match.
You can only borrow ~$5500/year, so if your parents can’t contribute much you need a school that gives good merit aid for your stats. I agree that you should find out how much your parents can pay per year and run the net price calculators with them. If they’re reluctant to discuss costs, they may not be able to contribute much.
You’re med/low income and can potentially afford $20K/year? Ask your parents. Look in the midwest at schools like Wooster, Denison and Earlham.
Are you interested in engineering? With your STEM/biology interest, is biomedical engineering a possibility?
Is this too obvious… what about Rutgers? It is fantastic across the board in all STEM disciplines.