How do I find safety schools that I actually LIKE?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've heard a lot of times that you should pick safety schools that you love and would actually be happy going to, but how do you actually go about doing this? I'm pretty sure I'd be devastated if I had to go to one of my safety schools. From people who have picked their safety schools/gone through the college process, how did you do it? </p>

<p>Also, can anyone think of schools similar to Tufts, Bowdoin, Brandeis, and Vassar that are easier to get into and could be considered safeties? Thanks</p>

2

<p>People on Collegeconfidential will give you some good recommendations. Check out the Fiske Guide to colleges (available at any decent bookstore or public library) for more info. Easier to get into than some of the ones you mentioned: Clark U. (Worcester, Mass), Union College (NY), Connecticut College, Dickinson College, Bates, Skidmore.</p>

3

<p>University of Rochester is supposedly pretty similar to Tufts, but it may be more of a match than a safety. My strategy for finding good safeties is to pick a selectivity index in Princeton Review that seems to be just a bit below you, and then try to look at all the schools in the top 368 with that selectivity index. These are still very good schools, just easier to get into.</p>

4

<p>you start by spending some time pondering what things will make a good college experience for you. Is it personal attention? The chance to take classes from those prominent in the field? A setting such as a city, or a setting not in a city? A good study-abroad program? A college where everyone lives on/near campus? Not all items are equally important, but with some reflection you can come up with a list of items that you can order in terms of importance. </p>

<p>Then look for safeties that match or approximate these items. For example a large state school may not have small classes in general, especially lower-division, but it may have an honors program where it does (although your selection is going to be much less than at a LAC or similar).</p>

5

<p>A safety school should be a school you want to go to, this is true. So here are some keys since i am actually attending a safety school I applied to and can’t see myself anywhere else now. </p>

<p>A) be sure that it is the same size school you want. Dont choose a large safety school if you can’t stand the idea of lecture classes where you will never meet the professor one on one. The opposite would be a smaller school where classes have the same or fewer students than your high school did and the teacher will call you out by name. </p>

<p>B) make sure it is in a climate you can tolerate. While you can say that you dont mind snow, be sure you actually dont. Else, your safety will turn into a nightmare that never ends. </p>

<p>C) Make sure they have a program of study you are actually interested in. There is no reason to apply to a safety school if you dont want to study anything offered there. </p>

<p>D) How is the atmosphere? Is it a party school or is it a school where people spend their weekends studying? What do people do for fun? Are there clubs that you would be interested in or student organizations that you think would be fun to join? Getting involved on campus is important and will be how you get to know people. Make sure there is going to be a group you could see yourself joining. </p>

<p>To pick a safety school, answer the previous 4 points. If you visit the local bookstore or library, there are numerous books with 500+ colleges and their statistics/information. Online resources are also beneficial. Also, if you can think of one school that is your ideal “safety”, then look for colleges that are similar to it either online or in books. This is easiest done under the section that is usually posted similar to “other schools accepted students applied to” or something similar to that wording. </p>

<p>When I was waitlisted by my first choice, I was devastated. I knew I should have gotten in, but for whatever reason, I didn’t. While I still hoped that I would get in, I started to realistically look at my other options of where I did get in. It helps to narrow it down to schools that fit the structure you want: small, big, city, rural, greek life involvement, etc. I then visited the safety schools I did get in to. Spend time talking to students outside of the tour guides, eat in the cafeteria, see a dorm, or maybe sit in on a class you are interested in. This helps a safety school come to life and you might realize it isn’t as bad as you originally thought it was. </p>

<p>Hope this helps. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>So you’re looking for smaller colleges in New England, basically? Union, Skidmore, Bard.</p>

7

<p>The problem many people who have difficulty finding a safety have is related to feeling they’re “better” than the school they’d be unfairly forced to attend. It’s their initial perception that does them in.</p>

<p>I like the approach of stephcat90, in that you identify what it is you want from a school and ignore selectivity and prestige. Once you have that list, you should determine one or two safeties - schools which 1) you’d be highly likely or guaranteed to be admitted to; 2) you can afford; and 3) you’d be happy to attend (should already be true if you did a good job compiling the entire list).</p>

<p>I know it’s easier to say to ignore the perceived quality of a school than to do it, but it’s a whole lot easier (and frankly, accurate) to feel that you’ll get what you want and need from a lot of colleges that aren’t considered top tier, then “trade up” if given the opportunity. Getting past the idea that only College X will allow me to reach my goals(far from it!), or I deserve to get into College Y with my background (you’re not entitled) is part of the maturation process, as is dealing with disappointment. Do a good job with this, and you’ll end up where you fit. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>How about Sarah Lawrence, Bard, Marlboro, Bennington and Skidmore?</p>

9

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<p>please don’t be. There’s still plenty of time to change this mindset. It will be a possibility, so you’d better be prepared for it in case it happens.</p>

<p>that said, make sure that you have safety schools not only academically, but also from a financial standpoint. </p>

<p>good luck, anonymous.</p>