I don’t want this to be a whole chance me thread but here are some of my stats:
4.0 UW GPA, 4.7 W GPA, Full IB Diploma Student with also 4 AP’s (3 5’s and 1 4), 730 US History Subject Test, 790 Literature Subject test, 34 ACT (36 E 35 R 33 S 30 M).
My extracurriculars are strong- multiple national awards in creative writing, lots of involvement in social justice, activities like debate and student government I’ve done all 4 years with awards, etc. I’ve also thought hard about my recommenders and am working on my essays. Aka, I’ve done my best in all the areas that I can; I’m far from perfect, just as we all are.
All that said, I’m a white girl from an overrepresented area. How does my college list look? I don’t really care to apply to my state school (UMD) as a safety because I don’t want to go to a large school, but I also don’t want to get shut out of college. Does it look balanced enough as is or do I need a safer safety?
Find more safety schools that you would actually be happy to attend and that fit you. If you apply to a less selective safety, you may even be able to get some merit aid.
I think your odds are very good at Oberlin and Macalester, and you have a shot at the others although odds are low for everyone at the top schools. That said, I agree that you might want a couple more safeties just in case things go weirdly this season. The class of 2019 is especially large. Maybe a couple of the CTCL LACs. Also, is money a factor?
I can’t figure out your criteria from this hodgepodge of schools. U Chicago and Brown are very very different. Research Universities and LACs are also completely different experiences. Have you thought about which fits you the best? I don’t see this list hanging together very well, or at least I don’t understand it. While I dislike the term “safety” I agree with the above posters that you need to also find fit schools who are sure to admit you and that you can afford. Best wishes!
If your academic interests tend toward literature and creative writing, then you may want to note the interesting descriptions in the below articles for the programs at Oberlin, Yale, Wesleyan, Williams, Chicago and Vassar:
If you want a good in-state school that isn’t too large, apply to St Mary’s of Maryland. It’s the public honors college.
Your list matches your stats but doesn’t take acceptance rate into account.
Add a couple CTCL schools 400+miles from home and/ or colleges with acceptance rates of 40+%.
You may want to add a few from Denison, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Allegheny, Wooster, St Lawrence,Ithaca. Express interest (fill out the request info form, click on emails they send you.)
I think Mac, Bryn Mawr, and Oberlin are low matches. I’d still add a true safety. You want to be sure to have choices in the spring. I agree with SMCMD as a possibility.
Do you have any budget limit? If so, have you run the NPCs?
I agree with others about the lack of safeties. However, to be a safety you have to know that you would be accepted, know that you can afford it, and be willing to attend.
You might want to think about affordability in addition to admissions safety.
@intparent this was a helpful comment, thanks! I’m wondering, if I added Dickinson to the list do you think that would qualify as a true safety? With an almost 50% acceptance rate and my ACT at least 6 points above the average, it seems that it would be, but I’m not sure.
Your risk with Dickinson is that they care about interest, and may be worried that you are using them as a safety. Get on their email list now, do a lot of research for the “Why D’son?” esssy, and apply in the EA round. All will help.
But honestly, I still think SMCMD is a true safety. Or UMBC.
I’m with the other posters here, I don’t see safeties or even very many matches on this list. For instance, Barnard has 14% acceptance rate (with almost 1/2 its class taken through ED, meaning it is even more competitive than 14% for regular decision applicants). I see Bryn Mawr and Mac as matches, that’s about it. Bard and Sarah Lawrence can be a similar “flavor” school as some of those on the OP’s list and have higher acceptance rates because they generally only get apps from kids who really want to go there.
If the OP would go to the St Mary’s MD (not a religious school, it’s public), then may not need to go deeper to find safeties. Otherwise, take a look at Lawrence, Muhlenberg, Centre, Beloit etc.
@intparent the problem is i don’t really want to go to these schools, but i understand why you’d suggest them. i don’t think i’ll be able to apply to dickinson ea because i’m leaning towards scea at yale and they restrict that, but i’ll definitely do research for the why essay. it seems that every single person from my school with my stats has been accepted based on naviance, but i guess it’s not the largest simple size.
To the OP: please review threads from April '18 where high stat/high achieving kids bemoan that they only got into their state flagship, can’t fathom going there, and are distraught. A well-balanced list with safeties and matches, and the perspective to realize that not all high achieving kids get into their top choices, goes a long way to making the spring of senior year tolerable. If a student wants some options other than flagship or community college, it is sensible to build the list out to include matches and safeties.