<p>Im trying to research some schools using my stats and major im interested in but every school i look at or like are schools people would consider a "match" or a slight "reach". Everyone tells me to have a safety school I'll know i get in to and that i like. I dont really know how to find that since i want to go into Engineering of some sort since math is my strong suit and i prefer large universities. so...
1. What do you do to find your safety school and what do you recommend me to do?
2. If you can, could you recommend some safeties i would like?
my stats:
3.3 ugpa 3.8-3.9 wgpa
superscore sat 1860, 720 math 590 reading 550 writing 8 essay
Maryland resident (if it matters)
AP Scholar (5+ APs by the end of senior year)
Its Academic Team, Track & Field Team, Karate Black Belt, Math Honors Society, Honor Roll, 75+ SSL hours, Rec Basketball etc.
Thank you for your help, I truly appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>Safety means that:</p>
<ol>
<li> You will be admitted.</li>
<li> You can afford it based on hard guaranteed non-loan aid. This means need based aid that you know in advance based on stated thresholds of family income and the like, and merit aid that you know in advance based on stated GPA and/or test scores.</li>
<li> It fits your academic and non-academic criteria otherwise (e.g. majors and courses offered).</li>
</ol>
<p>Similar to above…</p>
<p>1) VERY likely to be admitted.</p>
<p>2) you LIKE the school, and it has your major(s)… (It’s not a safety if you would dread going there or it doesn’t have your major(s).)</p>
<p>3) you are CERTAIN that you have ALL costs covered thru ASSURED grants (like Pell), ASSURED merit (from website), small federal student loans, and/or family funds. </p>
<p>I think every student with a financial or admittance concern should have 2-3 financial safeties just in case there’s some unforeseen issue, OR you later decide that you don’t like one of your safeties, OR none of your other schools work out (acceptance-wise or affordability.) At that point, it’s always good for morale to be able to choose amongst your safeties and not feel rail-roaded into one of them.</p>
<p>I still sadly remember one of my son’s friends who only applied to one safety and later either got rejected or poor FA from her other schools. She felt that she had no other choices left and kept referring to her lone safety (our nearby state school) as her consolation prize. She hadn’t even applied to the flagship as a safety, which it would have been for her.</p>
<p>*If you can, could you recommend some safeties i would like?
my stats:
3.3 ugpa 3.8-3.9 wgpa
superscore sat 1860, 720 math 590 reading 550 writing 8 essay
Maryland resident (if it matters) *</p>
<p>We need to know how much your parents would pay. </p>
<p>Your M+CR SAT is a 1310. That may get you a bit of merit at some schools, but maybe not much.</p>
<p>One way is to look into the school’s acceptance rate, especially in your major. That should give you an indication whether it is a safety school for your major. Some schools maybe more impacted in a certain major than the other. You’ll have to do your research carefully. Keep in mind that not every school is popular in every program. It is wise not to put all your eggs into one basket. There are many excellent schools with excellent programs in the national universities, regional universities, and the liberal arts colleges. So when selecting schools, think about the right fit for you. Go visit the schools, think about their programs, financial fit (a big one), flexibility to change a major, the availability of classes, size, location, weather (you’ll be there for 4 years), campus life, dorm life, etc.</p>
<p>Well my parents are approximating being able to support a $25-30k. oh btw how/where do i find out the requirements for the engineering program? or is it best to come in Undecided? I really like the Large University feel in a college town (if not a super college town then im cool with being in a fun city). Like i need a NCAA D1 football or basketball team. UMCP seems perfect for me but i want safeties and well UMCP isnt a safety :P</p>
<p>WRT your original question, there have been quite a few threads on this:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1146593-so-what-really-makes-school-safety-these-days.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1146593-so-what-really-makes-school-safety-these-days.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1118177-what-constitutes-safety-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1118177-what-constitutes-safety-school.html</a></p>
<p>I found happymomof1’s advice in both of the threads I listed to be very good:
</p>
<p>I’m kind of inexperienced so I can’t recommend a safety school for you. Sorry.</p>
<p>What is your home state? Most OOS schools will be over your $25-30K budget.</p>
<p>While I think Happymom gives thoughtful and very helpful advice, I think that having all those definitions for safeties just complicates things. (no offense Happymom, you’re awesome!)</p>
<p>As long as you like the school, you’re certain that you can get accepted, it has your major, and you’re CERTAIN that you have all costs covered as described above, then it’s a safety/financial safety, true safety, etc. </p>
<p>Well my parents are approximating being able to support a $25-30k</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>That’s a very generous amount. However, it may mean that schools will look at your parents’ income/assets and determine that they should pay more (even if your parents honestly feel that they can’t pay more.).</p>
<p>So, that’s why having financial safeties is soooo important. :)</p>
<p>*3.3 ugpa 3.8-3.9 wgpa
superscore sat 1860, 720 math 590 reading 550 writing 8 essay
Maryland resident (if it matters)
*</p>
<p>Are you going to test again? Right now, your SAT isn’t high enough to get much merit at many good schools with Engineering. however, there are some schools that are within your budget and will accept you.</p>