<p>Here are my top 3 dream schools:</p>
<p>Dartmouth
Brown
Bowdoin</p>
<p>I have some matches (not excited about the UC's.)</p>
<p>UCLA
UC Berkeley
UChicago
U Mich</p>
<p>I need Safteys that are kind of overlaps of my dream schools, if possible. I have Indiana U - Bloomington down, but that's just because it's my father's alama mater.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>list your stats so we can determine what true safties could be.</p>
<p>If you are female, consider Mount Holyoke or possibly Smith (cf. Dartmouth Bowdoin)
Otherwise,
possible safeties are Skidmore, Wheaton (MA), Conn College, Earlham, Beloit, Bard, Bates</p>
<p>Telling us your main academic and EC interests would help narrow the choice.</p>
<p>Also say what you want out of your college experience. No reason for us to suggest safeties for you that wouldn't make you happy.</p>
<p>Also Indiana isn't a safety if you wouldn't be happy having to go there.</p>
<p>My major of choice is english. My main EC interests are music: violin. I don't want to major (maybe minor, who knows) in music, but I still want to be in a university symphony. </p>
<p>For college experience, I'm looking for a beautiful campus, great humanities courses, great english program, big is okay but I would love a small college where I'm not just another number, students aren't uptight, smart atmoshpere, don't care if it's in the city or rural.</p>
<p>Match -> more safetyish
Middlebury, Washington & Lee, Colgate, Colby, Hamilton, Bucknell, Trinity, Lafayette, Union, Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Hobart, St. Lawrence</p>
<p>St. Olaf in Northfield, Minn. is an excellent LAC that also is strong in music. Should you happen to be NM Commended, they give small scholarships to such students. </p>
<p>Oberlin wouldn't qualify as a safety, but might be a good match school for you. Excellent LAC with strong music, too. </p>
<p>FSU has an excellent English program, particularly for creative writing. It also has a variety of music options as it has a very strong music major. Could be a wonderful safety for you.</p>
<p>Kenyon. Excellent english program, good music programs. Denison is similar.</p>
<p>Try Oberlin, URochester, Wesleyan, Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Scripps, Mills, Agnes Scott, Johns Hopkins, Grinnell...</p>
<p>Try Bowdoin. Not sure about your stats, but if UCB is a match, then I'd say Bowdoin would be a safety.</p>
<p>yeah, I'm about 80% sure I'll get into UCB. You really think Bowdoin would be a match? YEee, I am excited. :)</p>
<p>Colby is somewhat similar to your LAC picks, but slightly less selective. Strong in both creative writing and many fields of English lit and criticism. Equally strong in music: wonderful violin teacher and strong chamber music. They also have a unique symphony orchestra where students get to play alongside the faculty and other paid professionals instead of just a student orchestra.</p>
<p>umm i dont think bowdoin is a safety for anybody...</p>
<p>Without knowing stats, I have no idea what actually counts as safe/match/reach, but look at both Scripps and Pomona (<a href="http://www.claremont.edu)%5B/url%5D">www.claremont.edu)</a>. Judging from your list, Pomona seems like it would fit well among your "dreams" and Scripps might be a good match, possibly even a safe match. Both schools meet all the criteria on your list.</p>
<p>It worries me that you list four matches and then say you're not excited about two of them! I can't overemphasize how much I recommend looking for a couple more exciting matches (on top of safeties). They're definitely out there...you just need to do the research. Also, honestly, if you're not at all interested in UCs, don't apply to them (provided that you have adequate safeties). I ended up torn between my school and Cal simply because I felt that Cal had the better name, but I never would have been as happy there as I have been at my little LAC. Thinking back, I don't know why I bothered muddling up my decision with so many schools I KNEW I didn't want to attend. The UCs are great, but only if you actually have any interest in attending them. That said, if you're FINE with UCs, simply not "excited" about them, some of them could certainly serve as safeties: UCD, UCI, UCSD, UCSB are all high-quality and easier to be accepted into. Your call, obviously.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything! Again, I really do advise checking out Claremont: excellent schools, small LACs where you receive individualized attention but don't feel suffocated (unique consortium set-up...just follow the link above), two separate orchestra programs (both good, one more recreational than the other, i.e. less rehearsal time), beautiful campuses, laid-back CA atmosphere, high-ranking academics, and a variety of admission standards.</p>
<p>Bates, Holy Cross, and Colby. Holy Cross and Bates are SAT optional.</p>
<p>RE: I'm about 80% sure I'll get into UCB...</p>
<p>Are you CA resident ?</p>