I want YOUR suggestions for matches/safeties.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Usually I'm the one answering these threads, but today the tables have turned and I need some help from you CCers out there. :) I've had no problem finding a list of reaches, but when it comes to picking out matches and safeties, I'm struggling.</p>

<p>First of all, the stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>White Female living in Ohio</li>
<li>Rising Junior (yes, I'm already thinking ahead :P)</li>
<li>4.0 uw GPA, school doesn't weight</li>
<li>Rank: 1/250 (so far..)</li>
<li>SAT: 2130 (700 CR, 710 M, 720 W) (will retake)</li>
<li>ACT: 34</li>
<li>Half-decent EC's (debate, student congress, cross country, quiz bowl, art club, play guitar, etc. with most likely 2 leadership positions by graduation)</li>
</ul>

<p>Secondly, what I would like in a school:</p>

<ul>
<li>I'd like a medium or large student body (let's say at least 5,000 undergrads, I don't want a college as small as my high school!)</li>
<li>I definitely want a fun school, I like the "work hard, play hard" mentality.</li>
<li>I do NOT want a science school, I'd prefer somewhere where social sciences take preference, not sure of my major yet (poli sci? journalism? sociology? they're all possibilities at this point.)</li>
<li>I would prefer a moderate or liberal school, but I'm open-minded in this regard. As long as a school isn't hugely conservative, I'll be fine. ;)</li>
<li>I'm pretty flexible in regards to the location, but just a little hesitant to go to school in the deep south. =/</li>
<li>I like an urban or surburban setting, but again, I'm flexible.</li>
<li>I'm open to public schools, but I don't want to go somewhere where everyone is from that state and already knows each other.</li>
</ul>

<p>**Finally, my current list of schools<a href="heavy%20on%20the%20reaches,%20unfortunately">/b</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li>Stanford (SCEA?)</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>Georgetown</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
<li>UPenn</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Boston College (legacy through Dad, and still I don't think it's a safety)</li>
</ul>

<p>So clearly, I need some help here. I need some suggestions in terms of safeties and matches. Also, are there any schools on my list I should remove? Any that seem to go against what I'm looking for? Any that are such ridiculous reaches I shouldn't even bother? I've done my research, but a school that looks good on paper might not be the best fit in the long run, right?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help you guys can offer! :)</p>

2

<p>Ohio State honors for an in-state safety? It would be a financial safety as well.</p>

3

<p>I know I could get into Ohio State, but... I just can't imagine going to college with half of my high school. I'll probably apply there, but I know I wouldn't be happy going there, which makes me hesitant to call it a good safety. =/</p>

4

<p>Any other opinions? :(</p>

<p>(shameless bump)</p>

5

<p>University of Wisconsin - Madison</p>

6

<p>Matches: Wash U and Rice-these are not 'southern' in culture and they have strong academics all around.</p>

7

<p>When I began reading, Boston College seemed to be perfect for you, and then further down, it was on your list. Rice sounds great. How about USC? Carnegie Mellon would really fit. It has a very strong arts and liberal arts side. American University is safe, and strong in the social sciences. You should really consider University of Chicago, too. It is highly ranked, yet easier to get into than schools ranked well below it. I think that it is a match for you. The school of sociology and social sciences is very famous. I do think that you have too many of those "tough reach for anybody" schools, and adding a few prestigious, but easier to attain, schools like Chicago makes sense.</p>

8

<p>M's Mom: I've always thought Wash U was more of a science school, or am I wrong? It seems like everyone I know who wants to go there is on the pre-med track. I haven't looked much into Rice, mostly because of the location, but I'll do some more research and give them a chance.</p>

<p>OneMom: I did a little research and USC sounds like a good fit! But is it harder to get in OOS? Also, is UChicago really that easy to get into? I've always thought it was in the same league of difficulty as some of the Ivies. And is there any truth to the idea that UChicago is where fun goes to die? I'll admit, I've heard that several times, and it worries me a bit..</p>

9

<p>I definitely have to agree! USC seems perfect. (Great academics, football, work hard, play hard mentality, like you listed!)
I think with your stats, you would be able to get into USC.
Have you tried University of Michigan? Great Academics (esp. in Pol sci) + great college town
Also try UCs. (UCLA, possibly? Might be a little difficult OOS)</p>

10

<p>Yeah, I think I'd have a hard time getting into the UCs OOS. Plus I wouldn't want to be the only non-California-native there (UCLA sounds perfect for me, but it has 94% in-state students, according to CollegeBoard.. yikes!)</p>

<p>I've thought about UMich, but I think my entire community might shun me if I went there (everyone here roots for Ohio State, UMich is their arch-rival school). ;)</p>

11

<p>add william&mary. it's amazing! if i had your gpa i'd be up on that.</p>

12

<p>university of michigan ann arbor
university of florida (VERY good)
university of virginia (fave)</p>

13

<p>Isn't it really hard to get into top publics OOS, though?</p>

14

<p>It's ok you can go to Michigan highopes. Half the football team is from Ohio anyway. LOL.</p>

15

<p>Def add William & Mary and Rice. Sound like perfect matches.</p>

16

<p>Smith College is definitely worth considering. Smith is known for academic excellence, small classes, terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. It has an open curriculum, and students have many opportunities to get to know faculty well, and to do research projects with faculty or independently.</p>

<p>Also, Smith students win many national and international awards -- 17 Fulbright Fellowships in 2008 and 14 in 2007! </p>

<p>In addition, Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes at the other campuses. </p>

<p>You can check it out at: Smith</a> College</p>

17

<p>sigh....another one of these threads. Very tiresome. Sorry.</p>

18

<p>I totally was looking for EXACTLY what you are looking for. I love your list but I would add a couple less-reachy places to hedge the bet. Emory, UNC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Middlebury, and Colgate come to mind...</p>

<ul>
<li>Stanford (SCEA?)</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>Georgetown</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
<li>UPenn</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Boston College (legacy through Dad, and still I don't think it's a safety)</li>
</ul>

19

<p>nocousin: If you feel that way, that's understandable, but there was no need to post.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the suggestions, though - CC is great for getting an objective view on your chances/options/etc. and I definitely have more schools to research at this point.</p>

20

<p>You have stats very similar to my daughter & I immediately thought of Georgetown when I read your interests.</p>