<p>I think that ‘safeties’ are very different for int’ls (especially those who need LOTS of FinAid… like me), since int’l’s parents (especially asian parents) are crazy for prestige. I myself have barely a 2000 on my SAT (1st try as a junior), but my parents don’t want me to apply anywhere “below” schools like Emory, Vanderbilt. Heck, they even thought Middlebury was a safety-sort-of-school, and they won’t be convinced by my talks that its GRAD SCHOOL that really matters.</p>
<p>Wow, sorry, that was a bit rant-ish, but you get my point. About the public schools, I think there are a few like UVa, UCs, UMich, UT-Austin that are ivy-notch schools. However, it is true that, for int’ls needing FinAid, private schools are normally a much better choice, since you can get more FinAid, smaller student:faculty ratio.</p>