Is getting accepted by your safeties a good sign?

Applying to College
1

<p>i heard colleges that think you're too good to attend their school won't accept you in the first place. is it true?</p>

2

<p>no, not really.</p>

<p>it is when a person has numbers way above their average and hasn't shown that much interest in the school, sometimes they assume that they're being used as a safety and reject the student.</p>

3

<p>Some schools do reject if they think they're being used as a safety, but most don't. They <em>want</em> students who are above average, so they will accept them and then entice many with scholarships. They also know the odds of being rejected at good fit and reach schools, and they hope they will benefit. All colleges, no matter what tier, want the best students they can get.</p>

<p>You'll see this in action on CC. Many students will say, "I got accepted to X, but they didn't give me enough money. Looks like I will be going to Y." Or "I wasn't really seriously considering Y until they gave me the Presidential Scholarship." Or "Help! I didn't get into any of my top choices. I guess I'll be going to one of my safeties."</p>

4

<p>So if my safeties didn't offer me a scholarship, does that mean that they don't think of me as above average? : (</p>

5

<p>LOL. I don't know!</p>

<p>My D was in a similar situation. She got into one of her safeties, and wasn't offered a merit scholarship. Because she got into a few of her dream schools, she doesn't care that much. Still, she might have seriously considered the school if she had been given merit aid. As it was, the second she opened the package, it became a no-op.</p>

6

<p>You have to be way above average to get scholarships anywhere. The bulk of financial aid is need-based, not merit based scholarships. There are exceptions (such as U of Miami), but scholarships are typically only for the very top percentage accepted to a school.</p>

7

<p>bonobono, the college may not offer merit scholarships and they may not have much money either...</p>

8

<p>I believe the term "safety school" goes way beyond STATS. If an applicant applies to a school and their STATS exceed the average of admitted students but...other characteristics of their application prove they would fit nicely within the student body -- then, I don't consider it a safety school. This could be past experiences, personality, ECs, intended major -- stuff like that.</p>

<p>In my opinion, a REAL safety school is a school that admits students with much lower STATS than applicant AND does NOT meet the overall needs of the applicant. Academics aside -- if applicant would truly not be happy at safety school, chances are they would transfer out after one year. </p>

<p>Bottom line -- the term "safety" extends beyond STATS and academics.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
In my opinion, a REAL safety school is a school that admits students with much lower STATS than applicant AND does NOT meet the overall needs of the applicant.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I disagree. To me, a REAL safety is one that you are likely to get into (or which admits students with much lower stats than the applicant) and DOES meet the overall needs of the applicant. These are the ones which a student can love. Why apply to any school that you can't see yourself going to? </p>

<p>On the other hand, the above definition could apply to safeties which actually rejected the applicant.</p>

10

<p>^^ I agree -- a safety should meet the criteria you stated. </p>

<p>I think often times an applicant applies to a safety merely to have a school to attend with full intention of transferring out because they know they won't be happy long-term at the safety.</p>

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<p>^^ Yes, that is what I was referring to.</p>