<p>just apply to a lot of schools; that way, probability will be your safety, lol.</p>
<p>What about USC; if you're a national merit finalist you would automatically qualify for a scholarship that equals 1/2 tuition.</p>
<p>What about University of Virginia, University of Michican, University of Texas at Austin... some of these top public schools? The only thing is that they are big... but with Electrical Engineering you might not find much better without going to the more selective private schools (this is my problem too). My safety is UAB, and they have good engineering although they are more well known for BME and medicine in general. It is much smaller than most other state schools though and the weather in B'ham is as good as it gets in the South.</p>
<p>Have you visited these schools? My s. looked at Harvey Mudd and Ga Tech. Applied ED to Rice (which is where he is) but didn't feel that Tech seemed big, despite the numbers. I would suggest you keep an open mind. Don't get me wrong. Rice is a great school. He wanted small also. He looked at Cal Tech but felt it was too intense for his comfort level. He thought he'd love MIT, Cal Tech and Harvey Mudd, because on paper they seemed like good fits for him. When he visited, they didn't seem right. He applied to Ga Tech and Rice. Got into Rice but would have been ok at Tech. I might add, though, that if he hadn't gotten into Rice, he was going to apply to Brown and Tufts. He really liked the folks at Tufts, (though he was looking at the physics dept before he ultimately switched to Mech Eng). Take a look at Tufts. The more I think about it, the more I think it fits a lot of your criteria.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice but again I can't see Tufts, USC, UVA, or Michigan (for an out of state student) being safeties. I would think they would all be at least as selective as Rice and Harvey Mudd. Florida Tech might not be a great school, but one does have to drop down a level for a safety. </p>
<p>Yes, jym626, I visited Caltech this summer and absolutely loved it. The campus was gorgeous and Pasadena seemed like an ideal location. I am well aware that Caltech ranked #1 in terms of 'Students Never Stop Studying' and that depression can run high there sometimes, but I also want to challenge myself and I would look forward to meeting people who are "similar" to me. I'd be happy with any of the four colleges I have on my list now, but Caltech would be the ultimate experience. As the saying goes, "There's only one Caltech."</p>
<p>Kathryn07, I take it from your posts that you are a senior like me. You said that your criteria for schools was similar to mine. Is Caltech your first choice too?</p>
<p>I wouldn't call Rice a safety, but I'd say it's very likely that you'll get in.</p>
<p>tlaker - Yes, I'm a senior... but no, Caltech isn't on my list at all. I've been getting loads of mail from them for a couple of years now, but I haven't looked into the school too much because I don't want to go so far as the west coast. Rice, as a matter of fact, is my first choice. When I said that we have similar criteria for schools I was mostly referring to the fact that we are both interested in small schools with good engineering and a challenging atmosphere. I'm only applying to a few schools too (Rice, Case Western, and UChicago- none of which are safeties) and I've applied to UAB (and I've already been accepted with guaranteed merit $$) as my "safety". I've found it reassuring to have UAB in my back pocket just in case all three of my top choices (all of which I would love to go to) fall through or I'm not able to pay for them. I don't LOVE UAB, but I don't despise it either. That's basically where my whole view on admissions and "safeties" comes from I suppose.</p>
<p>"I would think they would all be at least as selective as Rice and Harvey Mudd"
Don't be fooled by the high admit rate of Mudd. The applicant pool is, in essence, preselected, bringing the avg SAT around 1490/1600. You'll probably get in but it is more selective than USC, UVA, and Michigan.</p>
<p>My only point was if Rice and Harvey Mudd don't suffice as safeties, then why would Tufts, USC, UVA, or Michigan? Hence the need to drop down a level for a safety.</p>
<p>UVA, USC, and Michigan definately don't work as the best safeties for OOS, especially if you are relying on merit money. I talked to the Michigan rep when he came by my school and he told me that despite my stats, merit money would still be a lottery draw because there simply isn't much available for OOS students.</p>
<p>You should still apply to Tufts, Michigan, UVA, even if they're not safeties. They could be slight reaches and you could be happily surprised!</p>
<p>I know those schools don't suffice as safeties, but slight reaches????</p>
<p>Seriously, what more do they want from an applicant?</p>
<p>I meant slight reach to high match, esp. for UVA and Michigan if youre out-of-state. I think that with your stats and rank, Tufts would probably love to have you. I don't know if I'd call it a safety -- no top 30 school is -- but it's certainly within your reach.</p>
<p>"Seriously, what more do they want from an applicant?"</p>
<p>Well, that's a bit conceited, don't you think? ; ) jk... I think we all feel that way sometimes.</p>
<p>Like lolabelle (and many others on this thread) said, any top 30 school simply cannot be considered a "safety" because there are lots of students with very competitive stats who are applying, and OOS doesn't help.</p>
<p>Not being a safety and being a reach are two different things though.</p>
<p>That comment in my last post wasn't intended to be conceited, but honestly after how hard I've worked in high school if UVA, Michigan, and USC were really reaches for me I think I just might hang myself.</p>
<p>haha... I was kidding, don't worry.</p>
<p>You're right- they aren't reaches but the certainly aren't true "safeties".</p>
<p>Cal Tech, Stanford and Rice are all reaches for most but are much closer to being matches for you. There is a very good chance that you will be accepted at all three, as none has the slightest trace of Tufts syndrome. Some of the previous posters are correct to point out that GaTech is smaller than you think, and the engineering resources are second to none. It is an easier admit than your top picks and would qualify as a safety for someone with your stats. It also gives early notification to applicants whose qualifications substantially exceed the average of students admitted the previous year. Bucknell also is small and has excellent undergrad engineering in your backyard and would be a safety for you. The weather on the other hand is not the greatest, as you know.</p>