Looking for a safety school

<p>Hello, I'm a current junior who has a general list of colleges that I'll be whittling down as I visit some this spring/summer. Here's my stats:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=37032%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=37032&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Reach: Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, UPenn Wharton
Match/Smaller Reach: WashU, Rice, UC Berkeley, Northwestern</p>

<p>The only safety I have right now is Kansas University, but to be honest, I'd rather go anywhere but there...in fact, I don't want to even apply there if possible. So I'm looking for a safety school or two to apply to instead of KU. </p>

<p>Looking to major in something related to business, law, or economics.</p>

<p>I would like: (roughly in order of importance...)
Somewhere that is very likely to accept me (heh)
Decent reputation for undergrad business
Cost less than $15k per year
Gives out lots of merit aid
Small or medium sized campus
Rural or suburban, if possible...but not a major consideration
Not located in the state of Kansas :-/</p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Feedback on my chances at the schools listed above as well as general comments would be welcome also, thanks.</p>

<p>depending on where you want to go, there are tons of safetys available.. UCSB, USC, UCSD are pretty safe for you if you want to come out to California. U michigan is probably a safety or low match for you.</p>

<p>See if you can find a school you like from this list.</p>

<p>Safety school. plus free or nearly free for National Merit Finalist.</p>

<p><a href="http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondhome/National_Merit.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondhome/National_Merit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Another hedge is the university of Michigan. You probably wouldnt end up there, but since its rolling you can apply in September, get in by October, and then you wont need many safeties.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.safetyschool.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.safetyschool.org&lt;/a> :)</p>

<p>The only gotcha with Michigan might be the cost issue. You might take a look at Tulane as a solid safety. Good undergrad business program and with your stats they would definitely make it worth your while to attend. New Orleans would be a fun place to spend 4 years!</p>

<p>Read the WUSTL forum right now and see how it's not a well-defined match for anyone.</p>

<p>thanks for the feedback.</p>

<p>MomOFour, I've been reading the WashU forum for about an hour now and can't find the thread that you're referencing...are you referring to how they waitlist extensively?</p>

<p>WashU, Emory, and Rice all employ very similar strategies. They give scholarships to their top applicants, waitlist those using them as safeties/ matches, and let in people they think will come. That is why their ED acceptances are so much higher.</p>

<p>Yes, Jimmy, I was referring to the waitlisting of highly qualified students. You could fall above their typical range and still not be admitted, thus it's hard to call it a match. It doesn't hurt to apply though.</p>