Looking For A Safety University

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I'm wondering if someone could recommend some safety universities for me. I have a few safeties, but all of them (except my local state U) are LACs. Just in case I decide I HAVE to be at a research university, what are some good ones that I'd probably be a safety or at least a match at? I'm looking for a school with a strong English department, some sort of classics program, and on-campus opportunities for performing in music and\or drama. </p>

<p>Basic Stats:
GPA 3.54 UW, academic only
PSAT 226 (80 CR, 66 M, 60 W)
URM (African-American Male)</p>

2

<p>You have a 206, not a 226 right?</p>

3

<p>Where do you want it to be? Can you give us the other colleges you are applying to so we can make better suggestions?</p>

4

<p>@somedumbnoob</p>

<p>Oops! It is 226, but I got an 80 on my writing, not a 60.</p>

<p>@pramirez184</p>

<p>Sure! I was afraid I was going to give too much info.</p>

<p>But anyway, some colleges I'm interested in are Swarthmore, Reed, University of Chicago, Stanford, and Northwestern University.</p>

5

<p>I think none of these schools are a safety for anyone (except maybe Northwestern for a 2400/4.0UW), but you are likely a match for all except Stanford (meaning 50/50 or so; some are quirky, and your UW GPA is not stellar). Being an AAM is a good hook.</p>

6

<p>@Vossron</p>

<p>Hey, thanks for the chances--I always like to hear that I actually have a chance at the reaches\matches on my list--but I'm really looking for schools, esp. universities, that would be safeties; I don't really see those schools as safeties for me either. Still, thanks for the chances.</p>

7

<p>If you are applying to swarthmore, haverford would be a logical backup. It's another Philly suburb LAC, its part of the same tri-co (haverford + swat + bryn mawr) and Quaker consortium (tri-co + Penn), and you can still take classes at all 4 schools.</p>

8

<p>Haverford ain't a back-up! Match would be a more appropriate term.</p>

9

<p>St John's College? Strong classics program and theater.</p>

10

<p>University of Arizona. </p>

<p>Not that great of an English department (though Barbara Kingsolver graduated there, so it has to be decent), but there is a classics department. I hear that there's a lot of theatre and music stuff going on in Tucson though.</p>

<p>Of course, it's just a suggestion. You're pretty much guaranteed to get into UA. If you didn't then...... wow. Lol.</p>

11

<p>You said strong english/classics, and you want music/performing arts opportunities. I thought of NYU and Fordham which I think, if you got a similar score on your SAT's as your PSAT's, you would get into both. Both of them are in NYC, so theres your arts opportunities right there, and I think you'd get a great education at either.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
You said strong english/classics, and you want music/performing arts opportunities. I thought of NYU and Fordham, which I think, if you got a similar score on your SAT's as your PSAT's, you would get into both. Both of them are in NYC, so theres your arts opportunities right there, and I think you'd get a great education at either.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>NYU is not a safety school.</p>

13

<p>I'd look to the list of National Merit $$$ schools, as then you could have a financial and academic safety combined.</p>

<p>Fordham could be a good option. New College would fit with the highly academic POV, but I'm not sure on its English/Classics strength.</p>

<p>Kenyon College has excellent english programs, but is much more rural than your current selections. Macalester is another urban LAC that is somewhat easier to get in.</p>

14

<p>Hey people, compared to Stanford and Swarthmore, Haverford and NYU are safeties.</p>

15

<p>Without knowing his ECs, I wouldn't call Swarthmore a match. HARD school to get into- ask anyone that was rejected ED. Some of us had spectacular stats. Same with Haverford- a friend of mine had amazing stats/ECs and was rejected ED from Haverford. It's easier than Swat, but still not easy... Still, I suppose because of the combination of male/URM, he could have a better chance.</p>

<p>It sounds like you'd like Vassar- They have an amazing English department and they're also very well-known for their drama. The students are sort of similar to Swatties, except more laid back. I think it's easier to have a balanced life at Vassar. It's still a well ranked LAC, so maybe not a safety, but at least a match. Check it out.</p>

16

<p>@DSC
Yeah, that National Merit thing is a VERY good idea. (Financial safeties = very good) I hadn't thought of that yet. Thanks.</p>

<p>@Brillar
My major ECs are theater (for which I have three school shows a year, two pretty good state awards, and a non-school performance at one of the largest stages in my city) and writing, (in which I've done professional writing for some large Christian ministries and my dad's business, and creative writing, which I have no awards for yet, but will probably be reflected in my English teacher's rec and in my essay). </p>

<p>I'm definitely looking into Fordham, UA and Vassar (and I've actually already looked at Kenyon, but I don't know that I'd consider it a safety.)</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestions everybody!</p>

17

<p>Maybe Knox?</p>