Looking for a safety

College Search & Selection
1

I’m trying to find safety schools in New England or Pennsylvania. My reaches are yale and brown, and I also like Haverford and Wesleyan. The vibe I’m going for is smaller liberal arts with access to an urban center. Here are my (abridged) stats:

ACT: 33
GPA: 4.8/5 unweighted
AP: world history (3, didn’t take the class), euro (5), macro Econ (4). Currently taking AP English Lang (5), APUSH (5), Spanish (4), AP Seminar (5). I will take AP bio, calc, AP research, art history, and music theory, and psych APs, next year.

ECs: theatre, theatre business, choir, choir board, jr/sr book club, NHS, spanish honors society, women empowerment society, art class, piano, voice.
I volunteer regularly at the library as a teen program assistant. I did a fundraiser for the humane society. Organizing a book drive, and an art workshop for resource center.
I work at a music studio as an office/music assistant

Hispanic
Fair recs
Essay will relate to synesthesia
I’m interested in art history and visual/performing arts.
I’m looking for somewhere that suits my personality/interests.

2

What have your parents told you about costs and affordability? A safety must be affordable.

Why specifically New England or Pennsylvania, since you live in Illinois?

3

Bryn Mawr - low match or safety. GREAT art history dept.

4

@ucbalumnus While I’m hoping for some merit scholarships from the schools that offer them, we aren’t super worried about cost. We have a high income and savings for college specifically. Most financial aid calcs estimate giving us $10000-$20000. Both parents work, and my own job more than covers my personal spending. Cost will play a role in decision, but for now, I just want to find my options.
As for why New England: we have done a ton of travel and college visits, and I simply have fallen in love with the area for the most part. It’s college density is higher, and I like the cultures of many cities like Boston and Philadelphia. The spread out Midwest simply isn’t the same, and Chicago is too close to home for me. I’m sure some colleges here and out west would have similar feels, but I just have always preferred New England. I know how primarily superficial it is. (I also don’t really like the south bc winter is my favorite season.)

5

Bryn Mawr… but it’d be a match, not a safety.

If you can be full pay, Eugene Lang would be an option for a safety. CUNY Queens and Fordham Lincoln Center probably too. Check out Cooper Union and FIT to see if they offer something you’re interested in (both are very commuter though). UMass Amherst could be a nice safety to have, with access to the 5 college consortium.
I don’t think Connecticut College can count as a safety but would be a low match, and Wheaton (MA) would be a safety if you demonstrate interest. For another safety, check out Ithaca (near Cornell, FingerLakes area).

6

Dickinson or Gettysburg would be good matches and or safeties.

7

Skidmore, Bard, Conn College, Hampshire, My Holyoke/Smith, possibly Emerson since you like the arts

8

Brandeis, although not a safety should be on your list.

I do think you should consider St. Olaf college as it is in an exurb of Minneapolis and has superb programs in your areas of interest.

9

Franklin&Marshall, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Lafayette?

10

Seconding st Olaf, Dickinson, mount Holyoke, Skidmore, Brandeis

11

Sarah Lawrence is a true safety for you. It’s definitely a small liberal arts college with access to a large urban center. I’ve heard that the performing arts, especially music, are really strong there.

12

^unless OP is full pay, Sarah Lawrence isn’t a safety, because it doesn’t meet need and in fact is lousy with financial aid.