<p>Hi CC! I have way too many dream schools on my college list, and I'm looking for more matches/safeties.<br>
Quick overview of stats:
2310 SAT
3.98 GPA
Decent enough ECs (in my opinion)</p>
<p>Here is a partial list of schools I am considering...would they be considered matches? I didn't put any school that I thought an obvious reach on here. I'm also not taking finances into account as I already have two financial safeties lined up (in-state schools).</p>
<p>UVA (OOS)
UMich (OOS)
Carleton
Tufts
NYU
George Washington University
American (safety?)
College of William and Mary
UNC Chapel Hill (OOS)</p>
<p>If you have suggestions for safeties that would be great! I honestly have no serious preferences regarding location/size, etc., although I do want a co-ed school. Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>If the 10 schools listed there does not include your in-state safeties and reaches, then you might want to consider narrowing the list down. 10 or fewer schools should suffice. Admission fees can rack up quickly, and with a list of 12+ schools you’re looking at around $600+.</p>
<p>I would say American could be considered a safety. Post what field you are interested in so people can recommend safety schools with strong programs.</p>
<p>Carleton is not a match for very many applicants. It might be for you, if you are from an underrepresented state (or have some other hook) and your ECs are really strong. Otherwise it’s a low reach (at least). It also sticks out a little from the other schools (which are larger, urban/suburban universities). So it’s hard to suggest safeties. Safeties that look like Carleton? Or safeties that look like NYU?</p>
<p>Oh you’re completely right, I most definitely have to narrow down my list! I will most probably apply to only one of the in-state schools, and maybe five of the schools on the above list. With three reach schools, that should bring me to 9 schools which I think is enough.
I guess I have pretty varied interests, so I am just looking for schools that have overall strong academics, so I have time to explore and figure out what I like before committing to a major too quickly. Hope that’s enough information! If you’d really like a list of interests, I can provide that but I’m not sure it’ll be too helpful, as they are extremely varied.</p>
<p>Okay, I wasn’t too sure about Carleton but thanks for letting me know that it’s a reach. I know it’s very different from the other schools on the list and I think that it’s the exception-it’s really the only school I’m looking at in such a rural environment. So, I guess safeties more like NYU, to answer your question.
I’m also interested in hearing how hard admission would be to UVA, UMich, or UNC for someone out of state?</p>
<p>As long as you really like these instate safety schools and won’t mind attending them if admissions/finances don’t work out at the others **and **you have all your costs covered at your safeties…then you’re fine with your 2 instate safeties. </p>
<p>However, if you don’t really like your safeties or you’re not sure how all costs will get covered, then they really aren’t safeties.</p>
<p>What is your major or career interest? That might help narrow your list. :)</p>
<p>@Schmaltz–Thanks, those look like great suggestions!</p>
<p>@par72–I’d prefer a school without a religious affiliation so I’ll skip Holy Cross, but Colgate definitely looks interesting. Thank you!</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids–Well I like one of the in-state schools but I think the other is too much of a safety, in that I don’t think the teachers/classes/students will be stimulating or challenging academically. So I’m looking for another school to replace that one. I’m sort of undecided on my career plans as of right now, but law and medicine seem like two very strong possibilities. So maybe an IR/PoliSci/biology major? I realize those are two very different fields, which is why I’m just looking for decent schools in general, and not narrowing down to specialities just yet. Thanks for the advice and help! </p>
<p>If anyone knows how big of a challenge getting into UVA/UMich/UNC/W&M would be for me (I’d be OOS for all four), I’d love to have some information on that!</p>
<p>BU would definitely be a good safety. Tulane would be a safety as well and you’d get some good money (and if you apply before the EA deadline you’ll get your decision within a week or two). I suppose Brandeis would probably be a safety also (they have no religious affiliation by the way, despite the fact that there is a high percentage of jews).</p>
<p>Sorry I can’t help much more. I got into Tulane early so I didn’t need a ton of safeties.</p>
<p>With your stats, you have a guaranteed merit scholarship of $10,000 per year at Miami (Ohio). You would also have a chance for the competative Harrison scholarship (full tuition). Madison is a great school, but has essentially no merit scholarships. However, its OOS cost tends to be less than other states in the midwest.</p>
<p>UVM and St. Michael’s College (which has already offered me a sizable merit scholarship), neither of which I am a huge fan of. UVM is okay, but I have no inclination to go to St. Mikes.
Thanks for all the other suggestions everyone!</p>
<p>If you want something like Carleton (a liberal arts college) with solid academics, urban environment and more of a match, take a look at an urban like like Macalester.</p>