<p>Well I am about finished with my applications.. I am a 2180/1430 32act 31/617 kind of student who doesn't have great ec's but had a job for a year and played jv basketball before that (only quit b.c. of job) and was in Young Republicans, debate and qualified for the regionals of academic competition in current events. I have about 30 hours of service and was nm commended. Tell me which schools you think are safeties, matches and reaches please so that I can have an idea what to expect!
Rice University - ED
SMU - EA
Tufts
U of Alabama
UT Austin *Texas resident
Tulane - EA
Boston U
Washington U St. Louis
UNC - EA
Middlebury
NYU Poly - Rolling
UT Dallas
Texas A&M
USC
Notre Dame - EA</p>
<p>Note that Texas public schools consider rank instead of GPA. If you are in the top 9% of your class and are otherwise eligible, then University of Texas (Austin) will be an admissions safety for you for fall 2012 freshman admissions:</p>
<p>[Automatic</a> Admission | Be a Longhorn](<a href=“http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/after-you-apply/automatic-admission]Automatic”>http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/after-you-apply/automatic-admission)</p>
<p>Texas A&M is an admissions safety for the top 10%:</p>
<p>[Top</a> 10% Admits](<a href=“http://admissions.tamu.edu/freshmen/gettingin/waysAdmitted/topten.aspx]Top”>http://admissions.tamu.edu/freshmen/gettingin/waysAdmitted/topten.aspx)</p>
<p>Finances could be another matter. Check for “cost of attendance” and a “financial aid estimator” on each school’s web site. Evaluate reach/match/safety for cost:</p>
<p>Safety: You certainly will be able to afford that school.
Match: You likely will be able to afford that school, or it is on the edge of your affordability.
Reach: You may be able to afford that school, but it depends on a low probability grant or merit scholarship.
Out of reach: You will not be able to afford the school. Don’t bother applying.</p>
<p>Overall, each school is the more difficult of the admissions and cost rating. E.g. admissions reach and cost safety => overall reach; admissions safety and cost match => overall match.</p>
<p>If University of Texas (Austin) and Texas A&M are admissions and cost safeties, eliminate any school from your application list that you would not choose over both of these schools.</p>
<p>Out of the reaches, I got into Tufts, Middlebury</p>