matches/safeties

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm in desperate need of a couple more safeties, and people tend to get responses here, no matter how many people post the same question. I can do liberal arts or a university, I like cities, but they need to have an actual pretty campus (not like NYU). I like medium sized, at least for undergrads, but small is okay. East is best, but I'd consider other places for safeties. Not in the South though, unless it's liberal enough. I'm thinking of some kind of bio/social sciences major. I'd prefer it if the Greek scene were small to nonexistent. And I know I'm looking for safeties, but I really want an academic environment. And no all-girls.
My Stats:
SAT1: 2390
SAT2: French 780, Chem 780, Bio E 730, USH 710
GPA: w 4.38, uw without +/- 4.0, uw with +/- 3.96
APs: 5's in Bio, Chem, CompSci AB, and USH, 4 in French Lang. Next year I'm taking Econ (Macro&Micro), Phys B, Calc BC, French Lit, and Eng Lit.
Rank: n/a, top 5%
very good, competitive public school in NJ
white female</p>

<p>Some ECs/Awards
Columbia Book Award
National French Exam- 2004 1st place nat&state, 2005 5th place nat, 4th place state, 2006 3rd place nat, 1st place state
Fencing team and private lessons
Karate
Saxophone (in band and private)
Chorale (select chor) and regular chorus
French lit magazine
pres of Shakespeare Club
Key Club
Pre-college at Penn- taking Spanish and History of Science
CIT at Girl Scout Camp and some other stuff</p>

<p>My top choices are UChicago and Columbia. Others I'm applying to include Tufts, Middlebury, Yale, Penn, Bowdoin, Brown, possibly Amherst and Swarthmore. I was thinking about Syracuse for a safety, but I really don't know. So I really need safeties, and maybe one or two more in the mid-range. Thanks a lot to those who respond!</p>

2

<p>writon, I'd suggest that you move out of the Northeast -- Grinnell, Macalester, Carleton, Kenyon come to mind. These LACs offer wonderful academics at less selective admissions rate due to their location. In the Northeast I'd add Colby and, ignoring your no all-girls comment, Smith and Barnard. If you want top academics, you may have to compromise on something else.</p>

3

<p>You should be accepted at UChicago and a number of your choices, but are smart to look for safeties. I would consider Boston College, University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins (has a language program with Goucher), Northeastern University (nicer campus than Boston University). Momrath mentioned some good choices outside your geographic preference area. You could add Oberlin and Bates to her list. Seriously, I do not see you being rejected by U Chicago.</p>

4

<p>Thanks a lot! I'm looking them up right now.</p>

5

<p>One thing about U Chicago- make sure that they know that you really want to go there. Statistically, you look like a person who might use them as a backup school. People have reported that Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, and similar schools sometimes reject people who they think will reject them. They don't want to waste an acceptance on someone who just wants a backup. If you make it clear in your application, essays, interview, etc, that you are truly interested, they won't do that.</p>

6

<p>Thanks, I know. I really love Chicago, and I'm sure it will show on my app, esp since there is a Why Chicago? type essay. Plus, I've visited and talked to reps at my school, and sent in lots of their little postcards. I don't doubt that they will see that I love it.</p>