<p>How did you all narrow down your list of schools?
What criteria did you base your decision off of? </p>
<p>Also how did you determine what your safety school is considering the fluctuation and increase in standards for admissions?</p>
<p>Please answer these questions :)
Thanks!</p>
<p>I can answer your second question…</p>
<p>First…I think nearly everyone needs 2-3 financial safety schools - these are schools that you like, that you know that you’ll get accepted to, AND that you know FOR SURE that you have ALL COSTS covered thru ASSURED grants (like Pell and you know your FAFSA EFCl), ASSURED merit scholarships (stated on website), small federal student loans, and/or family funds.</p>
<p>If you are not certain that all costs are covered, then it’s not a safety</p>
<p>If you are not pretty darn certain that you’d be accepted, then it’s not a safety.</p>
<p>If you’re not sure how much your parents will pay and family funds are needed, then it’s not a safety. (BTW…always make sure that you know how much your family can pay each year for college. If your parents are vague, assume that there can be a problem and make sure you have your safeties in place.)</p>
<p>The reason why I think every student needs 2-3 financial safeties is this.</p>
<p>1) sometimes a person doesn’t get accepted to one of their safeties (if they haven’t thoroughly investigated acceptance data or admissions got tough that year).</p>
<p>2) sometimes the merit or aid situation at one school isn’t what you thought, or you thought family funds could cover the costs and you found out your family’s money situation has changed. </p>
<p>3) sometimes spring comes around and you find that you no longer like one of your safeties.</p>
<p>4) And, f none of your top choices work out (either acceptance-wise or financially), then if you have 2-3 financial safeties, then you will still have a choice to make in the spring. That way, you won’t feel railroaded into one lone school. Everyone likes to have a choice…it’s good for morale. :)</p>
<p>I would also like to add…some kids have a really hard time identifying safeties because they can’t get past their desire that their schools meet a certain rather picky criteria (such as having a certain ranking, prestigious name, a student body that consists of only high stats kids, etc). If safeties had all those things then they would soon cease to be safeties because everyone would want to go there.</p>
<p>Thank you very much!!! That actually cleared up all the doubts I had! </p>
<p>By chance, would you know any good safety school for an engineering major?</p>
<p>Depends on where you live. If you live GA like I do then GA Tech is AWESOME, practically free and not impossible to get into if you’re a pretty good student. If you’re stats are more average than look into other In-State schools with strong engineering programs, or search schools with great fin. aid.</p>
<p>
In addition to the financial stuff that Mom2CollegeKids said, your safety can be the school(s) that accept you EA or early Rolling. Apply to schools EA and early in the Rolling cycle, and you will either be happily accepted or unhappily educated on your chances, but in either case you’re better off.</p>
<p>Im from California and the problem is that I the UCs are the upper state schools. And the safties in state are not very good with their computer engineering programs, at least that’s what I’ve gathered. </p>
<p>Geekmom: if I apply ed or ea to one of my schools doubt that mean that I have to go there? Like if I apply ed to a lower state schools and then later I get into cmu, am I obligated to go to the state school?</p>
<p>Early Decision: You apply by early Novrmber, promising to go there if accepted. You learn of your acceptance in Nov/Early Dec, and are expected to commit within a couple weeks. You should NOT do this if you need scholarship or financial aid money, since the admission offer may come with insufficient money. (You can get out of the commitment for financial reasons, but it’s hard and the schools may talk and you shouldn’t do it and your guidance counselor may not support further applications to schools unlikely to give you more money.) If you are deferred, you are under no obligation.</p>
<p>Early Action: You apply by Early November. You learn of your acceptance in Nov/Early Dec but don’t have to decide until May 1. This awesome for students - I highly recommend you use it as much as you can.</p>
<p>Rolling admissions: The school decides on your application when you send it in (there may be deferrals?), but you don’t have to decide until May 1. This is also awesome for students - I highly recommend you use it as much as you can.</p>
<p>Regular decision: You apply some time between September and January (school deadlines vary). You hear by April 1, and decide by May 1.</p>
<p>Single Choice Early Action: You do a non-binding Early Action, but can only apply to this one school early? - I’m not sure of the exact limits on other schools you can apply to early. There is still no obligation to attend.</p>
<p>Schools may have some combination of these. Some schools may pressure you to decide earlier than May 1.</p>
<p>I see, thank you very much! For EA candidates, do schools look at a different criteria than they would during regular admission? Or do they look at the same criteria just a a higher standard, due to smaller numbers of spots? </p>
<p>Also could anyone recommend some good EA schools for me to apply to for Computer Engineering? If you needs stats or something, I can provide them.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>