<p>Should I apply to more safety schools? Academic rigor and diversity are very important to me and I can't find many "safety" schools that match my criteria. I'm worried that I won't get accepted into any of these highly selective schools though...</p>
<p>Carleton
Bowdoin
Stanford
Pomona
Swarthmore
Middlebury
Brown
Dartmouth
Colby
Amherst
Grinnell
Wesleyan</p>
<p>Whatever your stats are, there are NO safeties on the above list. Can you tell us your stats, so that we might have a better idea of what kind of school is a safety for you? Also, what is your financial aid situation, and what are your geographic and size preferences? We can’t provide helpful responses without this information.</p>
<p>You only need one safety, if it is really a safety. That means that your family can afford it, you are totally sure of getting in (high admit % and you are in the top 25% of admitted students stat-wise per the Common Data Set) and, most importantly, you would be happy (or at least reasonably safisfied) if you were to attend. </p>
<p>(No magic about the high admit rate - I just want to make the point that any school that accepts less than 30% of the applicants is by definition, not a safety.)</p>
<p>Yes, you need 2 safeties on this list. Both financial and where you are certain to be admitted. Your instate options are usually the way to go, but there are some LAC’s that may work for you and are known for good merit for top students. It’s hard to suggest any without any stat or state info.</p>
<p>Why do so many students think that only Top 15 LACs and universities will provide them ‘enough rigor’? </p>
<p>I’m sure that a place like Macalester College will provide enough rigor and is fairly diverse and might even be a safety for you.</p>
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<p>There are some state universities with acceptance rates under 30%, even though their selectivity level could make them admissions safeties for some applicants. For example, San Diego State University:</p>
<p>[With</a> low acceptance rates, SDSU enters new chapter | The Daily Aztec](<a href=“http://www.thedailyaztec.com/2011/04/with-low-acceptance-rates-sdsu-enters-new-chapter/]With”>http://www.thedailyaztec.com/2011/04/with-low-acceptance-rates-sdsu-enters-new-chapter/)</p>
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<p>Academic rigor and diversity are very important to me and I can’t find many “safety” schools that match my criteria.</p>
<p>If you’re defining “academic rigor” by possessing a high ranking, then you won’t find a safety (Safeties are easy for you to get accepted, therefore, the ranking will be lower.)</p>
<p>However, as Haystack wrote: *Why do so many students think that only Top 15 LACs and universities will provide them ‘enough rigor’? * …many schools can provide academic rigor unless you’ve chosen an easy major. </p>
<p>Don’t look at things like “middle quartile range” test scores if you’re in a challenging major. If you’re in a challenging major, then likely most of your classmates will be in the top 25% of the school. </p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Will your parents pay full freight wherever you go? If not, then you’ll need to be sure to pick financial safeties that you like and you know you can afford thru assured scholarships, small fed student loans, and/or family funds.</p>
<p>my son is dealing with the same issue. However for $55,000 a year I refuse to pay for mediocre schools. Many he does post=grad but I am not paying that fee for a school that really is not top. If he does not get into a school that will really help him get into a good career than he should go to a state school. Unfortunately we are in a state with mediocre state schools so I will push him to do post grad</p>
<p>lookforanswers, if your son has the stats to have a real shot at schools like the OP’s list, then he’ll be a candidate for merit aid at many, many schools. You won’t need to pay $55k a year. You might even end up paying less than you’d be paying for your state school. I encourage you to start a new thread asking for help in putting together a good list for your son. </p>
<p>And OP, you do need to find some good safeties…possibly matches, as well. What are your stats? What’s your budget? Are you willing to consider women’s colleges?</p>
<p>Hi everyone! Thanks so much for your help and advice 
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<p>My basic stats are: 36 ACT, 3.9 UW GPA. I have two focused main extracurricular activities (environmental studies and public policy), but I’d prefer not to identify myself by listing everything.</p>
<p>I’m in California so I will have a few UC safeties, although I’m not very interested in the UC system (or large public universities in general). I’ve talked to my parents and we’re in a good place financially for college and I don’t need to worry about financial aid. </p>
<p>And Slithey, I did consider women’s colleges, but I’ve been to an all girl’s school before and I would prefer a co-educational experience for college. </p>
<p>Also, as many of you have correctly said, academic rigor isn’t just found in the “top 15” colleges. However, my parent’s sentiments are similar to lookforanswers. They don’t see why I should go to a “random” faraway school when I could go to a UC. However, if I do fall absolutely in love with a safety school, they said they’d be willing to pay 3/4th of my way.</p>
<p>Haystack, thank you for the recommendation of Macalester College. I will definitely look into it!</p>
<p>This thread may be helpful</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Here’s a listing of “Most Rigorous Colleges.” I have no idea about its methodology, sorry. Regardless, you’ll probably find a safety or 2 on it. </p>
<p>[College</a> Rankings 2011: Most Rigorous - The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/most-rigorous.all.html]College”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/most-rigorous.all.html)</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross-ranked 29th in this year’s US News and in top12 in cnbc’s payscale salary study for highest income among alumni. HC is a smaller version of Georgetown but easier to get into. Holy Cross has very vice campus 1 hour from Boston and HC is need blind(same as Ivies) for admissions.</p>