I have a list of colleges recommended by my counselor but I am lacking some Safety schools and Target/Safety schools.
We have 5 different categories and Target is in the middle
Target/Safety: NYU, Boston U, UCSD
Safety: George Washington University, and some UCs but those are separate (so i basically have one)
What do you guys think about Pepperdine? Or any Liberal Arts that I can consider? Looking for a place that is strong in all majors (relatively).
Yes I am from SoCal.
Thank you guys!
It is hard to think of UCs as safety schools after the devastating year that just passed. UCSD may be a match but not a safety. GWU doesn’t seem safe enough for a safety. Safeties can be rolling admission where you get an early reply. Automatic admission for stats schools can be safeties if you will accept attending if all else falls through.
Really a safety is assured admission combined with affordability. Doesn’t your counselor help with that? We don’t know your stats and what your recommendations will be like but he does.
UCSD is quite selective, and is a high match or low reach. Same with NYU. And Boston. And George Washington.
None of those are remotely safeties. Most other UC’s are matches, not safeties.
Pepperdine’s also fairly selective, that’s not a safety at all. If your counselor said that NYU was a low match or high safety, you’re going to have to take this into your own hands.
…
Hi but I did mention that SOME UC’s like Irvine would definitely be in the low target/safety zone.
I’m not really comfortable with sharing my stats but I would LOVE if someone can give me some more ideas of schools in that range.
Again I’m not interested in you saying whether if Pepperdine is a true safety, I just want to have more schools to consider.
Thank you .
You’re the one who asked for safety schools in the first place. And the schools you listed as low matches aren’t actually low matches.
Pepperdine is a heavily religious school – is it compatible with your religious beliefs?
What can be a reach/match/safety depends on your qualifications. Academic stats can tell a lot, but not all, since many schools require such things as essays and consider things like “level of applicant’s interest”.
Also, safeties must be schools which you are sure will be affordable. Be sure to talk to your parents about how much they will contribute for your college costs.
I’m sorry, but its kind of hard to give you safety schools if we don’t know your stats.
Without knowing your stats and budget we’re all guessing. Often a likely safety is an instate public university. So if you pick your safeties accordingly look at San Diego State, Chico State, etc.
I can’t offer any schools without stats, but consider applying to some schools that have non-binding EA or rolling admissions so you know you will be in by December.
Your ultimate safety is a CCC.
This is all I have 
GPA unweighted 3.8, mix of AP and IB classes
ACT 31 (will retake)
SAT 2180
Three 5s on APs (Calculus BC, US Government, Environmental Science)
Our school doesn’t use a 4.0 system but I have received one B+ in high school
(others 40% A-, 30% A, 30% A+)
Not interested in STEM but will probably apply as undecided (leaning towards psychology/philosophy/political science)
Location – Urban unless if it’s a really nice town (example: Pepperdine), suburban at most
@ucbalumnus I don’t mind Pepperdine because my family is very religious
Cost wise, we’re not super rich but we will be able to afford schools on the more expensive end (not applying to FA)
Thank you all!
??
How is UCSD a safety???
@mom2collegekids I didn’t make my list! 
^^^
???
well, who typed up the OP? Helicopter Mom?
The college counseling office provided us with our own college lists (please don’t say that our college counseling system is horrible… I have seen my friends’ lists and BU was not a target/safety for many of them)
I’m just trying to see more options
If you think that I shouldn’t be calling UCSD as a target/safety, maybe you’re right! I should put it as a target school
i was looking for help but I am probably just too insincere and ignorant for you.
i don’t get it …
@theprepkid I think people just didn’t read all your posts. We are here to help. What are your parents able to pay for college? Will you be needing a lot of merit aid? Are you open to going out of state?
You might apply for safeties to some of the Arizona schools that are part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange.
Many students at my son’s high school (Central CA) applied to NAU, which gives you a quick decision, so that you will already know that you have an acceptance at a school that gives CA residents a 40% reduction on the out of state tuition rates.
I wouldn’t consider NYU or BU appropriate safety schools. With a 3.8 GPA and 2180 SAT they’re not safeties, though I’d say BU is a possible match (your SAT is in range for them, but the GPA could be higher). NYU is harder to get into than BU, so I’d call that a reach (b/c it’s a reach for applicants with even “perfect” stats). I think your counselor has a lot of faith in your strength as an applicant, which is wonderful, but I think to tell you you’re guaranteed to get in is potentially damaging for you as you may wind up disappointed (and with very few schools to choose from). GWU might be match, but again–I think that school is too selective to be a safety.
For true safeties, I would look at schools that accept a higher percentage of applicants (ie: overall less selective), where your profile is much higher/more competitive than their average applicant–that’s how you get an edge where you are “guaranteed” admission. With your GPA/SAT, my gut tells me your sweet spot will be schools that admit 50-70% of all applicants to be a safety. Write some killer essays to give yourself an extra leg-up. You’re in CA, so you’ll have a good idea of which UCs are “easier” to get into (for safety’s sake), but true safeties will be your CSUs. Are there any you’d want to go to?
What cities/geographic areas are attractive to you, outside of CA? I would start there and then look at less competitive schools in that area. I have a handful of schools that I personally like/would apply to that might fit the bill, but they’re very much based on my personal preferences so I don’t want to blindly recommend schools. It’s tricky if you don’t have a specific major in mind… what other things are important to you? Large school? Small school? Notable professors? Robust study abroad? Specific on-campus activities? School spirit? All of these will help with narrowing it down. Oh, also, your parent’s actual expected/realistic financial contribution per year makes a difference. If you’d want to pursue merit scholarships, that would open up a whole other list of schools/targets. Or, conversely, make schools not known for being generous but that are within your parent’s financial range a possibility.
I love the idea of having NAU as your safety school! It seems to me like its an up-and-coming school and academically strong enough to attend in the event that you don’t get in anywhere else or can’t afford your other options.
All you truly need is 1 safety that you can afford and be happy with if you attend. Once you find that school, you can apply to as many match/reach schools as your heart desires. Finding the safety school is the MOST important part of your college search, however. As long as you find a school you love to be your safety, you can’t lose the college admittance game. I think @Yomama12 is right on the money by suggesting you look into NAU. I think it’d be a good place to start!