<p>I'm looking at schools to apply to (I'll be a high school senior next year) and I'm having trouble finding safety schools.</p>
<p>I have a 3.9 GPA, 2350 on the SAT, good SAT subject tests, and a strong academic record with mostly honors and AP classes. My extracurriculars include 4 years on a school sport (3 on varsity), writing for the school paper, student council president, starting a club at my school, and founding a youth volunteer organization. I play guitar and plan on writing my application essay on my love for music. I plan on studying English and foreign languages with the intent to go on to medical school.</p>
<p>With all this in mind, I am having trouble finding safety schools that are "low" enough (that sounds kind of rude, but I don't know how else to put it) that I will be guaranteed to get in but high enough that I will be happy there and find them intellectually challenging and such.</p>
<p>Most of the schools that I am looking at have very low acceptance rates, even for qualified applicants. So, I definitely need some safety schools to apply to... any suggestions? Thanks : )</p>
<p>What state do you live in? Frequently, people use their in-state school as a financial and admissions safety. Impossible to say what a good safety school is based on what you stated. You simply stated your qualifications and not what you’re looking for in a school. You should choose a safety school not only as one that you will get into and can afford, but also one that you’d still enjoy and be willing to attend. No point in applying to a place you’d hate to attend. Are you interested in LACs? Large research universities? Schools in urban/rural settings? Big time athletics?</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m actually having lot of trouble narrowing it down because I don’t really have any preference regarding all those qualities you mentioned… I have both rural and urban schools on my list, big and small, all that sort of stuff. I guess nothing too huge - like max 10,000? And I did mention what I plan on studying, because that happens to be the most important aspect to me. However, most schools have those programs so it doesn’t really narrow it down for me at all. And I’m not looking at any schools in my state, but geographically I’m looking at mainly New England/New York/Pennsylvania/New Jersey/maybe the DC area.</p>
<p>But isn’t the point of safeties that you’d be happy there if it were the only place you got in? If UCONN ends up the only school I get into, I would not be happy going there.</p>
<p>You will have “solid chances” or “good chances” at many colleges such as Northwestern, Rice, Georgetown and Vanderbilt etc. But, they are not safety schools.</p>
<p>Perhaps you may want to specify why you would not be happy at University of Connecticut and then consider those criteria in screening your other possible school choices (whether safety or otherwise).</p>
<p>Also, how much is cost a factor? A safety must be affordable. And since you are considering (expensive) medical school and majors that do not have the best bachelor’s level job and career prospects, you want to be very careful about minimizing debt.</p>
<p>“And I’m not looking at any schools in my state, but geographically I’m looking at mainly New England/New York/Pennsylvania/New Jersey/maybe the DC area”</p>
<p>How did USC and Michigan wind up on the list of suggested schools?</p>
<p>Also, I agree that Georgetown is not a safety school. I understand the need to leave your home state. I did when I was your age. However, I would suggest that you look at schools that would interest you in terms of location, are a safe bet for admissions, and also fall in an “affordable” category (whatever that range is for you and your family). If money is not a concern, then go for the other two. It will just take some research.</p>
<p>As others have written, you do need to know how much your family can afford. If you haven’t already done so, sit your parents down and have The Money Talk with them. How much can they afford to pay? How do they feel about you working during the summers and during the school years? How do they feel about student loans? Is there enough money for med school as well as for your undergraduate degree?</p>
<p>Ahh sorry, I should have mentioned that. I have had the “money talk” with my parents, and they will/are able to cover my entire undergrad tuition. For med school I’m on my own. And thank you for all the suggestions so far! I have considered many of those but I’m not sold on any of them… also, I should have mentioned this as well, but I’d prefer a school with no religious affiliation. What about Colgate? Would that be ‘safe’ enough?</p>
<p>As for UCONN, I have many reasons and they’re all fairly valid - too big, too many people from my school go there, it’s more well-known for math/science programs, and quite frankly it’s just the principle of leaving state for college.</p>
<p>Apply early on to a school you like that also has rolling admissions. If you get in, you’ll have your “safety school” on hand and are all set to face the admission decisions from your other choices.</p>