<p>Well, I'm a sophomore in high school and I am trying to start developing a list of schools to apply to for college. I have plenty of schools that I would be interesting in applying to, but most of these schools are the top ones in the nation (Columbia, Tulane, Vanderbilt, etc.). So, I am trying to find a safety school. I've heard that state schools often serve as a good safety. However, I live in Illinois and would only consider applying to one, UIUC but I want to go to a school that is nearer to a larger city. Any suggestions for a safety school?</p>
<p>FYI,
UWGPA: 4.0
WGPA: 4.36
Rank: 1/750-ish (Competitive school)
SAT I: 2220 (710 CR, 720 Math, 690 Writing)
ACT: 31
SAT II: Haven't taken any yet
AP: While offered at my high school starting sophomore year, due to personal circumstances, it was determined that I will start taking them junior year. I will take about 8 tests throughout both junior and senior years
EC's: Pretty spread out, and nothing much. Leadership postitions on the school speech team. In student council, psychology club, and Model U.N.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m not that good at simple math anymore. And I am thinking about doing something business-related, but I want the possibility to do other things, such as art history or communications.</p>
<p>Well, the thing about UIC is that most people at my high school treat it as a community college. I can assure you that I know it’s not, but it would be humiliating for me to go there. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>
<p>USC
University of Rochester (not sure if this is too rural)
Northeastern
GW
Boston University
Syracuse University (solid safety) </p>
<p>Generally any of the top state schools will be either a safety or match (e.g. Binghamton, UT Austin, UVM) with the exceptions of the ones at the way top like Cal Berkeley and UVA, which are reaches. I also think Tulane might be more of a safety for you. I would also consider UCLA, Michigan (once again not sure if it’s too rural), as well as Rice, although those are definitely more matches than safeties. You’ve also got a year and a half to bring up your SAT score, which, to some extent, should happen naturally. With that in mind, I think you’ll find that some of your matches will become safeties, and some of your reaches will become matches. A lot can change between sophomore year and senior year and it’s certainly not too late to add more ECs.</p>
<p>I would suggest you go about this in a little bit different way. Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and look through it for some ideas. You will get a really scattershot listing of colleges from a question like this out here. And what you should be developing is a list of schools to VISIT. Go see as many as you can on your list over the next 18 months or so. You are thinking about this right to include safeties/matches as well as reaches. Safeties are harder to find than reach schools, that is for sure. But they sure don’t have to be state schools. None of my D2’s safeties this year are state schools. You want a safety to be a school you can be happy to attend.</p>
<p>MichLover: I meant humiliating, because a lot of people at my school go to Ivy-like schools, so it would be awkward to tell them I was going to UIC.
Catria: I like Tulane, because both of my parents went there and I like the atmosphere of New Orleans/volunteering to help the community.
Samcmanus: Thanks for your list! I was thinking about some of those schools, but I wasn’t sure. And no, URochester and UMichigan are by big cities, UIUC is surrounded by cornfields.
One more thing: would University of Miami in Florida be a safety or a match?</p>
<p>Ignore your friends and go where you want to go. Everyone expects me to go to an Ivy League school at my high school, but I’m going to UT Austin because it is cheaper (in-state tuition). I couldn’t be happier.</p>
<p>Mlaitkep: I don’t really enjoy Houston, so I probably wouldn’t go to Rice. And because I live in a suburb that’s close to Chicago (<30 minutes), I’m also trying to explore a new area of the country.
Catria: Thanks!</p>