Reverse Chance me for Safety Schools?

College Search & Selection
1

Alright so my top choice is Wharton(UPenn) undergrad with a finance concentration, but I also plan on applying to Stern and Kenan-Flagler. I realize that all of these programs are tough to get into, so what are some safeties that have decent business programs that I should include on my list? I’m thinking about Kelley(Indiana)…

Here are my stats:
Leadership:
Director and Founder of Fundraiser at my school to raise money to aid improvised students living in the large city that I live by(received some local media attention)
Editor of School Newspaper
Quiz Bowl Captain two years
Founder and President of Model United Nations at my school
Principal’s Board Member (selective and diverse board composed of students from varying positions in the school)

Business Related Activities:
Interned for startup tech company last summer
Internship offer from Venture Capital Firm in the city for this upcoming summer if I don’t get into the Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Applied for Bank of America Student Leaders Program(upcoming summer)
Started my own business this year(it’s not a super viral app or anything lol, but I’ve learned a lot from the experience), Business Professionals of America Nationals 3rd Place in Finance Related Event, BPA Merit Scholar(State Level)

Out of School I spend anywhere from 25-40 hours a week on cultural music
6th place in said cultural music competition(national level)
1st place in state level cultural music competition.

Volunteering 150+ hours at local hospital(generic stuff bc my parents want me to go into med lol)
50 hours(will be around 75 at time of Application) at aforementioned Self Created Fundraiser

Prospective Letters of Rec:
English Teacher: Has known me for the last two years through Newspaper and Fundraiser Clubs. Really seems to like me, and basically told me that she’s writing me a rec next fall. Have an A in her class as well.

Business Teacher: Coached me for BPA as well as mentor/teacher for my Business Incubator Class. Seems to like me, but I’m not his absolute favorite.

Assistant Principal: Has helped me with funds and guidance to start the fundraiser and the MUN. I really like him, and he was the one who wrote my Bank of America rec letter.

Misch:
Weighted GPA- 4.75 Unweighted GPA- 3.79
ACT-33; 36 Reading, 35 English, 34 Math, 25 Science(yes, I’m working on it)
Ethnicity and Gender- Indian Female
Income Level- 140K household income
Location- Suburb of Chicago
Sports-Varsity Tennis 2 Years(I’m not good enough to be recruited), JV Tennis 2 Years

2

What have your parents told you they can pay?

3

They’ve said to “not worry” about money, but we are pretty middle class…so I’m not really sure.

4

Then worry.

If they can’t tell you that they have upwards of 250k sitting in a 529 fund for you, you need to be thinking about affordability. For Stern, the figure would be closer to 300k.

Round up their favorite adult beverages and a box of very soft tissues, and ask them to help you run the Net Price Calculators at the websites of UIUC, Penn, NYU, UNC, and one of the state Us in Iowa/Wisconsin/Minnesota/Indiana. They will whine and fuss and tell you that this is too soon, but be strong. On March 1 there will be a whole lot of posts from hysterical parents here at CC about just how much they’ve found out their kid’s dream college is going to cost. You don’t want your parents to be in that situation next year.

5

Congratulations on your hard work and success! I think Kelley is way, way better than “decent.” Wake Forest and Richmond also have strong business schools. A sleeper might be Santa Clara University–right in Silicon Valley, which offers opportunities. Beautiful campus and nice weather. Maybe University of Washington in Seattle, if the PNW appeals. One thing to think about: you can go to business school and get a job anywhere, but some recruitment/internships are regional, so you might be better positioned to work in a given region if you go to school there, although recruitment will have a large national component at many top schools. Good luck!

6

Thank you for the great advice! I’ll definitely keep that in mind when I’m applying. How many safety schools do students normally apply to? Does 2-3 give me a decent shot?

7

If it’s a true admission and financial safety, then you really only need one.
It should be more than just a decent shot. It should be a lock (both for admission and affordability), otherwise it’s a match/target not a safety.

8

Some parents recommend finding two truely safe places that you like well enough to attend. That way if all else goes wrong, you won’t feel that you have no choice.

For pretty-safe options, talk with your guidance counselor. Most schools keep good records and your counselor should be able to tell you which colleges and universities have not rejected applicants with stats like yours in recent years.

9

Awesome, thank you for all the help!

10

Some students apply to 2 safeties just so that they have a choice, and sometimes more if they haven’t decided which they would prefer among several potential safeties.

With your stats you should be able to find some very good safeties, although the financial aspects is something that you need to consider.

11

Yes, be sure to pay attention to the financial side of the equation. A safety is only a safety if it’s affordable. I would probably want 2-3 that were almost certain from the admission side and affordable based on stated cost, NPC, and other info.

You can reasonably consider some of the very elite schools (Ivy type), which often also truly do meet full financial need, understanding of course that they are reaches for everyone. I believe Richmond also claims to meet full financial need. You can google colleges that meet full financial need, understanding that they might consider a student’s ability to pay in the admissions decision (“need aware”) and that they might still offer less aid than a family deems necessary.

Note that many elite private schools really like students to visit, and interview if possible. That is very true of Wake Forest and Washington University in St. Louis (not the University of Washington in Seattle I recommended above). Sometimes, though, it is not possible.

12

You might want to expand your targets. Is two enough when one is Penn and the other Stern? Why not Ross or Virginia?

Agree on Kelley. You will be admitted direct admit and it is a great school and top ten ranked. For back ups, why not Wisconsin?

13

I also agree that Kelley is a good safety. Your stats make you a good candidate for a scholarship where it may make it comparable or less than full-cost, in-state UIUC. If investment banking is your desired path, Kelley makes a lot of sense.

Since I didn’t see you mention UIUC, I suggest you include it on your list. It is more difficult to get accepted into Gies (College of Business), but with your stats and service, you may also get merit money. I’ve posted my opinion of the merits of UIUC over Kelley in other threads. The opportunities at U of I are excellent. I have a daughter who graduated in May 2017, who is employed with a Big 3 consulting firm in Chicago. My son is a current junior, double majoring in Accounting and Finance and minoring in Technology and Management. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

14

Thank you for replying! I’ll definitely keep Kelley and UIUC in mind
Yes I do want to go into investment banking(but we’ll see where College takes me). How good is the merit and grant money at UIUC? I’ve heard from family friends that the U of I system is very low on cash, so in state students barely get any money. How true is this from your experience? Did your kids apply in-state?

15

Both kids received some merit money, but it wasn’t much - a few thousand each. (We don’t qualify for any need-based aid.). And yes, we live in a western suburb of Chicago. Just keep in mind that things are changing with the $150 million donation by Larry and Beth Gies.

https://business.illinois.edu/news/defaultnews/2017/10/college-business-receives-150-million-naming-gift/

16

UIUC instate is a no-brainer but is not a safety, rather a match due to selectivity.
UWisconsin doesn’t really have merit money nor aid for OOS applicants. Few OOS public universities will be affordable for a family that makes 125-150k (unless your parents are willing to spend 1/3 income each year on your college.)
Wake and URichmond are good matches - and they offer need based aid, to make the costs comparable to instate public costs.
For safeties, you need to find two colleges that are within your parents’ budget and that you like. Run the NPC on DePaul, Loyola, Lake Forest to see if they’re within budget. St Olaf, Dickinson, and Denison all have excellent international management majors and would be low matches if you demonstrate interest starting now. All would provide significant aid+ merit for your income and stats levels.