Junior daughter likes the ‘larger’ SLACs on the East Coast as well as other urban schools; humanities/liberal arts studies, does not want big greek life and we can afford a private school
Stats: 3.85 (no weights at school) with upward trend; 33 ACT; good ECs with leadership positions but no awards; art/music will be submitted
Potential List
Barnard
Brandeis
BU
NYU
Smith
Mt Holyoke
Wellseley
Bryn Mawr
Tufts
Northeastern
Need some safeties…based on other posts, looking at potentially Fordham, Dickinson, Temple, Clark. any others?
thanks
You have a good mix of schools there. I think she’s going to have some nice choice from that list.
IMO, safeties are early birds in the hand, so you want to pick some schools that are near certainties for acceptance and will let you know early so that all can breathe easily through the rest of the process. Temple and Clark may fit that bill, but I usually go for even surer admissions. I do not think Fordham fits that niche because I personally know kids with your DDs academic profile deferred from there. Something local, something sure. Maybe a state school that accepts on a numbers basis.
The safety and likely school list is the most difficult to compile. You have an advantage in that money is not an issue. I’ve seen kids rejected from what should have been a slam dunk accept because they did not show the interest in the school and it was too obviously an add on. That’s why state schools that accept by the numbers are often the best bets. My one son did have private and Catholic schools as safeties but he gave them due attention, visiting and interviewing. They were also serious considerations and I think the AOs there knew it. We were surprised at some of the outcomes for others with far better stats.
I love that she is looking at Women’s colleges! I hope my current freshman does so when it’s time.
Has she considered U Rochester or Case Western? Both are midsized. They have good engineering schools, but also good Humanities. Case is literally in the middle of Cleveland.
Should be low matches to safeties: Villanova, Tulane (not exactly east coast), Fordham, GW, American, Catholic. All smaller/midsized schools in metro areas where she should easily get in— probably with merit.
On the more SLAC side, definitely Miami of Ohio.
Since she is interested in Women’s colleges, Sarah Lawrence?
BC— but that’s obviously not a safety.
And Wake Forest. Again— not a safety. And definitely a strong Greek scene. My kid is not applying for that reason. But I’m an alum. And there is a lot of students who are not Greek. The humanities are amazing. Most of the students are humanities or pre-professional. So, a small plug.
@parent1973 I think they are likely for her stats, if she actually shows interest and convinces them she would like to attend. But ofc no guarantees. I’d personally put one super safety and two safe-for-my-stats-ties.
Maybe Skidmore? I think admissions are getting tougher there so it’s not a slam dunk, but it’s less selective than many on your list and being full pay will help.
You might want to apply to some state schools with rolling admissions and strong honors colleges; the honors colleges strive for the LAC feel, and an early rolling admit provides that “bird in the hand” aspect of true safety
@NOVA2024 thanks- MIami Ohio seems like a safety but rochester and CW seem like matches but not safeties. And WF, Villanova, Tulane seem more Greek than what she wants…will look at the others. thank u
I think Temple fits the safety definition. It’s a state school and stats driven. Don’t remember if they’ll let you know early. Likely some merit money in that too though no longer automatic like it used to be.
I’m not familiar with Clark’s nuances in admissions. I’ve become gun shy about safeties these last several years as Ive seen some results that raised my eyebrows. It’s a real blow when a safety paired with a selective school early ends with both deferring or denying. With private schools, without adequate show of interest, some schools not interested in playing the buffer role and if they think they are being so played, might defer. I can vouch for fact that Fordham is NOT an early safety or a safety at all unless you have some special “in”. Saw the same with USF and some other schools.
Most of the schools listed in posts above NOT Safeties.
If she’s interested in urban, Simmons, the women’s college in Boston might be a good, safe EA choice.
Good merit possibilities as well as some interesting majors and accelerated degree options.
I do like safety schools that have non-binding EA or offer rolling admissions. I know Fordham has non-binding EA so if your D likes the school (she may want to look at both campuses before applying) and she gets in by December you are in good shape. Dickinson and Clark are good choices as well. If you are looking for more safety schools perhaps Goucher, Loyola MD, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Binghamton are worth considering.
-you are 75% or higher of the admitted academic profile.
Understanding that even this can lead to a rejection or Wl for smaller schools with athletic legacy and ses/ethnic preferences as they build a mosaic.
-You can 100 percent afford to attend.
-Also would 100 percent be ok with attending and would enjoy.
I prefer the term likely. It’s not guaranteed. It also is a built in stigma to refer to a great school offering such opportunity as a consolation prize.
When its both likely and likable that’s a home run!