Safeties?

<p>Ah, yes, the college search begins :(</p>

<p>Stats:
Junior
GPA: 4.0 uw 4.3ish w (moderately hard courseload for school)
SAT: 2260 (10 essay) (<- should I retake?)
SAT II's: Only taken Bio - 770
EC's: VP of community service club, CSF, FBLA, editor of school newspaper, cross country, basketball, track (not even close to good enough to be recruited...sports are more for...my entertainment :P)</p>

<p>I'm considering (high reach :() schools such as:
Swarthmore
Dartmouth
Williams
Amherst
Syracuse
a few others.</p>

<p>I'd like to major in either Journalism or English.</p>

<p>Any ideas what safeties I can look at (that are strong in either journo or english - or both :D?) Preferably with lots of merit aid...full rides would be awesome...my family is rather well off, so we probably won't get too much fin aid. Also small student bodies preferable...I realize that most journalism schools are rather big, however, and I'm willing to consider them regardless...as I'm still not sure exactly what I want to do.</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

<p>i think a lot of it depends on what state you're from
in-state colleges are really easy to get into for the most part
i also know people who got into syracuse with grades that are much worse than yours so relax</p>

<p>comes to mind: JMU, UGA, UKansas, UF, NYU (not really a safety though), U Richmond (again, not a safety, but $$ possible), VCU..almost anywhere will have english, but those are good journ. schools (my sister was a journ major, so I sort of remember her list...she ended up at UGA and loved it)</p>

<p>those are bigger schools, but bigger student population can somewhat translate into more opporunities to be admitted. Your stats are good enough to get you into most, if not all of those places.</p>

<p>I would consider schools in bigger cities, as they'll have more opportunities for working ina journ. job before graduation, and after. The trade off is sometimes bigger student bodies. U Richmond is my best suggestion, but its not really a safety, but I would look into it. I would also go for g'town. You have good stats, so worry less about safeties =P</p>

<p>I live in California.</p>

<p>Mmmm I'd love to get a full ride somewhere, which is my main reason for looking for safeties, so I would like to worry about safeties :)</p>

<p>Thanks shoebox, I'll look into those schools. :D</p>

<p>A real safety would be Goucher College (1200 students). They have a good program in Communications and a good student newspaper.</p>

<p>Also consider Brandeis--not quite as selective as your reaches and they have an excellent Journalism minor, which you could combine with a literature major. Also two very good student papers! You might be eligible for merit aid there. 3,000 undergrads including my D, who minors in Journalism.</p>

<p>You should at least consider Kenyon. English is their strong suit, and you'd easily get in with your stats.</p>

<p>Syracuse is not a high reach at all. You're applying for the communications school, I assume, but even then, I'd call it a safe match.</p>

<p>I know that Commns at Syracuse is highly-rated, but for someone with these stats, admission to the university is as safe as a safety could be.</p>

<p>Oh by the way, if the field is Communications and you're checking out safeties with your credentials, look at the website for Ithaca College - there are several endowed full-ride scholarships in that field.</p>

<p>We were told that admission to the Syracuse Communications School (Newhouse) is considerably more selective than to Syracuse University in general.</p>

<p>You might try looking at the thread that talks about merit aid. Someone mentioned how to check merit aid statistics on college web sites. For example, some schools only award merit aid to the top 3% of candidates, but others award to the top 30%. Quite a difference! And, the difference isn't necessarily related to how selective the school is. The statistics also often give the average amount of aid awarded.</p>

<p>I think any of the UCs could be safeties. With LA and Berk. right there, why go much father? =P</p>

<p>Haha I kind of want to get out of California...and go east coast :)</p>

<p>Ricegal, where is this thread that talks about merit aid? I can't find it :/ Could I get a link please?</p>

<p>Would all liberal arts colleges generally be strong in English? University vs LAC wise, which one would be stronger?</p>

<p>im thinkin Ohio University- Scripps Journalism school
They said I could have been eligible a full ride (went w. a friend interested in film) with my 32 ACT score so you would have a good shot</p>

<p>Its kind of a bad school unless you are in scripps, then it is amazing</p>

<p>Also look at Maryland, hear good things about their journalism programs</p>

<p>Holy Cross, Colby, Colgate. HC has nicer location near Boston.</p>

<p>Tako: Look in the parents forum.</p>