<p>I'm a high school junior in New Jersey. I'm planning on applying to Penn, Northwestern, Swarthmore, etc. However, I need safety schools. I feel like I would be completely fine going to a safety or match if it was far away and located somewhere really beautiful, like the Pacific Northwest. I went to Vancouver before and absolutely loved the climate and surroundings. I'm planning on majoring in anthropology and music. I've have had all A's during high school (probably will have 1 or 2 B's this year in AP classes). I don't have that many extracurriculars, but I'm passionate about the ones I do (voice, bassoon, musical theatre, cashier, Franklin Institute science presenter, Seeing Eye puppy raiser, NHS). I haven't taken the SATs yet (209 on PSAT), but I defiitely wouldn't give up until I get at least a 700 on each section. Any suggestions for quirky, beautiful schools (preferably safety schools)?</p>
<p>Funny, I wouldn’t group Swarthmore with Penn or Northwestern (in terms of feel) or characterize them as “quirky” – BUT to respond to your question, Reed? Evergreen?</p>
<p>oh, i’m just saying that to go to a safety school, it would have to be quirky. i just don’t want to go to a boring, local safety like rutgers or rowan. penn, swarthmore, and northwestern would be great just because they’re great.</p>
<p>St. John’s College is in Annapolis, Maryland; it fits both the quirky and pretty categories.</p>
<p>New College of Florida? I’ve heard the ocean is really beautiful.</p>
<p>Colorado College?</p>
<p>Try Whitman College, I think it’s in Washington (or maybe Oregon).</p>
<p>Also look at Macalester if you don’t mind Minnesota. It’s definitely quirky and would be a low match for you.</p>
<p>Whitman, Colorado College, and Macalester aren’t exactly safeties for the OP. A 209 PSAT (or 2100 SAT) would fall in the median range for these schools. The admit rates are between 24% (CC) and 44% (Whitman). They’re expensive, too (and need-aware). So I’d say they are high match to low reach schools.</p>
<p>Check out the Colleges That Change Lives web site or book. Most of the listed schools would be low match or safeties (especially if cost is not a factor).</p>
<p>Reed is a safety for no one; GPA + test scores + rank together account for only 20% of admission criteria. A 700 on each SAT section is only 20 over the 50th percentile, effectively barely a match for that datum.</p>
<p>oh, sorry, i’m not going to get a 700 on each section; that’s just what i would consider acceptable. on critical reading and writing, i’m pretty sure i could get high 700s and math, hopefully higher but at least a 700. my psat last year was higher in reading and writing than this year and lower in math. this year, my math went way up but the others went down a little, so with studying and possibly superscoring… also, i just want some fun suggestions! i can work on the numbers myself and figure out what i have to do!</p>
<p>you really should take a look at Skidmore. Nice LAC, good music program, lovely town!</p>
<p>Skidmore looks great! Thank ya! And Colorado College and Reed from what I see on the internet! I’ll make sure to look into the other ones, too.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much price is an issue for you, or how generous they are, but Lewis and Clark sounds perfect. It has great study abroad options, too!</p>
<p>It’s hard to recommend TRUE safeties without any test scores and without any budget.</p>
<p>Safety schools often do NOT give great aid. However, some do give great merit.</p>
<p>Your major/interests can be found at many schools so that’s good. However, do you know how much your parents will pay?</p>
<p>If your parents will pay for wherever you go, then you’ll have lots of choices…</p>
<p>If money is no object…look at UPortland, USeattle, USan Francisco, Gonzaga…</p>
<p>St. Mary’s of Maryland, a public honors college, nice location, too.</p>