<p>So far, my list of colleges consists of: Yale, Brown, Tufts, William and Mary, Johns Hopkins, Knox, and John Carrol. Can anyone give me any more safety school to check out that might be similar to these? (Hopefully towards the east coast and medium sized)</p>
<p>I see you have these stats from another thread:
*Female
White (Greek and Polish, if that could give me any edge 
)
Rising Senior
Smallish Blue Ribbon Public School</p>
<p>ACT: 33 (English: 34, Math: 27, Reading: 36, Science: 36)
SAT: I took it last weekend
GPA: 3.43 (I know this is bad, I did the whole slacker thing my freshman and sophomore year)</p>
<p>Enriched Math for 3 years and Honors senior year
Honors English for 3 years and AP senior year
AP Photography senior year</p>
<p>The school newspaper sophomore year
HUDDLE (prevent drugs), SAFE (recycling), International Club, Chinese Club, and Key Club junior year
SAFE, Int. Club, Chinese Club, Key Club, and hopefully NHS senior year</p>
<p>Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance awards</p>
<p>I take Art classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art
I have worked a summer job as a secretary at a law office</p>
<p>I’m planning on starting an online business this summer where I will sell handmade accessories and donate the profits to charity* And you don’t need FA.</p>
<p>I assume you are in-state for OH. Have you looked at Miami? Otherwise what do you think your major might be?</p>
<p>I really don’t want to go to school in Ohio other than John Carrol. (It’s over priced, too close to home, I’m bored of Ohio, etc.) And I don’t really know what my major will be other than potentially some kind of art/writing/med/business but I’d really like a college with a lot of majors… I know it’s a little harder to fit that criteria but I figured people here would probably have a lot of knowledge on the subject… Btw thanks for your help. :-)</p>
<p>Oh, and also my GPA has gone up to a 3.525 if that changes things.</p>
<p>*
Oh, and also my GPA has gone up to a 3.525 if that changes things.*</p>
<p>Is the increase because of senior year quarter grades? Or is this the cum of 9-11 grades?</p>
<p>Is that your weighted GPA?</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>What kind of school do you want?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>Safety schools are schools that you ALSO know that you can afford to go to.</p>
<p>BTW…what is your class rank?</p>
<p>That GPA is cum from 9-11 and I’m pretty sure it’s weighted.</p>
<p>^^*I don’t really know what my major will be other than potentially some kind of art/writing/med/business but I’d really like a college with a lot of majors… *</p>
<p>^^A school similar to the others I’ve posted above.</p>
<p>Money is not an issue.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t rank.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Schools similar to Knox (small Midwestern LACs)? From more to less selective, with a range of urban, suburban and rural:
Grinnell (reach)
Macalester
Beloit
Earlham
Goucher (safety/low match; I think it allows cross-registration for classes at Hopkins)</p>
<p>Similar to Hopkins (small to mid-sized reseach universities), but less selective? Check out the University of Rochester or Brandeis. If it’s specifically the JHU writing program that interests you, then consider the University of Iowa.</p>
<p>Similar to Brown? Not sure what you consider the distinctive feature there, but if it’s the Open Curriculum, then less selective alternatives might include Hamilton College, or again the University of Rochester. Not too many options in urban schools (Eugene Lang in Greenwich Village, NYC?) or LAC-like universities. </p>
<p>Similar to William and Mary? A small, Mid-Atlantic, public “honors college”? St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or SUNY Geneseo.</p>
<p>Like Yale? What about it are you trying to replicate in a less selective school? The strong studio art programs?</p>
<p>Thanks so much tk! Actually, I wasn’t quite sure what I was trying to replicate, but I will check out all the schools on your list.</p>
<p>Washington U in St Louis. Excellent art and medical. Large enought to have a massive selection of majors. Border safety with money no issue. I second a state university like Univ of Iowa or University of Michigan.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you saying that WashU is a “border safety” for the OP? I wouldn’t say that at all - especially with the GPA.</p>
<p>Lily…What do you want in a school besides one that offers all your majors?</p>
<p>Big
Small
quiet/nerdy
spirited - rah rah with big sports to watch
rural campus
city campus
Greeks
Warm weather
Cold weather</p>
<p>^^ ??? WUStL is one of the most selective schools in the country.</p>
<p>^ Yes, WUSTL is one of the most selective schools in the country (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/687793-selectivity-ranking-national-us-lacs-combined-usnews-method.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/687793-selectivity-ranking-national-us-lacs-combined-usnews-method.html</a>). Hardly anyone can consider it a borderline safety or even a match. </p>
<p>Based on what Lily has shared, I’d estimate that in the linked Selectivity Ranking, her chances fall out about like this:</p>
<p>1-26 probably out of reach (there are simply too many well-qualified applicants for these)
27-50 reach
52-75 sweet spot (match)</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>There are many excellent schools throughout that list (and beyond); no need to fixate on the upper end.</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone! I will absolutely check these schools out. One question though, how much weight will an amazing essay/ teacher recommendations pull? I know everyone on here claims theirs to be “the best essay my teacher ever read” or something but seriously mine will be really really good. Does that make a true difference?</p>
<p>The common data set for each school will tell you how much they value the essay and the recommendations. Some schools rate them very important (like Ivies) while others just consider them (like Alabama).</p>
<p>I agree with tk21769’s assessment in post #11. </p>
<p>I would note that not only do you have a low GPA for top schools, you also appear to have a less-than-rigorous schedule. Frankly, I think that you should discard the two or three topmost schools on your list and find some more realistic reaches.</p>
<p>Other schools to consider: U. Rochester, U. Richmond, Syracuse, TCNJ</p>
<p>“Similar to William and Mary? A small, Mid-Atlantic, public “honors college”? St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or SUNY Geneseo.”</p>
<p>Geneseo is definitely worth checking out. [SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu%5DSUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu)
This school is being recognized more and more for the quality of its undergraduate education and it is offered at a public school price!
[Geneseo</a> Cited in Latest College Rankings | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/news_events/latest-rankings]Geneseo”>http://www.geneseo.edu/news_events/latest-rankings)</p>
<p>Okay, just one more question and I’ll be done (for now ). How many of each type of school (safety, match, reach) should I apply to to have a guarantee of getting in?</p>
<p>Since your stats are a bit weak (weak GPA and weak curriculum) for top schools, you probably need to apply to…</p>
<p>2-4 reaches</p>
<p>2-4 matches</p>
<p>3 safeties.</p>
<p>Okay thanks, I think I have enough. :-)</p>