<p>sorry i've posted this before, but just one more time...i've determined safety schools as those w/ ~less than 60% in top 10th, above 75th percentile for test scores, and admits ~50% or more; reaches are all that admits 30% or less....but what about matches?</p>
<p>How about 30% to 50%?</p>
<p>(By the way, I accept your apology)</p>
<p>That's not how your determine safety schools. You determine safeties by how your stats line up with the colleges'. In general, if your stats put you in the top 20% or so of the accepted students, then (unless the college is highly competitive like an Ivy, which are safeties for no one), then the school is a safety for you.</p>
<p>Matches are schools (with the exception of Ivies, etc.) where your stats put you toward the top of the middle 50th percentile.</p>
<p>If you post your stats and Ecs, and if you post what you want out of your college experience (including size, region of the country, co-ed or not), people here can give suggestions about good safeties and matches.</p>
<p>I just don't understand why these discussions re: safety schools don't include looking at the % of applicants accepted. One needs to determine the opportunity for an offer of admission at the same time determining how your stats fit. I mean UChicago is a classic example. High quality academics but also a high admit rate. I believe that safety is more directly related to the admit rate.</p>
<p>Designating safety schools includes looking at the percentage of applicants accepted, and seeing how one's own stats and ECs compare with admitted candidates. That's why even if one has excellent stats, places like Harvard can't be considered a safety school.</p>
<p>Here are my stats, there are some clubs/ecs that I didn't list because I wasn't very involved in them. I appreciate any suggestions on safeties, matches, reaches. You may recognize this post before because I had posted it under a different name whose password i had forgotten so I had to get this one. I'm attracted to rural, sub, & urban colleges but I want a freshmen class under or around 3,000. I'ld prefer colleges that do not have a religious affiliation, or at least don't let it be a major influence in its classes, etc.</p>
<p>I know Penn State is big, but I'm looking into its honors college since that has much smaller classes. I'm also in-state for that if it helps. I know these are reaches, but I'm really interested in Dartmouth, Brown, Rice, and UPenn. Other colleges I've looked at are Oberlin, Case, Brandeis, Skidmore, & UMichigan.</p>
<p>Old SAT - 730M 740V
New SAT - 620M 700V 800W
Composite (New & Old since many colleges will mix n' match) - 2270
SAT II - 760 U.S. History, 720 Chem, 750 Writing, 650 Math IIc (retake, but i'm not sure since most colleges only require 2 II's)
GPA - 4.0 UW
Rank - 1/132-150
First generation </p>
<p>School offers 2 AP, took one, other was schedule conflict - APUSH - 5 </p>
<p>SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS
Science Olympiad - since 7th, regional & state medals
Chorus - since 9th, sung at courthouse, nursing home, mall<br>
School Paper - since 10th
FBLA - since 10th
Senior Class President - will be organizing a lot of things</p>
<p>SPORTS
Track and Field - since 7th, Varsity Letters
Cross Country - since 8th, except 10th b/c we had no team, Varsity Letters, Captain? </p>
<p>EMPLOYMENT
Same place since 2002</p>
<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
Recycling @ Work (R@W) - created & organized in '04 to raise funds for local library, recycled over a thousand ink cartridges, ink jets, cell phones; established online shop for it; received support from newspapers, news stations, radio stations & businesses
Jr. Leadership Wilkes Barre - 1-year program, met community leaders, etc
Organized a Lock-In with 9 others, raised $2,000 for the Red Cross
Red Cross - volunteered ~100 or more hours, President's Volunteer Service Award</p>
<p>MISCELLANEOUS
Supporting Family in Vietnam - have been sending $200 earned from job to Vietnam every 3-4 months to support family in Vietnam
Upward Bound - since 2004, take classes every Thursday during fall, winter & spring, included a 6-week summer program, continue until summer 2006
Pennsylvania Poetry Societys Pegasus - honorable mentions
WY Poetry Society - 2nd
Jr. & Sr. National Honor Society - since 7th
Pennsylvania Governor School for Health Care
Bridging the Gap: Hepatitis C - Created & organized in '05 to raise awareness of hepatitis C, provides free testing (about $40 each), pamphlets, books; received grant from major phamaceutical company & hospital, organizing improv show, there's more info on it at <a href="http://www.geocities.com/bridgingthegaphc%5B/url%5D">www.geocities.com/bridgingthegaphc</a>
Bausch and Lomb Award</p>
<p>Also check out U Md., which may work as a safety for you. While it is a large university, it has wonderful small learning communities. </p>
<p>Make sure you get your app in early to U Mich. I think it's a match for you even if you're out of state, but early application is a must. If you apply by mid Oct., you may hear from them by Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>You have some strong things: excellent scores (most colleges will view your scores as 730, 740, 800, first generation college, working a job and sending money to relatives abroad, which shows compassion and responsibility.</p>
<p>I think that you have a shot at virtually any college in the country including HPYS, though, of course such colleges would be reaches. If you're interested in the most competitive colleges, don't hesitate to apply. You've nothing to lose.</p>
<p>Make sure you're also applying to a financial safety -- a school that you know you'll get accepted to and can afford. Since you're sending $ to Viet Nam, I doubt that you want to take out large loans. In fact, you may want to do your best to get one of those rare full ride scholarships. That may mean that if your in state public universities give full ride scholarships or if you can commute to a college that gives you full tuition, that may be your best financial option.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>