<p>I'm starting to feel out what schools I'm interested in attending in the fall of 2013 (current junior), and I was hoping to get some feedback about safety schools. While I realize that really, really selective schools should not be considered matches for anyone because their admissions can sometimes be borderline arbitrary given the high quality of applicants (the Yale admissions guy flat out told us that it's a "crapshoot"), I was thinking about less selective (comparatively) but still very good schools: Wake Forest, Washington and Lee, Middlebury, Villanova, Davidson, Bowdoin, etc. Should they be considered "safeties" or "matches" for someone with the kind of grades, ECs, SAT scores, etc. that would easily stand up to an Ivy League adcom? Where would UVa (instate) fall in that spectrum? I know it's hard to say anything without exact numbers and facts about specific applications, but I just can't get a straight answer from anyone about where these schools truly fall in the spectrum. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback!</p>
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<p>Absolutely none of these schools are “safeties” for anyone, even high stats kids. If you you like them, apply, but do not use them as “safeties.”</p>
<p>A safety is a school where you are more or less guaranteed admission; that you like and has the programs you’re looking for; and that you can afford. For many kids, that school is their state flagship.</p>
<p>In your case, UVa is tricky because it routinely denies qualified in-state applicants (as does William and Mary). although if your stats are truly Ivy-competitive and you are in-state, you have a better chance than many. What about Virginia Tech or James Madison? </p>
<p>Your list of schools is all over the map, sizewise and environment wise. What are you looking for? What can you pay for? And what do you want to study? Don’t just base your choices off stats, scores and rankings. So many ambitious kids just pick the top schools off of USNEWS and never do any more research. Many of these kids are really disappointed come April 1.</p>
<p>We need more info…</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>What kind of schools do you like? Quiet? Spirited? Big? Small? Rural? City?</p>
<p>Since safeties don’t give great aid, how much will your parents pay?</p>
<p>^ I Agree with NJSue. Look for schools which have >50% acceptance. The ones you listed do not.</p>
<p>Look at this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1314309-how-find-assured-admissions-safety.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1314309-how-find-assured-admissions-safety.html</a></p>
<p>Also, be careful of schools that consider “level of interest” in admissions. These may deny or waitlist high stats applicants who appear to be using them as safeties.</p>
<p>See section C7 of the school’s common data set on its web site.</p>
<p>Without the answers to mom2collegekids questions it’s hard to give specific ideas. Criteria that worked well for my kids and their cousins: A safety is a school with >50% admissions rate and where your stats are at or above the 75%-tile. Is this fool-proof? No, but if you find two schools with those criteria you should be ‘safe’.</p>
<p>The following website lists the admissions stats etc : [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/)</p>
<p>Additionally, CC’s own school search function is good for a first cut.</p>
<p>Middlebury and Bowdoin not only aren’t safeties, they could be considered reach schools for nearly every RD applicant. They, or Davidson, might be realistic match schools for ED applicants with exceptional stats and ECs, if cost is not a major issue.</p>
<p>I meant to ask what are your stats? You’re instate for UVA, right?</p>
<p>What is your GPA</p>
<p>What are your test scores/</p>
<p>might look at Holy Cross and Colby.</p>
<p>NJSue- I’ve visited JMU and it didn’t really appeal to me, and VT is just too big. I have never considered UVa as a safety or even a certain match: I realize that it is not easy to get into. I also realize that these schools are all over the place, however I have visited them all (except for Davidson) and I have really liked them in different ways and in no way based my possible choices on rankings, etc. I’m pretty flexible so size and location (other than an East Coast school) are not an issue, neither is financial aid. I have no idea what I want to major in yet. Thanks for your thoughts, though! Any ideas about other Virginia schools that could be considered safeties?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids- I’m from Virginia, undecided major, don’t want a city school or a huge school (i.e. SEC size), and financial aid is not an issue. </p>
<p>Thank you Erin’sDad, ucbalumnus, and vinceh!
tk21769 thanks for the input, that’s kind of what I was thinking. Are Middlebury and Bowdoin really on the same level? I had thought that Middlebury was more difficult to get into and a slightly “better” (oh what a subjective term) school than Bowdoin. </p>
<p>From the varied responses I’ve concluded that the majority of the schools I have listed are considered matches to low/mid reaches? Thank you all so much for your feedback!!</p>
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<p>HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.</p>
<p>Middlebury and Bowdoin are nobodies’ safeties. Just because they are LACs and may have less name recognition than top research schools doesn’t make them any less competitive.</p>
<p>W&L, Davidson, Wake Forest may be matches if you have a ~3.7+ UW GPA (with mostly AP/Honors classes) and a ~2100+ SAT score.</p>
<p>Villanova is less competitive than the rest.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/881237-ivy-caliber-safeties-matches-condensed-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Have you thought about Mary Washington in Fredericksburg? It might be both an academic and a financial safety for you. </p>
<p>Since you’re in-state, are you at all interested in W & M?</p>
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<p>Yes, they’re on the same level.</p>
<p>Just a couple pieces of anecdotal evidence.</p>
<p>I have a friend who got into Harvard but was waitlisted at Bowdoin, so it is in no way a safety or even a match for ivy-caliber students. It is probably a reach school for everyone.</p>
<p>I know a bunch of people who really want to go to UVa but don’t get in go to University of Michigan. The two schools are essentially the exact same school (public, ranked numbers 2 and 4 academically and have good sports and spirit - though UM wins the sports contest) but UM doesn’t have all the east coast people applying so it is slightly easier to get in.</p>
<p>Also, another girl I know is an ivy-level applicant (got into Penn) but got denied from Tufts, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and Washington University in St. Louis. Her parents were both Penn graduates so that may have made a difference, but the point remains the same. None of these schools in the same tier you’re talking about are safeties or even matches.</p>
<p>UVA and W & M are reaches for everyone. Look at JMU honors (there is a separate online application). Although larger, the honors program students are housed together and it gives you a smaller community feel. Also look at U of Mary Washington, Christopher Newport They offer you the smaller size you are looking for.</p>
<p>In VA…</p>
<p>In addition to JMU Honors Program, Mary Washington, and Christopher Newport… you could look at Mary Baldwin. Maybe not a safety, but what about Washington & Lee? University of Richmond? Roanoke College? </p>
<p>JMU is equally selective to Tech (focus in different areas), so depending on stats the JMU Honors program may or may not be a safety. But, certainly a match.</p>
<p>Thought about safeties --</p>
<p>If you’re a serious candidate for Yale, I’ll assume High Scores/SAT-ACT.</p>
<p>Consider any of the following:</p>
<p>Look for schools where your stats are above the 75th %ile accross the board, that has a relatively high (<50% admit percentage) AND any of the following</p>
<p>(1) the school is known for giving significant merit money.</p>
<p>(These schools are looking to bribe you to go there – they’re less likely to reject you because they think you’re unlikely to come). Besides, if you have to go to a safety school, you might as well save money.</p>
<p>(2) Your State Flagship University (though UVa probably isn’t a safe school for anyone).</p>
<p>(Same as (1) on expense and admissions chances).</p>
<p>(3) Schools where you can apply EA</p>
<p>(Assumes that you don’t apply to any of HYP SCEA – It’s nice to get in SOMEWHERE in Decemer – takes the pressure off).</p>
<p>(4) Schools that have sent you literature.</p>
<p>(Makes a nice beginning “Why Podunk Essay” – something like. “I hadn’t heard much about Podunk untill I received your brochure in the mail. The more I looked into it, the more I realized it is a school I would like to attend, because …” Also, they’ve already flagged you somewhere in the marketing department.)</p>
<p>(5) The school that would be the Perfect School for you, other than the fact that you want to go to a place that has a better reputation. </p>
<p>(If you can’t go to Yale, you might as well go to some place that meets all of your other goals)</p>
<p>Show your safety schools some love – visit if possible. Spend as much time on the essays as any other school. Treat it as any other application.</p>