Urgent Safety Schools Thread

College Search & Selection
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<p>I had a chat with my guidance counselor recently, and apparently some of the schools I had considered safeties where really more of targets for me. This set me back a bit, and I have to sort of redo my list now. If you guys could recommend some schools to link into, I'd be very grateful. I live in PA, and I'd like more choices then my local schools like Pitt, Drexel and Penn State. I am looking to go in for business, so schools with good business programs are a plus. Cost not really an issue.</p>

<p>Here is a brief rundown of my stats.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8, Weighted. As a comparison, the average GPA accepted to Penn from my school is a 4.01, and Stanford is like 4.3. This puts me in range of target schools like BC, USC and Georgetown, at least GPA-wise. </p>

<p>SAT: 780 CR, 680 Math, 690 Writing - will take again, target is like 2250. I know my writing should be better, practice tests leading up to it, lowest score was like 740. Choked on essay.</p>

<p>SAT II: 740 Bio, 770 USH, 760 Lit.
APs: Bio 5, Chem 3, AP US 5. I am taking another 5 APs this year.</p>

<p>ECs: Not much
When I was younger, I made it into a program that let you take SATs earlier, affiliated with like JHU, but I can't remember what it was called. This was not in highschool, so may not even matter.
Violin for like 10 years,
Track 3 years,
Made FBLA States for the 2 years I have done it,
Treasurer of FBLA junior year,
National Honor Society,
Volunteered for National Celiac Awareness for 3 years,
National French Test Since 8th, but only placed in like regionals every time.
Volunteer Trip to Africa
All American Scholar in 2007, but I don't know if thats anything.
Worked at a Subway during a summer, was left in Charge at times.
Worked as a door to door salesman for a bit.
Working at a retail position currently.</p>

<p>I am a pretty confident writer, and my essays should definitely help, not hinder.</p>

2

<p>Since cost is not an issue look at tOSU and Indiana. You really should learn to use then and than correctly. And those “local schools” you are dissing are good schools that would be less expensive than other ones.</p>

3

<p>University of Scranton.</p>

4

<p>*I live in PA, and I’d like more choices then my local schools like Pitt, Drexel and Penn State. I am looking to go in for business, so schools with good business programs are a plus. Cost not really an issue.</p>

<p>Here is a brief rundown of my stats.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8, Weighted. As a comparison, the average GPA accepted to Penn from my school is a 4.01, and Stanford is like 4.3. This puts me in range of target schools like BC, USC and Georgetown, at least GPA-wise.</p>

<p>SAT: 780 CR, 680 Math, 690 Writing - will take again, target is like 2250.*</p>

<p>What schools did you think were safeties?</p>

<p>Indiana is a good choice, but it may be match/safety. I’m pretty sure you’d get in, but I don’t know if it’s really a “safety.”</p>

<p>how far will you go from home?</p>

<p>What else do you want in a business school.</p>

<p>You say that money isn’t a big concern, but have your parents said that they will pay $55k+ for the school of your choice?</p>

<p>(I think the program you’re thinking of is TIP- Talent Identification Program. My kids took the ACT in the 7th grade because of it. Different colleges are associated with it. Duke was the school that was associated with my kids’ test.)</p>

<p>Or maybe JHU calls it something different?</p>

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<p>Not dissing local schools, I’m already aware of them. For instance, I have already applied to Penn State, so no point in having someone bring it up. Make sense?</p>

<p>As for what I considered safe, one example would be BC. I never considered it a safety, but more of a high chance school. I guess looking back, beyond my state school I never had actual safeties, just a wider range of target schools, which most of ended being more of ok chance reach schools. </p>

<p>Not to be cocky, but schools like Indiana I would definitely consider a safety, based on my schools naviance record. There has been 100% admissions for kids with an 1800+ on the SATs and 3.41+ GPA, with 31 applicants getting in with those stats. No one with my stats has even applied to Indiana. Obviously nothing is set in guranteed, just trying to give you guys a basis. </p>

<p>Maybe safeties was a bad choice of word, I guess I’m looking for high probability match schools, not worried about getting into college, more of going to a great school even if I don’t get into my top choices. </p>

<p>To narrow it down a bit, I really would prefer to look at more medium sized school, like 6000 to 10000 kids. I don’t really like the feel of the 15K+ student schools, unless they have alot of upside, like USC would.</p>

<p>What I meant by money is that I don’t want money to limit the choices. Like I said, right now, I’m just trying to get a wide view. Not saying I will choose to go to the $55k safety school, but I want to be aware of a few of them. Distance from home is of no object, especially since my family may be moving anyways.</p>

<p>I remember the name now being like CTY JHU, center for talented youth, I know, an egotistical name. It sounds the same as Tip, but sponsored by JHU. Does this count for anything?</p>

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<p>Holy Cross, Villanova.</p>

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<p>CTY and TIP don’t count for anything once you’re competing for college admission. I would think Indiana would have a similar upside in business to USC since they are ranked the same.</p>

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<p>Boston College, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Villanova, Providence College,</p>