<p>Note that “Rock Solid Safety” needs to be safe for both admissions and financial aid.</p>
<p>For example, for many students, Harvard may be a financial safety, but certainly not an admissions safety. On the other hand, there are some not very selective private universities that may be admissions safeties for many students, but not generous with need or merit financial aid, so they will be expensive to attend.</p>
<p>If the community college route is viable for your academic goals, then that can often function as both types of safety.</p>