<p>What are some good financial safety schools for me? I know I shouldn't be picky when it comes to safeties, but I want a smaller college (or one that offers personal attention), and plan to major in a field in the social sciences.</p>
<p>My GPA- around a 4.3 W, 3.8 UW
SAT's- 2120 (690 M, 700 CR, 730 W)
SAT II's- 740 English, 760 US (my third test is pending)
Varsity sport, tons of volunteering, Editor in Chief of school newspaper, Mock Trial, clubs I've been involved with since Freshman year
First generation college student</p>
<p>I plan to go to the East Coast, but I wouldn't mind the South. Does anyone know of any safety schools that would be willing to give someone like me a substantial scholarship?</p>
<p>Currently, I'm looking at some top LAC's (Wellesley, Barnard, Williams), and other schools such as Georgetown, William and Mary, etc.</p>
<p>A few that spring to mind where you might be a good candidate for merit aid: Goucher College, American University, St. Mary’s College of MD. I don’t know whether they’ll appeal to you–and if they don’t appeal, then they’re really not safeties at all–but I think they’re worth investigating.</p>
<p>State schools would make great safeties. Plus, even if you don’t get scholarships, it’ll be relatively cheap. Just be careful because I have a friend with a similar stats who was waitlisted and rejected from some of his safeties.</p>
<p>I think the key to avoiding safety-rejection is often to demonstrate real interest in the college. (This is just one more reason why it’s important not to consider a college your safety unless you actually like it, and could see yourself going there reasonably happily.) Of course, if your safety is huge–say, Ohio State–demonstrated interest won’t really matter at all, but since the OP has said that he or she is looking at smaller colleges and universities, the strategy is more likely to have some effect.</p>
<p>I will admit that I have drawn this conclusion based on a very small sample, but my own kid will be attending a college that we originally thought of as a safety, on a rather generous merit scholarship. It worked out great for us: the more she got to know the school, the better she liked it, and she’ll be going there for significantly less than the retail price.</p>
<p>Definitely pick at least one in-state public school. Merit aid at the privates already listed can be spotty, so you need a school where you know you can go cheap. Unless you see another school that has a clear-cut scholarship listed on its website that you qualify for (whether through stats, National Merit, etc.), you need to find an in-state public that you like for your financial safety.</p>