<p>UMichigan...far enough but not too far from home, wonderful academics, great social scene, good scholarships...overall, incredible!!!</p>
<p>I didn't apply to Michigan, but I agree that it and other rolling schools are excellent as safeties, because you can ensure early on that they truly are safe. Sometimes people overestimate their chances. Of course, if there are no schools such as this that you truly want to go to, don't apply. A safety is no good if you'd hate going there, whether you get in or not.</p>