I’m only a junior but recently have started thinking a lot about college. It occurred to me that despite having a lot of “dream” schools, I don’t have any safeties in mind where I would be happy going.
My dream school is Stanford, and I’m also looking at some Ivies and schools like UChicago, Duke, and WashU too. But as we all know, these schools are extremely selective and are high reaches for almost everybody.
I have a 4.0 UW/4.78 W GPA (top 1% of my class), and a 36 on the ACT. I will have taken every AP class my school has to offer and am involved in many extracurricular activities in which I hold leadership positions. I am also pretty sure I will be a National Merit Semifinalist come fall, with a psat selection index very high for my state.
I am not 100% sure on majors yet, but am thinking a double major of political science and some type of biological science.
What schools do you guys think would be good safeties for me? Thanks everyone!
Have you talked to your parents about what they will contribute for your college costs, and run net price calculators on various schools (not just super-selective ones; try some public and less selective private schools as well)? Safeties must be affordable.
If you expect to be a National Merit Finalist, here are some big scholarships:
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Here are more potential safety candidates if you need a lot of scholarship money:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
All will depend on essays and recs. Look into your state’s flagship.
If cost is not an issue, then take a look at schools not far below those you’re looking at. I know similar stat students who are quite happy at Wake Forest, U Miami, Georgetown, and of course, my own guy at U Rochester. Rice and Emory are two more I’ve heard good things about, but don’t know anyone personally at them.
The extra nice thing about some of these schools is the opportunity for nice merit aid for nice stats.
If cost is an issue, consider Pittsburgh, U Alabama, & your local flagship as well as those other schools.
ps Some of those students I know IRL got into their dream schools (which match those on your list) and still chose to go to their “other” schools due to fantastic merit aid. They have absolutely no regrets with their choices.
Your “safety” school will be your flagship public university in your home state.
^^
Not necessarily. Some flagships are expensive and give lousy aid or merit.
We don’t know if the family will/can pay.
The student is a likely NMSF, so there are other schools that can be safeties.
-Allegheny College
-Baylor University
-Clark University
-Drexel University
-Elon University
-Furman University
-Goucher College
-Hendrix College
-Illinois Wesleyan University
-Lesley University
-Mills College
-Ohio Wesleyan University
-Providence College
-Saint Louis University
-Temple University (You’d automatically get full tuition + $8,000)
-University of Scranton
Wake Forest, U Miami, Georgetown, and of course, my own guy at U Rochester. Rice and Emory