For strong students (grades, tests, ECs), what are your child's safeties and targets?

[Anonymous]

DD prefers a city but that is about it and is having trouble coming up with a list especially because even the things other kids have told her are safeties are really difficult to get in to!

[Anonymous]

Please search. There are dozens of threads on this topic. You are being incredibly vague. And it will start a huge debate on what are truly safeties, etc. Just don't. I know you mean while. But you are not being cool. Go ask your guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

Pitt, GW, Syracuse, University of Denver, Santa Clara.

if STEM: RIT, Stevens Institute, RPI, WPI

you’ll get better advice if you post her desired major, gpa, SAT/ACT , what region of the country and what size school she is interested in. If she hasn’t already, have her visit a large med and small school in the city to get an idea.

if in DMV can visit UMD, GW, American easily to get an idea of size.

[Anonymous]

Typically, your state flagship is your safety. However, it is probably not true in Virginia, and definitely not true in California. Michigan in-state yes a safety for their strong kids. Every other state, Ny, NJ, probably all true that you can use in-state flagship as a safety.

Private high schools are different, many do not apply to any state schools. DC used schools like Richmond, Rochester, Case as their safeties. Full pay, all accepted.

[Anonymous]

If you wonder over to the BC thread, a bunch of people there are saying BC is a safety. Maybe take a look.

[Anonymous]

Safeties will be UMD (in-state) and McGill (discount due to French citizenship). No idea about targets. Reaches will be top 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pitt, GW, Syracuse, University of Denver, Santa Clara.

if STEM: RIT, Stevens Institute, RPI, WPI

you’ll get better advice if you post her desired major, gpa, SAT/ACT , what region of the country and what size school she is interested in. If she hasn’t already, have her visit a large med and small school in the city to get an idea.

if in DMV can visit UMD, GW, American easily to get an idea of size.

All of this. Strong meaning 4.7w with 16 APs, 1600 SAT and national level accolades? Or standard strong gpa 4.0+, SAT 1500+, and so on. What major? Locale, size, even vibe or style of school.

Using PP’s examples, GW is a safety for my DC based purely on stats, but it’s not strong in her desired major and she hates urban campuses. Since she wouldn’t want to attend, it’s by default not a safety for her.

[Anonymous]

Gettysburg Fairfield Cornell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you wonder over to the BC thread, a bunch of people there are saying BC is a safety. Maybe take a look.

BC is often seen as a safety for students shooting for Notre Dame, Duke and Vanderbilt.

But safeties vary so much depending on someone’s major and interests. A STEM kid is going to have a very different list of reaches and safeties than a liberal arts kid.

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross, Northeastern, Bucknell, High Point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you wonder over to the BC thread, a bunch of people there are saying BC is a safety. Maybe take a look.

BC is often seen as a safety for students shooting for Notre Dame, Duke and Vanderbilt.

But safeties vary so much depending on someone’s major and interests. A STEM kid is going to have a very different list of reaches and safeties than a liberal arts kid.

I don't think you understand fully what a safety is.

BC is more like a target, and ND, duke and Vanderbilt are reaches. Places like Fairfield, PC, ad Fordham are safeties, if you will. Some might argue Villanova, but that is no guarantee by any means. BC had an acceptance rate of 13% this year. That is not a safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Safeties will be UMD (in-state) and McGill (discount due to French citizenship). No idea about targets. Reaches will be top 10.

Maryland is not remotely a safety in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Cross, Northeastern, Bucknell, High Point.

Northeastern is not a safety, for among other reasons. They yield protect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD prefers a city but that is about it and is having trouble coming up with a list especially because even the things other kids have told her are safeties are really difficult to get in to!

Are you serious? Virtually zero information to go on. Stats, region of the country, budget, intended field of study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you wonder over to the BC thread, a bunch of people there are saying BC is a safety. Maybe take a look.

BC is often seen as a safety for students shooting for Notre Dame, Duke and Vanderbilt.

But safeties vary so much depending on someone’s major and interests. A STEM kid is going to have a very different list of reaches and safeties than a liberal arts kid.

I have a kid at Notre Dame and this is ridiculous.

BC had a 6% acceptance rate this year in RD. In no way can it be considered a safety for absolutely anyone.