Safety Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious to know what safety schools are now for high schoolers around the DMV? When I graduated from high school 12 years ago the popular safety schools were: WVU, Frostburg, ECU, & Coastal Carolina.

The bolded are essentially community colleges.

This why we can’t have threads like this. The meanies show up.

This is why I never talk about my sons college. Those are all perfectly acceptable, affordable schools.

We aren't all able to pay full tuition at every school. The economic uncertainty in upcoming years may result in stronger students choosing more affordable public options over more expensive private schools.

Offering another perspective, one of my now adult children transferred from a higher ranked college to a lower tier college for reasons I won't get into. She was doing fine at the higher ranked school, but found that in the lower ranked school, she was one of the most capable students in every class. As a result, she was a more confident and competent student. Feeling better about herself, she connected with her professors in a way she hadn't at the higher ranked school and wound up preferring that experience to the higher ranked, more competitive environment. Every kid is different, and the "best" school for your kid might not be the best for mine. In fact, the one you think is best for your kid, might not be the best for your kid either.

[Anonymous]

Offering another perspective, one of my now adult children transferred from a higher ranked college to a lower tier college for reasons I won't get into. She was doing fine at the higher ranked school, but found that in the lower ranked school, she was one of the most capable students in every class. As a result, she was a more confident and competent student. Feeling better about herself, she connected with her professors in a way she hadn't at the higher ranked school and wound up preferring that experience to the higher ranked, more competitive environment. Every kid is different, and the "best" school for your kid might not be the best for mine. In fact, the one you think is best for your kid, might not be the best for your kid either.

A perfect example of Malcom Gladwell's "big fish in a small pond" scenario. Our DD is interested in some of the "safety" schools mentioned in this thread for that very same reaaon (she also needs some merit aid). She could probably get into a Top 50 (maybe a Top 20) but doesn't need the added pressure.

[Anonymous]

I think this type of reasoning drove my daughter's decision to accept the offer from a safety over all of her target schools.

I was not sure but let her decide. She has THRIVED there. Standing out much more than she did at her cut throat Montgomery County school.

SHe has won multiple prestigious national recognitions, that will undoubtedly help her reach her goal of graduate school.

For her, this was a genius move and I am proud that she chose it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Offering another perspective, one of my now adult children transferred from a higher ranked college to a lower tier college for reasons I won't get into. She was doing fine at the higher ranked school, but found that in the lower ranked school, she was one of the most capable students in every class. As a result, she was a more confident and competent student. Feeling better about herself, she connected with her professors in a way she hadn't at the higher ranked school and wound up preferring that experience to the higher ranked, more competitive environment. Every kid is different, and the "best" school for your kid might not be the best for mine. In fact, the one you think is best for your kid, might not be the best for your kid either.

A perfect example of Malcom Gladwell's "big fish in a small pond" scenario. Our DD is interested in some of the "safety" schools mentioned in this thread for that very same reaaon (she also needs some merit aid). She could probably get into a Top 50 (maybe a Top 20) but doesn't need the added pressure.

Same with my DS. He has the academic profile to do well at a Top 50 but not the EC's so no way I see him being accepted (also not in our budget anyway). He's just a relaxed, not competitive, person who spends time on casual, personal interests and hanging out with friends. His safeties are JMU and UDel and I think he'd be happy and do well at either of them. He's applying to a few other match and one reach but if he ends up at a safety that would be perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Few Safety Schools:

Stevens Institute of Technology
University of Illinois - Chicago
UMBC
Towson
VCU
UNC - Charlotte or Greensboro
College of Charleston
UCF

[Anonymous]

George Mason.

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of big fish in small pond. But what if your kid is a quiet intellectual, not a sporty socializer? Would they connect to people on campus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of big fish in small pond. But what if your kid is a quiet intellectual, not a sporty socializer? Would they connect to people on campus?

honors college at a state uni

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of big fish in small pond. But what if your kid is a quiet intellectual, not a sporty socializer? Would they connect to people on campus?

I think they will at a small school (like Colleges that Save Lives) which values individualism.

Big state school, they might get swallowed up by the crowd.

[Anonymous]

Back in the early 90s, my safety school was Towson. My semi- reach was St. Mary’s (I was as waitlisted) and my Target was Salisbury. I went to Salisbury. I didn’t apply to UMCP because I didn’t want a school that large and UMBC was more of a commuter school (kind of like Towson) back then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:George Mason.

Not anymore. I know a number of students who applied and didn’t get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of big fish in small pond. But what if your kid is a quiet intellectual, not a sporty socializer? Would they connect to people on campus?

honors college at a state uni

At least in my home state, the kids that do that are super douchy (girls and boys).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the idea of big fish in small pond. But what if your kid is a quiet intellectual, not a sporty socializer? Would they connect to people on campus?

honors college at a state uni

At least in my home state, the kids that do that are super douchy (girls and boys).

You have to be a douche to call everyone at every honors college super douchey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this type of reasoning drove my daughter's decision to accept the offer from a safety over all of her target schools.

I was not sure but let her decide. She has THRIVED there. Standing out much more than she did at her cut throat Montgomery County school.

SHe has won multiple prestigious national recognitions, that will undoubtedly help her reach her goal of graduate school.

For her, this was a genius move and I am proud that she chose it.

Thanks for this. My DS ended up choosing his safety school, too. I hope it will work out like this for him.

[Anonymous]

Out-of-state, state U's that offer Rolling Admission. Submit an application as soon as the application becomes available, in August. Hear back in Sept/Oct

Apply to several, and you have a choice of safeties. Visit later.