Safety schools for high achievers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is what is so worrisome. She has delegated her whole decision to USNWR. Their criteria have not become hers.

Really superficial or immature, insecure, something bad.

+100

[Anonymous]

She’s going to get a real wake up call soon!

[Anonymous]

Is she applying to all top 25 schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a hook or hooks? Michigan, Emory, USC aren’t anyone’s safeties. USC is the kind of school parents spend $500,000+ bribery to get their kids in. They were risking some 50+ years behind the bars to do it. And these schools don’t want to be known as someone’s fall backs.

Michigan is a safety for almost any kid that can pay full price.

Our public HS sends at least 30 kids there from every graduating class.

Emory is a completely different category than Michigan.

USC is a waste of money. Who wants their kid paying that kind of money to go to school with Olivia Jade, a school that clearly doesn't care who they admit.

Exactly what I was thinking. Emory is definitely a step above the other 2, and much harder to get into. Their admissions is very unpredictable as they tend to think for "soft" factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a hook or hooks? Michigan, Emory, USC aren’t anyone’s safeties. USC is the kind of school parents spend $500,000+ bribery to get their kids in. They were risking some 50+ years behind the bars to do it. And these schools don’t want to be known as someone’s fall backs.

Michigan is a safety for almost any kid that can pay full price.

Our public HS sends at least 30 kids there from every graduating class.

Emory is a completely different category than Michigan.

USC is a waste of money. Who wants their kid paying that kind of money to go to school with Olivia Jade, a school that clearly doesn't care who they admit.

Name it so we can verify if not I call BS. Unless it's an in-state michigan school, it's not possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your state flagship university is typically the safety school for high achievers. Otherwise look in the 30-50 range for a safety.

Any school in the Top 20 is a reach for all unhooked applicants. Schools in the 20-30 range is never better than a match for unhooked kids.

This unless the applicant has a hook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it - but to elaborate DD is in a social group where basically every student is expecting to get into a top 10-15 school. DD has solid credentials but is extremely worried she won't be able to get into a top 15. She is ok settling with a lesser school but doesn't wasnt to go to a school lower than rank 25. Michigan, Emory, USC seem to be her top safeties at the moment, does anyone have any other suggestions?

I think the state flagship is usually the best safety. Many people will assume DD went to the state flagship because of money.

If there's something wrong with the state flagship, then an out-of-state state flagship, like the University of Iowa or the University of Minnesota, that's great and fun but not fashionable.

UMCP is the in state option, she absolutely does not want to go there because she thinks she will be labeled a "failure" if she goes there. She will not be applying and plans on taking a gap year if she doesn't get into a top 25. I'm fully supportive and just hope she will have great results.

OP I don’t know your child’s stats but there are tons of high stats kids at UMDCP. (mostly in their honors programs) For example half the graduating class from Montgomery Blair Magnet (average SAT score of 1530) ends up there. There might be good reasons to rule out UMDCP (too big, great for the Sciences and social sciences but maybe not as good for the humanities) but considering yourself a failure if you attend UMD is a little messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it - but to elaborate DD is in a social group where basically every student is expecting to get into a top 10-15 school. DD has solid credentials but is extremely worried she won't be able to get into a top 15. She is ok settling with a lesser school but doesn't wasnt to go to a school lower than rank 25. Michigan, Emory, USC seem to be her top safeties at the moment, does anyone have any other suggestions?

I think the state flagship is usually the best safety. Many people will assume DD went to the state flagship because of money.

If there's something wrong with the state flagship, then an out-of-state state flagship, like the University of Iowa or the University of Minnesota, that's great and fun but not fashionable.

UMCP is the in state option, she absolutely does not want to go there because she thinks she will be labeled a "failure" if she goes there. She will not be applying and plans on taking a gap year if she doesn't get into a top 25. I'm fully supportive and just hope she will have great results.

OP I don’t know your child’s stats but there are tons of high stats kids at UMDCP. (mostly in their honors programs) For example half the graduating class from Montgomery Blair Magnet (average SAT score of 1530) ends up there. There might be good reasons to rule out UMDCP (too big, great for the Sciences and social sciences but maybe not as good for the humanities) but considering yourself a failure if you attend UMD is a little messed up.

+2 or what if she attended Carnegie Mellon (#26 on US News list)? What a failure!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it - but to elaborate DD is in a social group where basically every student is expecting to get into a top 10-15 school. DD has solid credentials but is extremely worried she won't be able to get into a top 15. She is ok settling with a lesser school but doesn't wasnt to go to a school lower than rank 25. Michigan, Emory, USC seem to be her top safeties at the moment, does anyone have any other suggestions?

I think the state flagship is usually the best safety. Many people will assume DD went to the state flagship because of money.

If there's something wrong with the state flagship, then an out-of-state state flagship, like the University of Iowa or the University of Minnesota, that's great and fun but not fashionable.

UMCP is the in state option, she absolutely does not want to go there because she thinks she will be labeled a "failure" if she goes there. She will not be applying and plans on taking a gap year if she doesn't get into a top 25. I'm fully supportive and just hope she will have great results.

OP I don’t know your child’s stats but there are tons of high stats kids at UMDCP. (mostly in their honors programs) For example half the graduating class from Montgomery Blair Magnet (average SAT score of 1530) ends up there. There might be good reasons to rule out UMDCP (too big, great for the Sciences and social sciences but maybe not as good for the humanities) but considering yourself a failure if you attend UMD is a little messed up.

+1. UMD is a well respected school. I’m a recruiter for CS jobs and UMD kids tend to do really well. Also, Sergey Brin went to UMD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it - but to elaborate DD is in a social group where basically every student is expecting to get into a top 10-15 school. DD has solid credentials but is extremely worried she won't be able to get into a top 15. She is ok settling with a lesser school but doesn't wasnt to go to a school lower than rank 25. Michigan, Emory, USC seem to be her top safeties at the moment, does anyone have any other suggestions?

I think the state flagship is usually the best safety. Many people will assume DD went to the state flagship because of money.

If there's something wrong with the state flagship, then an out-of-state state flagship, like the University of Iowa or the University of Minnesota, that's great and fun but not fashionable.

UMCP is the in state option, she absolutely does not want to go there because she thinks she will be labeled a "failure" if she goes there. She will not be applying and plans on taking a gap year if she doesn't get into a top 25. I'm fully supportive and just hope she will have great results.

OP I don’t know your child’s stats but there are tons of high stats kids at UMDCP. (mostly in their honors programs) For example half the graduating class from Montgomery Blair Magnet (average SAT score of 1530) ends up there. There might be good reasons to rule out UMDCP (too big, great for the Sciences and social sciences but maybe not as good for the humanities) but considering yourself a failure if you attend UMD is a little messed up.

+1. UMD is a well respected school. I’m a recruiter for CS jobs and UMD kids tend to do really well. Also, Sergey Brin went to UMD[/quote]

His dad used to teach at UMD, a Math professor.

I just want to say OP sounds naive, confused, and does not understand college landscape. Not criticizing her but stating my perception.

- np

[Anonymous]

Wow my high stats magnet kid wants to go to UMD...

It's a good value
Lots of classmates will attend (magnet school)
It's a great school

Based on my own experience with graduates in my family, where you go matters so much less than who you are. Yes you want a strong peer group, but those exist at every flagship school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a hook or hooks? Michigan, Emory, USC aren’t anyone’s safeties. USC is the kind of school parents spend $500,000+ bribery to get their kids in. They were risking some 50+ years behind the bars to do it. And these schools don’t want to be known as someone’s fall backs.

Michigan is a safety for almost any kid that can pay full price.

Our public HS sends at least 30 kids there from every graduating class.

Emory is a completely different category than Michigan.

USC is a waste of money. Who wants their kid paying that kind of money to go to school with Olivia Jade, a school that clearly doesn't care who they admit.

Exactly what I was thinking. Emory is definitely a step above the other 2, and much harder to get into. Their admissions is very unpredictable as they tend to think for "soft" factors.

On a resume, no one will think twice about any difference between Emory, Michigan, and USC. None whatsoever. There may be some add ons that might impress a bit (e.g. USC film school or Michigan Ross School of Business), but they actually favor USC and Michigan over Emory.

To the OP, if your daughter is so interested in prestige only, she really needs to reevaluate her priorities. College should be about learning, forming life-long relationships, and preparing yourself for the next phases of life. Also T-25 is an arbitrary cutoff on top of a questionable ranking system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow my high stats magnet kid wants to go to UMD...

It's a good value
Lots of classmates will attend (magnet school)
It's a great school

Based on my own experience with graduates in my family, where you go matters so much less than who you are. Yes you want a strong peer group, but those exist at every flagship school.

But you’re on a college obsession website. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Many people I knew at Michigan turned down Ivies, including H, Y, Pr, Col, and B (not just D, Pe, and Cor). Some people just prefer Michigan. I did. I can't deny, though, that most people presented with the choice probably would have chosen an Ivy, and most Michigan students didn't have the choice.

I agree Michigan admissions are a little unpredictable. Michigan cared about yield, so if it thinks you're very strong statistically but unlikely to matriculate, you might get rejected.

If you like the Michigan vibe, there are many state universities that are similar but less selective.

If you want something a little smaller but still a big research university, you might check Rochester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many people I knew at Michigan turned down Ivies, including H, Y, Pr, Col, and B (not just D, Pe, and Cor). Some people just prefer Michigan. I did. I can't deny, though, that most people presented with the choice probably would have chosen an Ivy, and most Michigan students didn't have the choice.

I agree Michigan admissions are a little unpredictable. Michigan cared about yield, so if it thinks you're very strong statistically but unlikely to matriculate, you might get rejected.

If you like the Michigan vibe, there are many state universities that are similar but less selective.

If you want something a little smaller but still a big research university, you might check Rochester.

Lol, you are trying a little too hard. Every state uni has students who turned down ivies - usually for FA reasons.