Safety Schools Recommendation

[Anonymous]

DC in a good student 3.9 and high 1500's SAT interested in engineering/science based major. Hearing about how this past year has been very unpredictable with admissions. We are having trouble deciding on "safety" schools. Some schools I would think would be safety (flagship state schools locally UMCP or UVA - the stats showed it may not be a sure thing! Any advise on selecting safety schools?

[Anonymous]

GMU is great for STEM and accepts almost anyone

[Anonymous]

Iowa State
Purdue (if FYE is not designated closed)
Clemson

[Anonymous]

NC State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC in a good student 3.9 and high 1500's SAT interested in engineering/science based major. Hearing about how this past year has been very unpredictable with admissions. We are having trouble deciding on "safety" schools. Some schools I would think would be safety (flagship state schools locally UMCP or UVA - the stats showed it may not be a sure thing! Any advise on selecting safety schools?

Are you in DC, MD, or VA? If you're in MD I'd say UMD is a decent safety. UVA is not a safety for anyone in the DMV, including VA. Don't forget Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC in a good student 3.9 and high 1500's SAT interested in engineering/science based major. Hearing about how this past year has been very unpredictable with admissions. We are having trouble deciding on "safety" schools. Some schools I would think would be safety (flagship state schools locally UMCP or UVA - the stats showed it may not be a sure thing! Any advise on selecting safety schools?

Are you in DC, MD, or VA? If you're in MD I'd say UMD is a decent safety. UVA is not a safety for anyone in the DMV, including VA. Don't forget Tech.

Agree with the PP. With those states, MD seems likely. At worst, your son would be offered spring admission in letters and sciences which still allows the option of taking courses in the fall. For out of state, I would think VaTech is an option as well. My son got in with lower stats, but with no merit money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC in a good student 3.9 and high 1500's SAT interested in engineering/science based major. Hearing about how this past year has been very unpredictable with admissions. We are having trouble deciding on "safety" schools. Some schools I would think would be safety (flagship state schools locally UMCP or UVA - the stats showed it may not be a sure thing! Any advise on selecting safety schools?

MD and UVA are def. likely.
Va Tech is a sure thing if you are aiming for CS. It's a safety otherwise.

The other schools - GMU, JMU, etc are safeties.

[Anonymous]

It's amazing how every DCUM poster has a high 1500s SAT or 35+ ACT - this must be the smartest bunch in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NC State.

+1. Strong in engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC in a good student 3.9 and high 1500's SAT interested in engineering/science based major. Hearing about how this past year has been very unpredictable with admissions. We are having trouble deciding on "safety" schools. Some schools I would think would be safety (flagship state schools locally UMCP or UVA - the stats showed it may not be a sure thing! Any advise on selecting safety schools?

Are you in DC, MD, or VA? If you're in MD I'd say UMD is a decent safety. UVA is not a safety for anyone in the DMV, including VA. Don't forget Tech.

I take it you live in Va. MD folks would tell you UMD is not a safety for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how every DCUM poster has a high 1500s SAT or 35+ ACT - this must be the smartest bunch in America.

Numbers don't lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GMU is great for STEM and accepts almost anyone

Not anymore. GMU accepted only 80% in 2021. I know a lot of very unhappy families that didn't get in . . . and didn't get into Virginia Tech . . . and didn't get into UVA . . . and W&M. Remember also that the public high school college advisors direct students to the schools where there interests lie and where they are most likely to get in, so the selectivity numbers on publics are always high. That's their job. It makes no sense to support a B student applying to W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GMU is great for STEM and accepts almost anyone

Not anymore. GMU accepted only 80% in 2021. I know a lot of very unhappy families that didn't get in . . . and didn't get into Virginia Tech . . . and didn't get into UVA . . . and W&M. Remember also that the public high school college advisors direct students to the schools where there interests lie and where they are most likely to get in, so the selectivity numbers on publics are always high. That's their job. It makes no sense to support a B student applying to W&M.

B student can be accepted at W&M depending on other factors.

[Anonymous]

Penn State has a rolling admission and you can apply in early October and hear by the end of October. It is a good one to have in your back pocket and IME, helps destress the entire senior year.

I highly recommend Purdue- my eldest went there and it was excellent for him. The out of state tuition is fairly close to in state UVA for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Have him look at Lafayette, Bucknell, and Lehigh. All three have good engineering programs. He will need to show demonstrated interest, particularly at Lehigh.