Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 15:12     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:Relatively new and don’t know all the current lingo, but looking to help DC identify “realistic” and “safety” schools based on the criteria they’ve figured out so far.

Stats: Public HS. 3.98 UW, 1530 SAT, 10 APs, including Calc BC, Bio, Physics, and Physics C. Three sport Varsity athlete since 10th (but not recruited- wants to play Club or intramural only.) A few other interesting/selective ECs but nothing national-level or extraordinary.

DC wants a traditional leafy campus with a lot of school spirit and high level sports to watch. Mid-size (5-8k undergrad?) Not limited geographically. Suburban/near a city (but not in the heart of one) would be a plus. Broad interests, no major in mind yet. Full pay.

Reaches/Lottery (will likely ED one):
Duke?
Northwestern?
Cornell?
Vanderbilt?

Would love some ideas for more “realistic” targets and “safety” schools that fit this vibe.


University of Richmond
Boston College
UT Austin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Southern Methodist University
Vanderbilt University
Duke
Northwestern
Tulane
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 15:07     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:Relatively new and don’t know all the current lingo, but looking to help DC identify “realistic” and “safety” schools based on the criteria they’ve figured out so far.

Stats: Public HS. 3.98 UW, 1530 SAT, 10 APs, including Calc BC, Bio, Physics, and Physics C. Three sport Varsity athlete since 10th (but not recruited- wants to play Club or intramural only.) A few other interesting/selective ECs but nothing national-level or extraordinary.

DC wants a traditional leafy campus with a lot of school spirit and high level sports to watch. Mid-size (5-8k undergrad?) Not limited geographically. Suburban/near a city (but not in the heart of one) would be a plus. Broad interests, no major in mind yet. Full pay.

Reaches/Lottery (will likely ED one):
Duke?
Northwestern?
Cornell?
Vanderbilt?

Would love some ideas for more “realistic” targets and “safety” schools that fit this vibe.



What does your DC want to study? I would start from there to make sure the school has that major/field. Great stats though. My DC had same SAT and at the time of application through Junior year had 6 APs with 5-5s. then during senior took 7 APs with all 5s. DC made it to nationals for chemistry Olympiad and several state, local, international piano competition placements in top 3. DC got into Cornell, Northwestern in RD for engineering.

Good luck!!!


Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 15:06     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Are there any schools with high level sports and 5k-8k undergrads?
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 15:00     Subject: Re:Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Can we ban the word Bucknell of the sub?
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:53     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
UDenver for safety.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:49     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Bucknell is a tad smaller than the range you posted, but it checks most of your other boxes and is popular with sporty kids. Huge intramural sports scene. Most fraternities field teams, and freshmen (who can't rush until their second year) join teams with guys in their hall or classes. The alumni network is amazing, too. Most grads end up in lucrative jobs on The Street. Like at most LACs, demonstrated interest matters, especially for high stats kids, so he should definitely visit.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:45     Subject: Re:Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:U of Miami is a target/likely with those stats, in a suburb near Miami, mid-size, good culture for sports.


Might also look at Tulane as a likely with a lot of demonstrated interest. Richmond and Davidson if willing to go smaller. All are tricky at RD, though, so I’d definitely target some larger public universities that are less likely to yield protect a high stats applicant.


Tulane hits most points, if your DC is ok with the weird gender imbalance. Not a huge sports culture, but their football team has been in bowl games for the last two years. The location, campus and size are on point. A likely in EA if you visit and show lots of interest.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:34     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Safety - Delaware Honors?
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:32     Subject: Re:Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:U of Miami is a target/likely with those stats, in a suburb near Miami, mid-size, good culture for sports.


Might also look at Tulane as a likely with a lot of demonstrated interest. Richmond and Davidson if willing to go smaller. All are tricky at RD, though, so I’d definitely target some larger public universities that are less likely to yield protect a high stats applicant.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:32     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:Lafayette is smaller but sporty (D1) and borders a city (the city is Easton, PA, but still…)

Lehigh came immediately to mind. Exactly the target size, adjoins a small city, sporty.


My similar sats kid loved Lafayette. It's going to be her safety.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:31     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:UF checks most of the boxes though larger student body


UF has near 42k undergraduates, and over 60k students! That's not just a "larger" student body, that's like one of the very largest student bodies!
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:28     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Lafayette is smaller but sporty (D1) and borders a city (the city is Easton, PA, but still…)

Lehigh came immediately to mind. Exactly the target size, adjoins a small city, sporty.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:26     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
This profile just doesn’t exist. Maybe Syracuse?

For mid size, try Catholic or Jesuit schools in order to get that sports/school spirit vibe. Villanova is a great choice, but not a slam dunk. BC and ND are extremely selective, so not targets.

If you’re flexible on size, then OOS publics are great targets or safeties, and have the full rah rah experience. Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado Boulder.

Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:24     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Small schools with big sports is a big ask. Leafy campus near a city doesn't make it easier. Richmond? Pitt? Neither falls into your size range, but either/both might offer the size/vibe your DC actually is looking for.

Yeah I always tell parents to get their kid to pick a lane. The “medium size” college camp is a very small group, and you should have preferences between big and small learning environments
Agree, but it broadens a bit if you're cool with Catholic schools. Places like Dayton or Marquette could be great likelies for OP's kid if he finds the religious aspect neutral or better.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2024 14:21     Subject: Help DC Identify Realistic Target and Safety Schools
Anonymous wrote:Small schools with big sports is a big ask. Leafy campus near a city doesn't make it easier. Richmond? Pitt? Neither falls into your size range, but either/both might offer the size/vibe your DC actually is looking for.

Yeah I always tell parents to get their kid to pick a lane. The “medium size” college camp is a very small group, and you should have preferences between big and small learning environments