Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 20:54     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a high stats D interested in STEM who went through the process. While the above mentioned schools accepted previous PPs kids with above average stats, that does not make them safety schools.

Safety schools are schools that typically have over 50% acceptance rates and are also financial safeties.



Very true!


Not sure I agree with this generalization. It really depends on the school. Alabama's acceptance rate is barely over 50% (53%) but nearly everyone considers it a safety. South Florida is 47%. Wisconsin is 53%. Do you think you have same chance at all of these schools?


Wisconsin at 53% but what is the acceptance rate for OOS only? And what are the stats for OOS? I would suspect the rate is lower and the stats needed, higher. Same for any state school that prioritize in state kids for acceptance.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 20:40     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I always thought of it in relative terms---one person's safety may be another person's reach. Given the numbers of OP's dd, i think many of the schools people are saying aren't safeties would be considered a safety for OP (e.g, Kenyon, Muhlenberg, Denison, Lafayette, Case Western, etc.)


I get your point, but crazy things happen during admissions. My DC is a very high stats kid that was shut-out from schools that *should* have been a safety for him (including Case Western, Northeastern, Tulane, Tufts).

This is why I also subscribe to the PP's post above:

Safeties are typically where your child is not only in the 75th percentile and above in scores, but ALSO have acceptance rates above 50%, and for good measure, is a school you can safely AFFORD.



Respectfully and redundantly, none of those schools are safeties for anyone, and Tufts is so famous for yield protection that the slang for it is "Tufts Syndrome". That's so well known it makes me doubt this is a real post.


PP here. Nope, it’s a real post. My 17 years old wasn’t “in” on the joke. Oh well.


It's not a joke -- it's a fact. A 17 year old shouldn't be expected to know, but someone should have counseled them then.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 19:45     Subject: Safety Schools?
+1. Mostly being wrong about everything.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 19:45     Subject: Safety Schools?
You go to a 70% acceptance rate college so you don't have to pay. DC had a 1580 SAT/4.0UW and is saving a ton of money for grad school and in an amazing honors programs with like-minded peers.

CWU has been brutal this year at our science magnet.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 19:43     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?


When did your kids start college?

My 4.0/1560 DC(graduates HS in 2019) safeties were St Mary's of MD, Wooster and Pitt. Applied EA for each, in w/merit at all.

Also applied RD to Haverford, Kenyon, Middlebury. Assumes all are reaches and college counselor concurred. Perhaps could have increased chances if ED were feasible, but with our financial situation it wasn't.


Haverford and Middlebury do not give merit money - only FA. Given that, applying ED would have been fine if you are either full-pay or need aid. I'm guessing it's the latter - in which case, your "out" would have been insufficient FA.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 19:42     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?


There is something wrong with you.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 17:34     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?


When did your kids start college?

My 4.0/1560 DC(graduates HS in 2019) safeties were St Mary's of MD, Wooster and Pitt. Applied EA for each, in w/merit at all.

Also applied RD to Haverford, Kenyon, Middlebury. Assumes all are reaches and college counselor concurred. Perhaps could have increased chances if ED were feasible, but with our financial situation it wasn't.



My DD with similar stats (1550, 4.0 UW) had a rough admission process. Waitlisted at Middlebury (that felt like a polite rejection). You are smart to have real safeties. We too needed merit and some schools came through (Tulane, Fordham, Lafayette) but some other schools either waitlisted her or were not as generous as I would have expected having gone through it the year before with my DS. It’s very tough on high stats females. I wish you and your daughter the best of luck.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 17:01     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I always thought of it in relative terms---one person's safety may be another person's reach. Given the numbers of OP's dd, i think many of the schools people are saying aren't safeties would be considered a safety for OP (e.g, Kenyon, Muhlenberg, Denison, Lafayette, Case Western, etc.)


I get your point, but crazy things happen during admissions. My DC is a very high stats kid that was shut-out from schools that *should* have been a safety for him (including Case Western, Northeastern, Tulane, Tufts).

This is why I also subscribe to the PP's post above:

Safeties are typically where your child is not only in the 75th percentile and above in scores, but ALSO have acceptance rates above 50%, and for good measure, is a school you can safely AFFORD.



Respectfully and redundantly, none of those schools are safeties for anyone, and Tufts is so famous for yield protection that the slang for it is "Tufts Syndrome". That's so well known it makes me doubt this is a real post.


PP here. Nope, it’s a real post. My 17 years old wasn’t “in” on the joke. Oh well.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:52     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?


When did your kids start college?

My 4.0/1560 DC(graduates HS in 2019) safeties were St Mary's of MD, Wooster and Pitt. Applied EA for each, in w/merit at all.

Also applied RD to Haverford, Kenyon, Middlebury. Assumes all are reaches and college counselor concurred. Perhaps could have increased chances if ED were feasible, but with our financial situation it wasn't.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:52     Subject: Safety Schools?
Hope your kids did not inherit your superior attitude.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:51     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?


I'm sure the kids at those schools are just as happy your kids don't attend. Good grief you sound obnoxious.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:43     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.


Well, in that case neither of my kids ever applied to a "safety," because the schools they used as their "safeties" were UVA, W&M, CWU, Wisconsin. Their stats put in them in the part of the Naviance scattergram where everyone had been admitted to those schools. They had no desire to go to a school with a 70% acceptance rate and we weren't going to pay for that, so what's the point of applying to a school like that for a kid who needs more of a challenge?

What schools are good safeties for the 4.0/1560+ kid?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:34     Subject: Re:Safety Schools?
OP here. Thanks for all your replies. We are visiting Kenyon, Denison, and Wooster this spring and hopefully DD likes them. She liked UVA but obviously it is not a safety. We do need some financial safeties as well, just in case.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:34     Subject: Safety Schools?
Anonymous wrote:Above a certain GPA/SAT/ACT Case Western is a safety at the 2 high schools I'm familiar with - you can see it very clearly on the Naviance scattergram. Look at your school's Naviance instagrams and you'll see the same pattern for other schools.

In my view, that makes it a match. What is obvious on the static Naviance scattergram may be creeping to the right and up a bit each year.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2019 16:29     Subject: Safety Schools?
I wonder how much it has to do with whether prior kids from that school (i.e., with similar preparation) have succeeded at their college in the past.