Help defining safety schools

I've been hearing the term 'safety schools' a lot while researching college admissions. Can someone explain what safety schools are and how to choose them for my college list? Thanks!

Sure, I'd be happy to help! Safety schools are colleges where you have a very high likelihood of being accepted based on your academic and extracurricular profile, typically because your accomplishments significantly exceed the average accepted student's profile at that particular college.

When choosing safety schools for your college list, you should consider these factors:

1. Acceptance rate: Generally, safety schools have higher acceptance rates. A school with an acceptance rate of 75% or higher is typically considered a safety school, although this can vary depending on your profile.

2. Academic profile: Compare your grades, test scores (if applicable), and class rank to the average accepted student's profile at each college. If your academic credentials significantly exceed the college's average, it could be a potential safety school. Keep in mind that schools might not publish class rank data, so you'll likely have to gauge from the other metrics.

3. Major and interests: Make sure that your safety schools offer degree programs, minors, and extracurricular offerings that align with your interests and career goals.

4. Fit and preferences: While a safety school may not be your first choice, you should still feel comfortable attending if admitted. Consider factors like location, size, campus culture, and available support resources when evaluating fit.

It's also important to remember that no school's admission is completely guaranteed, so it's wise to have a balanced list of colleges, including safeties, targets (where your profile falls in the competitive range), and reach schools (where your profile is below the average accepted student's).

To identify specific safety schools, you can use resources like the CollegeVine college search tool, which allows you to filter by acceptance rate, and then compare your profile to the college's average accepted stats.

In summary – safety schools are colleges where your chances of acceptance are relatively high based on your personal profile. When choosing them for your college list, consider factors like acceptance rate, academic profile, major/interests, and overall fit/preferences. Good luck in your college search!