“Safety schools” are one of the many phrases used in a student’s college application process. They are the universities that are considered to have a higher acceptance rate and are mostly less costly, especially if they are in-state. These schools can sometimes have a bad reputation due to the comparison of them to other T-20 schools. However, safety schools often offer the same education as schools with lower acceptance rates, and they can even have the same social scene. These schools are frequently a “backup” option for students if they don’t get into their “dream school.” Dream schools can live up to their name due to their very low acceptance rates, even some with below 10 percent. Safety schools offer reassurance to students that they are still able to achieve a higher education, even if it’s not at a highly competitive school.
Many top 50 schools in the country that are most popular right now have acceptance rates lower than 30 percent. They are very hard to get accepted to, and they have a range of 50,000 to 100,000 applicants per year. They are often desired because of their academics, location and networking. But, it is often that these schools are a “lottery” because of their difficulty in getting accepted. Some students, who may be deemed underqualified compared to the other applicants, may get accepted, while another student with “perfect” stats gets rejected. According to an article by C2 Education, applying to more safety schools allows students to compare financial aid packages from different schools. It gives a feeling of comfort to students when they have options for where they want to be for the next four years.
The process of applying to safety schools can significantly reduce the stress of the college admission process. These schools are easier to get into and often use rolling admissions, according to an article by Collegeraptor, meaning you get an answer much faster than you would from a top-tier university. Since many safety schools have acceptance rates over 80 percent, they provide an almost guaranteed admission into college.
Safety schools can also be great for your budget. Whether it is a community college or a state school, the tuition is usually lower than that of out-of-state or private universities. If you choose a school close to home, you can save even more money by living with your family instead of paying for dorms. Saving money early on can help avoid larger student loans and debt.
Choosing a safety school is usually viewed as a backup plan, but many schools have the same quality of education as many of the T-20 schools. Whether you are at a safety school or a reach, you are learning from the same group of professors who use the same textbooks and follow the same academic standards, according to an article by Portside. The “safety school” label is misleading. It’s less about settling for something less and more about choosing the right place for you. The long-term benefits of academic and financial stability at a safety school cancel out the “dream” factor of a T-20 school.
