Safety Ivy league?

Is there such a thing as a safety Ivy League for someone with really strong academics and extracurriculars? I'm just trying to create a well-rounded college list and want to find lower-tier schools that still provide a great education.

While there isn't a "safety" Ivy League school per se, it's important to understand that there is a range of selectivity within the Ivy League schools.

The more selective schools, like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, have acceptance rates below 10%, while schools like Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, and Penn might be considered slightly "less competitive" within the Ivy League. However, keep in mind that all Ivy League schools are still highly competitive, and there is no guaranteed safety within this group.

Instead of focusing solely on the Ivy League, consider expanding your search to include other highly respected institutions that may have slightly higher acceptance rates. Schools like Rice University, Vanderbilt University, Emory University, or top liberal arts colleges such as Williams or Amherst might be better fits for the "safety" or "likely" categories on your college list, as they tend to have higher acceptance rates than the Ivies but still provide a top-notch education.

Remember that being a well-rounded applicant with strong academics and extracurriculars is important, but each school has a unique set of qualities they look for in their admitted students. Do thorough research on each institution's mission and values and tailor your application to demonstrate how you would contribute to their community.

And, of course, it's always crucial to have a balanced college list with reach, target, and safety schools to maximize your chances of admission. Make sure that you select safety schools where you would be genuinely happy to attend if that's where you end up; sometimes students underestimate the value of their safety schools and later regret not giving them enough consideration.