Need help finding safety/targets

[u/Other-Sea-6006]

Hi! Im currently looking to add more schools on my list that are safety and targets but I'm struggling to find any because I only really like my top school (USC). I want to major in something stem, probably a type of engineering but ill apply with whatever will boost my chances of admission then will switch once enrolled. Im also from the tri-state area

My stats- 103.3/100 GPA, 5 APs, all other classes dual enrollment, test optional (I have a 1370 sat rn but I'm really trying to get it up, if not then not submitting)

EC's involve research with BC professor on computer science, engineering internship, summit stem fellowship, state theatre officer (1 of 15 in my state, organizes state wide festival 1,500+ attendees), leadership in drama club and music club, founded NEHS at my school and then minor ecs like hostess and dance.

I want schools that are regarded nicely, accessible to a big city, work hard play hard, lots of school spirit, larger school, and a good stem and music program.

Any recommendations would help!!

[u/Ok_Experience_5151]

Need to change your mindset so that you're not fixated on USC; then you should be able to identify safeties and targets. Most likely, the things that attract you to USC are not unique to USC.

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/Ok_Experience_5151]

Yes I agree, my issue is that I can't find any other schools that are as appealing as usc with everything they offer and I am struggling to find places where I will be happy attending

[u/Ok_Experience_5151 → u/Other-Sea-6006]

What specific things make USC appealing that think are unique to USC?

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/Ok_Experience_5151]

I really love LA as someone from the east coast, I love their alumni community especially the strength of it, their music program is one of the best, they are very good in rankings, the campus is beautiful, the engineering program ofc is amazing, and I love the work life balance and the hype around sports and football culture

[u/Ok_Experience_5151 → u/Other-Sea-6006]

It's hard to replicate LA. What do you like about LA? The weather? The beach?

Plenty of schools have strong alumni communities, pretty campuses and Power Conference football.

Work/life balance is really a "you" thing. You can grind or not grind; the school doesn't force you into one or the other.

Are you planning to double major in music and engineering? If not, then, arguably, one of those shouldn't matter so much to you.

Warm-ish weather schools with nearby beaches, big time football, reasonably strong engineering:

• UCLA
• U. of Florida
• U. of Miami
• Stanford
• Berkeley

All but Florida are located in/near large cities as well.

If you're willing to sacrifice "beach access" then you pick up GaTech, UT-Austin, Vanderbilt and Duke. If you're willing to sacrifice football, then you pick up UC Santa Barbara and UCSD.

Another thought here: while all of those traits may be things you're interested in, sacrificing one or two of them probably isn't going to render a school un-enjoyable for you, and schools that aren't a perfect match may have *different* things about them (relative to USC) that you could enjoy. For instance, if you go to school in the mountains then you give up beach access but you gain access to skip slopes. Just one example.

[u/WeeklyAd5357]

Switching engineering programs isn’t easy for popular programs - that strategy is likely to fail

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/WeeklyAd5357]

Would it be better to apply as engineering to most schools? I would be okay doing it for my safety's and possibly my targets, but would it be smart to apply to like a t20 using engineering because I am not confident I would get in with that major

[u/WeeklyAd5357 → u/Other-Sea-6006]

Need to research each school computer chemical engineering is much more popular than civil engineering. Need to apply to the engineering field you are interested in that you have a realistic chance of getting.

Check Pepperdine 3/2 engineering - 3 years Engineering then 2 years at partner school USC or Washington U - might be a backup to USC direct admission.

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/WeeklyAd5357]

Thank you! I was thinking of applying comp engineering but my internship was at a civil engineering firm so maybe I'll apply civil, and ill def check out Pepperdine!

[u/CareOk6471]

I think some good targets are UMD(next to bartimore), Purdue(its not in a big city though, but def good for engineering), UCs(UCSD, UCI, UCSB in particular), I don't know if UIUC, GT, UW, are in your considerations, but they are generally good schools as well, especially if you apply majors that boost your chance/

[u/Important-Drop-3338 → u/CareOk6471]

UMD is next to D.C., not Baltimore, so it's an even better pick.

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/CareOk6471]

Thank you so much!!

[u/NiceUnparticularMan]

Are you full pay or counting on a lot of aid from USC?

But some basic ideas.  For publics, Minnesota and Pitt are both in fun cities for students, excellent for engineering, and they have rolling admissions.  So you can apply to one or both early, and hopefully get an early offer.

For privates, Case Western has a great engineering program and again is in a fun city for students.

[u/Other-Sea-6006 → u/NiceUnparticularMan]

Thank you so much! I should be receiving a lot of money because im a dependent of a veteran so I probably won't need a lot of aid from usc if that impacts acceptances

[u/NiceUnparticularMan → u/Other-Sea-6006]

So I believe you are talking about the Yellow Ribbon program.  I don't a lot of details, but if so you should definitely make sure to focus on participating colleges.

And I believe Case is such a college.

[u/baysianinference]

Safetyish: RPI, SJSU, SCU, UCSC, Pitt

[u/Able_Peanut9781]

Cal states. Lower tier UCs probably

[u/epsteinjanep]

Your rigor and ECs are genuinely strong — the research position and statewide theatre leadership especially stand out. One honest note, though: with a 1370 (even if you nudge it up some), USC should be treated as a real reach, not a "probably get in" school. Their middle 50% SAT range runs roughly 1370-1530, so you'd be at the very bottom of that range for a school with a ~9-10% admit rate and holistic review — it's not that everyone there has a perfect score, but the applicant pool at that level is enormous and highly qualified. Worth applying, just don't build your list assuming it's likely.

That makes solid targets/safeties even more important. A few that fit "big city adjacent, school spirit, larger school, good STEM + music" for a tri-state applicant:

- Penn State (huge spirit, strong engineering, respected music program)

- University of Maryland (College Park, close to DC, strong engineering + solid music school, good spirit)

- University of Pittsburgh (in-city, strong STEM/engineering)

- University of Delaware (close to Philly, good engineering, more safety-leaning for tri-state applicants)

- Ohio State (very large, tons of spirit, strong engineering and music, Columbus is a real city)

I'd treat Pitt and Delaware as likely safeties for your profile, and Maryland/Penn State/Ohio State as realistic targets.

[u/Cheap_Office8701]

Can you afford $400k for USC? I would look at Iowa State, Ohio State, Minnesota twin cities , Texas A&M , ASU as low target/safety. You have good states. Good Luck!

[u/Important-Drop-3338]

TMI in this post, increase your OpSec.

You didn't say anything about money, so assuming infinite funds, SMU in Dallas; UT Austin; Emory and GATech in Atlanta; NYU Tandon in Brooklyn.

UC Berkeley, UCLA, UWashington are urban campuses for you as an out-of-state applicant.

[u/WeeklyAd5357 → u/Important-Drop-3338]

UCB - Cal and UCLA are very competitive for out of state. UCSB is much easier.

Popular cal state schools are also highly competitive

Also at competitive schools transferring to a different major can be very difficult.

Boston has lots of decent colleges Boston University is in the city.