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Many applicants who are targeting top ranked programs wonder if they should consider adding a lower-ranked school to their list as a \u201csafety school.\u201d Should you? And is there such a thing?<\/p>\n
A safety school is one where you are highly competitive, that is strong in your area of interest, and where you will probably be accepted if you present your case well, but is not as competitive as higher ranked schools. The school supports your particular goals, but doesn\u2019t have the overall brand value of some of the more competitive schools.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important not to fixate on a \u201cstar\u201d name. If a school offers the type of program you\u2019re looking for and you are a good fit in other ways, you should genuinely think about going there. Your application to a safety school needs to be taken as seriously as one to a more competitive school. Slacking off and submitting an incomplete or sloppy application<\/a> will lead to your rejection even from a school in this category.<\/p>\n First, separate out professional and educational goals by asking yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n 1. For professional goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 What you do you want to do after you receive your degree?<\/p>\n \u2022 Are graduates hired in high numbers for the positions you would like to obtain?<\/p>\n \u2022 Do the companies that you would like to work for recruit on campus?<\/p>\n \u2022 Is the alumni network strong in your field?<\/p>\n 2. For educational goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Does the curriculum teach you what you want to learn in the way you want to learn it?<\/p>\n \u2022 What do you need to learn to pursue your chosen professional path?<\/p>\n \u2022 Are professors at the school prominent in your area of interest?<\/p>\n First of all, rankings aren\u2019t everything. But if you know that your top choice schools are the only ones for you (for any reason \u2013 academic, professional, geographical, etc.), then your decision is made for you.<\/p>\n In some disciplines and degree programs, it is hard to talk about \u201csafety schools\u201d at all \u2013 if you\u2019re applying to PhD programs<\/a>, your \u201csafety\u201d strategy might be adding a couple of master\u2019s programs to your list, or making a plan to get additional research experience before reapplying if your first applications don\u2019t pan out.<\/p>\n If you conclude that no safety schools meet the above criteria<\/a>, then you shouldn\u2019t bother applying to any. If you have a top-school-or-bust attitude, then that\u2019s fine \u2013 just know that your chances of getting in will be lower and you may need to reapply next year (and if none of the less competitive schools are for you, then this is the right move for you).<\/p>\n However, many of you will find programs where you are much more competitive and that do support your goals. They will be your insurance policy if you are applying with a less-than-perfect profile to programs with cut-throat competition. They may also prove to be more generous with financial aid. If you\u2019d be thrilled to attend any of the safety schools on your list, then you should certainly apply to them. (In general, if you wouldn\u2019t be happy to attend a program on your list, then you should immediately cross it off your list!)<\/p>\n Whether or not to apply to a safety school, like so much in admissions, is determined individually. There are no across-the-board rules. Use the above criteria to guide you as you decide where to apply.<\/p>\n And work with one of our experienced consultants if you need more personalized assistance. Our expert advisors can guide you through the entire admissions process \u2013 from choosing where to apply to helping you write awesome admissions essays to prepping for your interviews, and everything in between! Explore our Admissions Services<\/a> for more information on how we can help you get ACCEPTED.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 From Example to Exemplary<\/a>, a free guide This article<\/a> originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\nHow do you decide if a school supports your goals?<\/h2>\n
What if you know you only<\/em> want to go to a top ranked program?<\/h2>\n
Are you guaranteed admission at a lower ranked school in every field?<\/h2>\n
So what should you do?<\/h2>\n
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\n\u2022 Can a Grad Consultant Help You Succeed?<\/a>
\n\u2022 Can You Get Into a Top Grad School if You Didn\u2019t Attend a Top University?<\/a><\/p>\n