<p>I keep reading from different places that American is a top 10-15 Political Science schools in the nation. As I paged through the 2008 college handbook put out by the college board I saw that they are far less selective than the schools I so often see it next to (Georgetown, GW, etc.).</p>
<p>I was unhappy with my SATs and they're in the mid 50.</p>
<p>I'm fairly confident that I could get in. So I guess my question is can it really be the place to be even if it's not as super-selective as other school or does it just get grouped with other top poli sci school because it's in DC?</p>
<p>Yes, particular programs can be that strong even if it's not super-selective. The fact that the school is in DC could account for its excellence in poli sci, but it certainly isn't "grouped" with Georgetown, GW or Catholic. It's considered on its own merits.</p>
<p>Thank you. I live in Illinois, and we have 1 pretty good public school, the University of. I'm not real high on any of the northern, southern, eastern or westerns, but my family has a prepaid tuition program for public schools in Illinois, and therefore tuition to the U of I is paid for, which has been the biggest dilemna I've run into. Is it worth it or not when the University of Illinois is well renowned (mainly for the maths and sciences though) to pay 3 or 40k a year for an eastern private school.</p>
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Is it worth it or not when the University of Illinois is well renowned (mainly for the maths and sciences though) to pay 3 or 40k a year for an eastern private school.
<p>Since you've been so helpful already, what about Washington & Lee, which is next on my list, then maybe Middlebury and Davidson.</p>
<p>If you don't consider American worth it then Allegheny College and Washington & Jefferson probably wouldn't be worth it either, especially when I've heard them compared to Knox College, which is 40 minutes away. </p>
<p>I don't like my chance at Georgetown, and GW is outrageous when it comes to tuition.</p>
<p>If you're going to graduate school immediately after college, go where you will not be in debt. For anything else though, it's okay to be in a reasonable amount of debt, with the definition of reasonable depending on what your job prospects are after college. I would not advise an education major to take on the same amount of debt that an engineering major might. </p>
<p>The problem is that for the most part the universities you're mentioning are not better U of Illinois. As for the LACs you're mentioning, it really depends if you want to be in the small of an environment.</p>
<p>Although it may not apply as much for you with your prepaid tuition system, I would caution others reading this thread to jump to conclusions about cost. Having applied to many of the schools being discussed here, I can tell you that UIUC is very stingy with aid, and gtown, GWU, and AU were all several thousands of dollars less per year (in-state) after FA for me.</p>
<p>american is a GREAT school for what you want to do, and is just so-so for other majors. just because a school is not as selective doesn't mean that it's not "the place to be". don't think about the numbers.</p>