Chance me poli sci + recommendations?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Hi ther! I’m trying to get a sense of my chances for the schools I’ve applied to, what I can do, and if I should add any schools.

Major: Poli-Sci

Applied: University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin Madison, UCLA, UCB

Accepted: Depaul, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois, Marquette, University of Illinois Chicago

Deferred: Harvard

Plan to apply: Columbia, Yale, Brown, USC, Stanford, U of Chicago, Northwestern, UPenn, Cornell,

SAT:1300 (only sent to accepted schools, UIUC, and UWMadison)

GPA: 4.47 (as of junior year’s end) 3.87 unweighted

Courseload: I have taken every honors and AP class offered to me since freshman year, senior year i’ll be honest I relaxed a bit but still took mostly college level and AP classes

Grades: All A’s all years except B’s in honors geomtry both semesters, and 2nd semester of honors algebra 2, 1 C in honors algebra 2 1st semester.

AP Classes and Scores:
AP Human Geo: 5
AP Seminar: Did not take test
AP World: 4
AP Gov: 4
AP Lang: 4
AP US: 4
AP Physics: 1 (lmao didnt send it/report it)
AP Euro: In progress
AP Psyche: in progress

Dual credit classes at Eastern Illinois
4 hours Intermediate Spanish 1
4 hours Immediate Spanish 2
3 hours College Speech
3 hours College Comp (in progress)
3 hours college algebra (in progress)
All are A’s
Extracurriculars:
I have worked many political jobs and internships that many cannot have attained.

Senate Primary Volunteer Field Director for a campaign in Iowa

Intern (with school credit) for a Congressional Campaign in Illinois

Paid Organizer for a Congressional Primary in Wisconsin (in Paul Ryan’s former district)

Paid Organizing Intern for the Iowa Democratic Party

Volunteer Illinois Chapter Leader for the organization United Rural Democrats

(All in 2020 election, the org is still ongoing)

Finance Intern for a congressional primary in Illinois

Paid Organizing fellow for a District Attorney Primary in New York City
(2022/21 election so far)

Aside from that, I have been on the speech team for all 4 years, worked at my dads store for forever, work at Chipotle, and do scholastic bowl for 3 years. I am in NHS, and have a few awards from speech tournaments and old debate tournaments (i did debate for 2 years)

If you have any questions let me know! I want targets, and chances, and tips if there are any. I didnt mention hooks/essays/recommendations as like; who knows if they’re good ofcourse i’ll think my recommendations are good and Im sure you dont wanna read my 6 Columbia essays haha. Thank you!

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My question would be - if you end up at one of your already accepted to, would you be ok ? If not, why did you apply to them ?

I would change Wisconsin to TO if you can. Only 27% submitted last year and -1300 is at the 25th percentile. Same with Illinois.

That said your background is impressive otherwise. The UCs of course don’t look at the test so not submitting is the only thing you could do.

So two questions - is there a hook- like URM- yes it matters. But not for UC.

Second…you don’t mention cost. Is there a concern ? If you need aid, what’s your EFC?

I assume you are an Illinois resident so the out of state schools will be pricey, especially the UCs that give little aid OOS.

The other thing is it seems like the rest of your schools are rank based but are they right for you ?

I see you getting into Illinois and Wisconsin. The UCs are possible but for OOS it will be tough as the state mandate is to support im-state. If I had to guess no, but you are strong so it’s possible…say 33/67.

Let me know if you are a URM or first gen and I’ll give u a chance on the rest. Plus let me know your budget requirements and EFC. Thx

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I am fine ending up at Marquette UIC or Depaul just I’d prefer not, I applied because it was free or just as a safety, I regret only my application to Illinois State as I had to pay for it and dont want to go there.

For UWMadison and U of I idk if its 100% necessary to go TO and idk if its too late, but i’ll look into it thank you!
That said your background is impressive otherwise.

Im not really a URM, I’m Albanian but that is just white and I just say im christian even though I say im more into Abrahamism in general (too complicated) because they dont have that option. I talk about growing up speaking albanian, learning english, overcoming a stutter and english as a second language along with some bullying I’ve had due to speaking Albanian in public like in an essay I wrote about a time I was harassed at a grocery store for speaking Albanian, but if they just look at race and religion and sex and sexuality I am no way shape or form a URM.

I have a lot of merit scholarships im applying to, and my efc is pretty high so I am getting like next to none in aid. I am the most academically successful of my family and the first in America to be born and to go to college so my family is waging a lot on me and is helping me a lot.

Idk if they’re right for me; I like some of them but need more research on others. F.e. I used to like Columbia… till I realized i could never live in NYC and i didnt like it too too much haha.

Unfortunately I am also not q first gen as my dad went to the University of Florence in italy (even tho im the 1st in my moms family to go to college and first in my dads to go to college in america). I had to learn the whole new process of american college applications and go through college with no familial background in it, but am not a first gen.

Thanks for the help! Let me know if this helped, or any further questions!

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I am surprised not to see Georgetown or GW in your list based on your interests and ECs. They would be very impressed with your campaign experience. Seems like you got enough of Harvard’s attention based on your ECs to not be denied; I think Harvard would be a good fit for you. It’s high profile, political and requires a tough skin; seems to match you well. Although I am not too concerned re fit for you; you seem like a resilient person who can do well in many different environments; which is why no schools in DC is most shocking to me. The internships and exposure are simply unmatched. You do have a big gap between your “safeties” and your “reaches”.

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DC is not out of my options, there is still time till their applications are due. My friends in the realm of politics just have described it to me as a snakesden where everybody is out for everybody and for my mental health idk if that’s the best, but I also don’t know if they are overexaggerating. Would you suggest GW and Georgetown to be added? And any targets you have in mind, I know my targets are just really U of Illinois and UWM everything else being a reach, a super reach, or I’ve already been accepted. Thank you for the compliments to my experience also, very kind. Appreciate your advice and your help, let me know if you have further questions. Thank you!

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OK - so the reason I ask about cost - finding local scholarships is typically small and not impactful overall.

If your EFC is high (i.e. you’ll get no need based aid) and your parents can’t afford or don’t want to afford $80K a year, then all your still to come schools should be out. Even the UCs will be well over $60K.

If this is the case, you should apply to privates with merit.

I wouldn’t worry about Illinois State - was probably an easy app - so no worries. Everyone applies to a lot of schools they won’t go to - because you only go to one.

So your three you’d be fine with are great schools. So congrats on that.

Because you didn’t research, you have a hodge podge - if you will. One thing you’ll need to do is demonstrate why you belong at each school and that requires a lot of research…to sell yourself on that. Applying RD is tough - because for example, Penn just came out and said their ED class filled, what they expect to be 51% of the total. That’s a trend that’s getting more and more - so in that sense, I’d say no to all. But of all the schools, I’d say USC and Cornell would be your best shots.

If you need merit or lower cost, you might look at - and check admission dates and merit dates - some schools have merit but say you must apply by an earlier date to get it.

American U in DC - if you don’t like NY, you probably wouldn’t love GW or Gtown…you might. Gtown has no merit, just need. GW is like NYU no campus. American is in a suburb - technically it’s still DC (it is), but it’s a suburb feel and you take a subway to the main part of town. Gtown is set off a bit - but access to the main part of the city - even by walking. All are wonderful schools with obviously Gtown being amongst the best. U of Denver cross applies with Chicago and American - and typically gives $30K merit. It’s a solid Intl Relations school.

Macalester - a small LAC in Minnesota - has merit and is strong in poli sci with a global student body. Other LACs - Rhodes in Memphis, Grinnell in Iowa, Gettsyburg in PA, Occidental in Los Angeles. and Sewanee in the TN mountains.

UMN - you applied to Wisconsin, so why not? Strong in Poli Sci. Arizona State and Arizona are both good - U of A will be “affordable” for sure. College of Charleston for a smaller school. Elon, for a smaller private school.

I didn’t includes solid schools like UMD, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and Georgia because you are too late. Well, UGA has RD tomorrow…the others have later RD but I know they take few after early. If you act quick, you can do UGA.

The point isn’t to do too many - the point is to find a solid program. and btw - for poli sci, you can find solid pretty much anywhere- from wyoming to beloit to - wherever.

If you are ok with UIUC and Wisconsin - and they’re both fantastic, no need to add anything.

But i’d assume you’re not getting into any of your plan to apply - not because you won’t - but because they’re reaches for all. Much will depend on how you package yourself to each school.

But I gave you other possible schools you can quickly look at - but only apply to schools that work for you. I tried to give you ones that are more affordable - if that’s important.

For 99.9% of kids, finding local scholarships will not put a huge dent into their college bill. The most money by far comes from the colleges themselves.

If budget is important to you, you need to find schools that are cheaper and/or have great merit - and your list is not that. A few (USC, Chicago) have merit - but it’s highly unlikely.

Best of luck.

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For more suggestions, consider this site, which also was posted on one of your earlier threads:

For a match idea, look into Macalester, as suggested by @tsbna44.

Since your ECs appear to show a hands-on orientation, you may benefit from considering colleges with an available public policy concentration. This concentration emphasizes practical approaches to complex issues:

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GW is a target. Not sure what to say re your friends’ comments re DC. Kind of describes politics to me anywhere, but I am not in that business. If true, it may open your eyes and help you make a more informed decision about career choice. Other target ideas could include colleges in state capitals such as BU in Boston, Trinity in Hartford, Macalester in the Twin Cities, etc. Those should have very good exposure to State and Federal electoral politics. I also second the suggestion of American, but only if you are of the deep blue inclination.

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