hi. I’m currently a junior on an online international American high school. At the moment I’m trying to shorten the list of colleges I will be applying to by the end of this year (2019). Having never been stable anywhere mostly more than a year, and coming originally from Europe, it’s quite hard to get a real understanding of how some colleges are perceived from an American point of view. I haven’t decided between becoming an English or Political Science major yet, but am pretty certain that I would like to attend law school. I currently have Lehigh University, Fordham University, and U Mass Amherst as my top three choices. Would love to have a few more suggestions based mainly in Northeast, but open to hearing about other colleges from around the country. thanks 
All three you have selected are considered outstanding.
General reputations. And this doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent in all disciplines.
Massachusetts. State flagship meaning it’s the leading public university in that state. Super strong in cs and ai. Excellent engineering. Nursing is strong and isenberg school of business is really good with a national rep in sports management. The state’s top students will be in the commonwealth honors college. The instate stars attend generally for the financial benefits and quality. Out of state students have to be a notch above academically and always attend for the strength of a particular major. Or they consider it the best if the options after admissions decisions. imho. Western mass and quaint college town. Great food and some good sports to watch.
Lehigh. Private and very selective. Very strong in sciences and engineering. Much smaller and prettier campus than Massachusetts.
Fordham. Private and catholic. Generally meaning there is some level of required “core” liberal arts classes required by all students. Also a strong on campus focus on service to others. Fordham has a great business school. NYC access and location. Much more urban surroundings but a nice campus.
Thank you for answering! Especially for U Mass, the insight you gave is not something I could find on a forum. Would you have any other suggestions of similar colleges? I’m open to anything.
Though not similar in most ways to the schools in your current group, a school like Kenyon would be excellent for fields such as literature and government. Denison and Dickinson might be others to consider.
Okay, great. Never heard of it before but will definitely check it out. thank you
Seconding Kenyon, Dickinson, Denison.
A bit less selective than these three, Kalamazoo, Ithaca, Knox, Eckerd.
For political science, UMD CP/Honors college would be a better bet than UMass.
(Or did you confuse UMass Amherst and Amherst college for political science?)
No, I am looking at UMass as Amherst college is a bit too selective for me. I have been recommended UMD from my advisor and am definitely looking into it. Haven’t heard of any of the colleges you mentioned but will have a look. thank you
Ok, that helps. Yes, Amherst college is highly selective.
As your online, do you know anything about SUNY Binghamton University?
In terms of a prominent statistic pertaining to Binghamton University, of the many public universities in the Northeast, BU registers the highest standardized scoring.
Okay good to know. For academics, lets say English or PS, is it a good school for liberal arts or is it more of a STEM based college ?
Yes, Binghamton offers strong programs in those areas in its Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, which essentially constitutes the intellectual center of the university.
Great! Thank you so much, it’s nice to talk to people who have great perspectives about all these different colleges.
I’d say SUNY Geneseo is the other excellence center for political science/English among SUNYs. SUNY Albany honors third.
Yes I have heard of Geneseo, my AP English teacher went there. Haven’t researched much about the other SUNY schools but will investigate.