<p>Re: UNC Asheville, son had 34 ACT and 3.9, and got $0 merit money. While it’s still relatively affordable for out of state, don’t count on any merit money with your current stats. </p>
<p>Thanks for the opinions on Sewanee and Earlham, @NROTCgrad!
Has anyone heard of Goucher College of Clark University?</p>
<p>Also, I was wondering if Bates College (Maine) would be a safety or a match for me.</p>
<p>Bates would be a match due to admission rates/selectivity. It’s in the same category as Vassar, roughly.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about excessive drinking, I’d remove Sewanee.
Earlham would be a great safety.
Whitman is a great school, roughly at the same selectivity level as Dickinson. It’s much less offbeat than Hampshire though. If you like Hampshire, definitely look into NCF.
Goucher is great for political science and well-located for that subject.
Clark has energetic, artsy students. The city it’s in isn’t the best but the college makes up for that.</p>
<p>Ok, you want to get a Ph.D. in History/Poli Sci, and you are in state for UW? Those are two top top top undergrad departments, with phenomenal faculty, research opportunities etc. My kid is a double major, and most of his classes, past the intro/intermediate classes, are 15-30 kids. In intro and intermediate classes, if you are admitted to Honors, you can do Honors section which is essentially a seminar with the prof (instead of a TA). UW History and Poli Sci majors can go anywhere. Advising is what you make of it – my kids is deluged with opportunities from his departments. </p>
<p>As the admissions folks at big schools like to say, you can make a big school small, but . . . . Yes, UW is a big party school, but between Chadbourne residential community, Honors programs, and the extra curricular activities you get involved in – interning at the Capital, Mock Trial, etc – the opportunities are really quite incredible. I would not dismiss it out of hand. </p>
<p>Willamette is across the street from the Oregon State House. My son got a nice aid package from them with significantly lower stats than the OP. I’m not sure whether it offers as stimulating an intellectual environment as you’d seek. Occidental might offer a decent aid package. They offer very few, but the OP’s stats could gain him one. They have some unique opportunities, such as the “Campaign Semester,” wherein upperclassmen can spend the first part of a fall semester working on a campaign, and then return to campus and report on it for a full semester’s credit. They offer a semester at the UN, also. My son is a first-year student at New College (which is why I can speak authoritatively on their financial package). He plans to major in Poli. Sci. or Public Policy. He has been very active in the gubernatorial race there, and hopes to line up some valuable experiences during the '16 Florida presidential primaries (will coincide with his January Independent Study period) and elections. I think you will get into some very selective colleges, and you have obviously studied your options for Matches and Safeties scrupulously. Good luck!</p>
<p>A little bit more about UW – greek life is around 10% of the undergrad population so if you are in the middle of it, it is omnipresent but if you aren’t part of it, you can ignore it pretty easily. </p>
<p>And instate, tuition, books, room & board and misc, is all under $25k. </p>
<p>An academic and financial safety which just happens to have top 20 departments in the OPs field. Worth another look. </p>
<p>@Midwestmomofboys: I know, but I just feel sort of alone and lost there…I agree, UW is great for History and Poli. Sci., but it’s the atmosphere I’m concerned about.</p>
<p>Your comments regarding UW Madison are totally off base. Poli Sci and History there is excellent. Recent Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright winners. Dismal advising?? In the past 3 years they have hired dozens of additional advisers and Poli Sci and history have their own UG staff. They probably send more grads to grad school than all those small schools combined.
Greek life huge at UW? Now I know you have bad info. Greek membership is around 13%. For those keeping score that’s about 1/8 of the undergrads. </p>
<p><a href=“Undergraduate Awards & Recognition – Department of Political Science – UW–Madison”>https://www.polisci.wisc.edu/undergrad</a></p>
<p><a href=“Awards – Department of Political Science – UW–Madison”>https://www.polisci.wisc.edu/awards</a></p>
<p>Cicero – I understand. Part of it is just a gut reaction, and just like we couldn’t make our kid love LACs, even though we thought he would thrive, you can’t make a small school kid love a big one. </p>
<p>At the same time, it could be worth another look at a time when you see/do some of the smaller stuff. My kid did a visit session with Letters & Science College and with L&S Honors, I think. Then, in the spring admitted student all day visits, there were opportunities to tour Chadbourne and other Residential communities. Maybe check out what is posted on the History and Poli Sci websites to see if there are interesting conferences or other events coming up that you could coordinate a visit – if you are not a long way away as an instate student. </p>
<p>Not a safety by any means, but with you interests, I’d advise you to consider applying to Claremont McKenna College (my alma mater). The D.C. semester on capitol hill with professor Jack Pitney (frequent NPR political commentator), the PPE program styled after Oxford’s are right up your alley. They have excellent financial aid and some merit aid. When I went there the students were very politically engaged. The profs. were excellent!!! They have this thing called the Athenaeum where you can sign up to have dinner and hear speakers and even have intimate receptions with writers, politicians, etc. Best of luck, I’m sure you’ll find a great college!</p>
<p>Another possible safety College of Wooster.</p>
<p>@barrons: I totally agree that the University of Wisconsin is great for Poli. Sci. and History. But I am more concerned with the overall fit. I know you are an ardent booster of all things U.W., but I have lived in Madison for some 17 years, most of my college-bound friends and acquaintances have gone there, and I have been taking history classes there for two years. It’s great and all but the sense of intellectualism (as in learning for the sake of learning) and community- save for at football games- simply isn’t present. </p>
<p>@Earthmama68: Thanks for the suggestions! I just checked out Wooster’s website today and I really liked it, especially because of its “Independent Study” requirement. I think I may go with them.</p>
<p>
Most of this is found at liberal arts colleges, but not nearly all of them. Rarely at any state universities (or rather you would have to look hard for it).</p>
<p>You might find the College of Wooster lacking in challenge, considering your SAT score. It seems more like a “super safety.” In other words, too safe. Consider visiting campus too. Personally, I did not like the Wooster campus.</p>
<p>@Earthmama68 mentioned Claremont McKenna College. A great suggestion, considering your interests. Not sure it would be a safety for you, but I strongly second the suggestion nonetheless.</p>
<p>@NROTCgrad: Which ones might be more challenging? </p>
<p>Cicero, the fact that you have grown up in Madison seems reason enough to not use UW as a safety. I totally get it.</p>
<p>Ohio Wesleyan University is probably the most demanding “safety” around. Has a reputation for being “easy to get in, but hard to stay.” Also gives great financial aid. You would get at least $28,000 in merit aid at OWU, and perhaps a full tuition scholarship. The deadline for being eligible for merit aid is November 30th. OWU also has tons of diversity, and activist spirit. The campus is not especially pretty, but it is well maintained and has up to date facilities. A serious school with, yes, learning for the sake of learning.</p>
<p>@Cicero1 - My D attends Sewanee and loves it. I don’t think being liberal, gay or Northern would be an issue. It’s a very tolerant campus. It is, however, in the middle of nowhere. Unbelievably beautiful campus with a lot of outdoor opportunities, but the nearest urban area, Chattanooga, is about 45 min. away. My D loves the setting although it may not be for everyone. </p>
<p>@NROTCgrad: Aren’t OWU’s average test scores and GPA lower than Wooster’s?</p>