<p>I think for history at the undergrad level you’re probably better off at a good LAC or a smaller research university where it will be easier to get to know the professors and work under their close tutelage; really serious work in history requires grad school, so what you’re really looking for at the undergrad level is a good solid liberal arts education, the opportunity to get your feet wet in history studies and real history research, and the opportunity to develop relationships with mentors who will help you get into a good graduate program. Most good LACs will have solid history departments. Here I’d look at the Ruggs list. Schools like Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Carleton, Grinnell, Haverford, Middlebury, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams I’d put in the “reach” category, just because they’re extremely selective and your stats, while good, are not going to make you a sure thing. In the possible “match” category I’d put schools like Brandeis, Bucknell, Centre College, Colgate, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Hamilton, Kenyon, Lafayette, Lawrence, Reed, Union, Whitman. In the “safety” category I’d put maybe a Kalamazoo and maybe something in the UC system, say UCSB?</p>
<p>Now for each school on that lengthy initial list, take a look at the school’s website, specifically the faculty profiles in the history department and the list of course offerings in that field. Some will likely appeal to you more than others. Use that information to start winnowing down your “wish list” to a more manageable length, say 3-5 in the “reach” and “match” categories. You’ll want to visit these schools at some point to get a better sense of them, but as you’re just a rising junior there’s plenty of time for that.</p>
<p>And keep in mind this could all change as your hypothetical SAT scores are replaced by real ones, and as your junior-year grades come in. It’s also not too late to strengthen your ECs. Depending on what you do in your junior year, you could move significantly up this scale, stay the same, or move down. That’s the main task at hand.</p>