General Politics/International Politics major, with strong Japanese lang programs/study abroad?

College Search & Selection
1

I am moving away from picking a creative major that is focused on world (culture, environment, etc) building, and towards majoring in a real world engagement field. Because of a life-long personal interest in governments, leadership, and law theory (albiet usually grounded in fictional examples), I have decided to look for colleges to major in poly sci.

I am most interested in programs that have a heavy focus on understanding governmental systems [their origins, effects, actions] and the people surrounding them [both as authorities and under the rule of]. I would prefer a program that has a strong emphasis on historical study of governments & their actions from which to draw experience.

I would also like to have the opportunity to take archaeological & cultural anthropology coursework, but this is not a deal breaker.

Also very, very important to me is the opportunity to continue studying Japanese language. I deeply desire to continue practicing the language, and have a dream to study abroad in Japan for at least a semester, if not an entire year. Depending on the major or minor a college offers, I would consider double majoring in Japanese for no other reason than intention to take the courses for elective interest anyway.

Perninent personal information:
Transfer student with most of her “generals” coursework done between 5 AP tests of 4-5 and 1 heavy courseload year at a non-flagship state college. 1 semester of personal interest study of equine science at a community college.
College GPA of 3.97 (3.98 without equine science, grrr.). Honors student at state college.
Very high financial need with complicated parental history.
ACT in 2011 was 31 overall, 10 in writing.
Residency in Minnesota, but very interested in moving out of state (monetary concerns with OOS cost, though).

Other credentials that might earn me some note:
Small resume of leadership in club settings.
Basic French reading ability.

Campus preferences:
Small to Medium, preferably no more than 10,000 students.
Prefer to live in dormitory setting.
Prefer to study among less modern setting, and definitely not a concrete-covered urban one.
Prefer a campus with enough of a social scene NOT devoted to drugs, drinking, hooking up, etc. This must be at least an avoidable part of the campus if present.

Would anyone have any suggestions for schools that would be reasonable for me to look into based on the above? I do not think I would be able to get letters of recommendation to get into ‘reach’ schools.

2

Would love some direction. So far I’ve found programs of possible interest at Wilamette, Amherst, Hamilton, and UoWisconsin - Madison, but the first three are a hair out of the pricerange (lol) and the last extremely large…

3

I used the SuperMatch tool from the left side bar.

I don’t know what the price range is…but you can consider Carleton, Middlebury, Colby, University of Rochester, Brandeis, (don’t know your gender but) Smith, Reed, Vassar, Whitman, University of Richmond and Tufts.

4

I can’t believe I didn’t include that. My price range is mazimum 25,000 per year including room and board. I am not able to take out enough loans to do more than that due to lack of parental support/cosigners.

5

Looking through your list, it seems basically all of them are almost triple what I could reasonably pay for. Thank you for the attempt, but I need something less prestigious.

6

No problem! You might have to compromise on either the Japanese thing or the size of the school and look in-state if that is the case. I understand your desire to move out of Minnesota but for now you might have to stay there. :stuck_out_tongue:

7

I will keep looking for opportunities in Minnesota with programs I’m interested in. To be honest though, we basically don’t have anything for good politics OR Japanese, though. Oh well.

8

I know you weren’t going for big school but it seems like University of Minnesota would be a good match. It’s instate, your public flagship (so decent FA), has political science and Japanese (under Asian language studies), and study abroad programs with Japan. Is Macalester or St. Olaf doable?

9

I have looked into transferring to the UofM before, but they require transfers to enter into a specific major upon applying for which there are requirements of specific coursework at the college level already having been completed. Unfortunately, because I stuck mostly to generals at MSUM, I don’t have any of those already complete and do not have a living situation atm that would let me take college coursework before living on campus somewhere.

I was actually told by a visitor from Macalester my senior year of high school they were not interested in me at all due to my lack of ECs. I distinctly remember her surprised and unimpressed face when I asked her about my chances with my scores (but lack of ECs). I cannot consider St. Olaf for personal reasons I will not disclose, sorry.