<p>I'm wondering what one would consider a good fallback for University of Chicago should I not get in. I'm looking for a University with a similar intellectual mindset (chicago school as opposed to saltwater like Harvard/Yale), a focus on theory, research, and critical thinking (as opposed to pure econometrics or job based approach) and finally, a school with a reasonably large amount of prestige. In other words, University of Chicago but a tier down for the sake of fallback. A strong political science department is also a plus as I am considering a double major/minor in the subject.</p>
<p>My SAT's are projected 2260 (haven't got results back yet, March 12th test), I have a 4.0 unweighted, but my extracurriculars are lackluster.</p>
<p>Reed- ehhh, thats dropping a little too far. I don’t operate soley on lists or quantitative factors, but Reed rarely even registers in economics on any scale, besides perhaps a passing reference. Also prefer big research to LAC</p>
<p>University of Minnesota-Twin Cities- Have heard some good things about this college, but prefer Private to public.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas though, I will definitely look further into both of them. Sorry if I’m appearing too nitpicky, if any colleges you have in mind don’t fit my rigid criteria, don’t mind. Those are just the ideal circumstances, any ideas will be helpful.</p>
<p>get a copy of Ruggs Recommendations
[Welcome</a> to Rugg’s Recommendations](<a href=“http://www.ruggsrecommendations.com/]Welcome”>http://www.ruggsrecommendations.com/)
WE found it very helpful as it lists majors and the colleges that offer them and ranks those colleges within each major into different levels by selectively [ quality of the program based on reputation among college counselors] . An index in the back was incredibly useful, as it listed all of the following information by college- majors offered, average SAT scores, # of students, and other important data. We found it invaluable in the search to find a range of colleges that offered great programs in 2 completely different, diverse majors for my son, whose stats were very close to yours[ he was accepted at Chicago and 13 other colleges.] Its worth ordering if your school doesn’t have one- not found in bookstores- Mr Rugg [ a former college counselor] self publishes the book.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for less-selective, top research universities in Economics, then your choices are pretty much all going to be public. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Berkeley, these are big names in academic Econ (with first three being big in freshwater econ)</p>
<p>The only other freshwater, ‘Chicago style’ schools I can think of might be Carnegie Mellon or Rochester. Is there a reason you’re opposed to public schools?</p>
<p>I second Reed College. It may be your best alternative if you want a “similar intellectual mindset” and small classes in a somewhat less selective school. Macalester and Grinnell are two other possibilities (in case you change your mind about LACs).</p>
<p>I agree with Rny2 that less-selective, top research universities in economics are pretty much all going to be public. Personally, I’d recommend almost any top ~30 LAC over almost any public university to someone attracted to the University of Chicago (assuming cost is not an issue).</p>
<p>In absolute numbers, the top of the list is dominated by Ivies and large public universities. After adjusting for institutional size, the top of the list is dominated by LACs. After adjusting for economics program size, you get something of a mix (but again, with a disproportionate number of LACs).</p>
<p>By PhD production in economics, normalized for economics program size, the top-performing moderately selective coeducational institutions include Illinois Wesleyan, Earlham, Reed, Grinnell, Trinity University, Loyola University of Chicago, Miami University, Ithaca College, University of Miami, and Macalester. Of these, the non-LACs are Loyola Chicago, Miami University, and the University of Miami. Miami University is also a top performer by absolute numbers. Grinnell, Macalester, and Trinity University (all LACs) are also top performers after adjusting for institutional size (but without adjusting for economics program size).</p>
<p>^ If you are competitive for one of a handful of other, more selective schools, Chicago might indeed be the fallback. Chicago does lose many cross-admit battles with Ivies, Stanford, etc. (though for economics in particular it has one of the very top programs in the country).</p>
<p>Finding a good alternative depends on what attracts you to Chicago. These are the essential academic elements, in my opinion:</p>
<p>1) Socratic instruction by top faculty in small round-table discussion classes focused on primary source materials;
2) A “Core” curriculum designed not by individual departments but collaboratively for the whole College;
3) Total focus on the liberal arts and sciences;
4) A first-rate library system and other research facilities.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry guys, I realized that I completely forgot to specify economics in the opening post as the major I wish to pursue >_<. I hope you managed to get the gist of it from my other post, but anyway I’m really sorry about that.</p>
<p>I am largely opposed to public schools because of the high cost they would incur as an out of stater. I am very limited on funds, so getting accepted into a private college with a fairly large endowment is preferable (which is also why I am less inclined to go for LACs, whose aid packages will probably be significantly less) I am a california resident so I could go to UC Berkeley, but quite frankly it is not a good match for me as far as student community or intellectual mindset. My current fallback is UCSD (i’m a local) which I have heard has a fairly good econ depart, but once again I am seraching for a fallback that is more similar to University of Chicago, which seems perfect to me in every way.</p>
<p>For those saying U Chicago should be a fallback, let me be clear, I’ve already researched it and given acceptance letters from the ivies and U Chicago, i would take Uchicago any day.</p>
<p>Ok, how about Claremont Mckenna in SCal? It has an extensive list of Economics related majors. The Claremont Consortium allow students to cross register at any of the 5 colleges for classes. And with 5 colleges in one small area, you’ll have an UG student population about the same size as Chicago’s, instead of a small isolated LAC. They also offer generous FA. Are you planning on going on to Grad school? If so, then it won’t hurt you at all [ re grad school acceptance] to go to a top notch LAC , like Reed or CM, instead of a U.</p>
<p>Here are some of the MAJORS offered at CM in your areas of interest:
Economics
Econ-Accounting
Environment, Economics, and Politics
Ethics
Financial Economics
International Relations
Management Engineering
Philosophy
Philosophy and Public Affairs
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Robert Day Scholars Program
Robert Day School Master’s Program in Finance</p>
<p>note- my son , who was SURE that he was a “U of Chicago” student, if ever there was one,[ he was accepted there] , decided to go to a Calif U instead, weather being one of many factors in his decision.</p>
<p>My DS loved Chicago, was admitted EA, and will likely attend. He was also fond of, in terms of slighly lesser selectivity, Mac in St. Paul, and was admitted. It will be very difficult for him to say “No” to Mac, so I urge you to take a look. I loved it, he loved it, and there we are…</p>
<p>Tanker, LAC’s such as Williams will have financial aid packages that are equal to or better than Uof Chicago. If this was your only reason for not including LAC’s as your Chicago fallback then you should expand your search to include LAC’s.</p>
<p>Does Shimer admit at 16? Grade on examination only? (yes, I know about early entrants. My point being that not all of Hutchin’s Plan for Chicago was the best idea; in addition to establishing the core, he also destroyed our alumni relations and savaged the endowment)</p>
<p>I agree with onecircuit ^^ that need-based FA at top LACs will be as good or better than at the University of Chicago. A recent CC thread (which I’m having trouble locating) discussed top LAC econ programs. CMC, Williams, Swarthmore, and Haverford were all up there close to the top, along with a few others I can’t remember off the top of my head. Of these, Swarthmore and then probably Haverford come closest to the University of Chicago in terms of intellectual atmosphere, IMO. But admission to these schools isn’t necessarily going to be easier than at Chicago:</p>
<p>School / middle 50% SAT CR+M / acceptance rate</p>
<p>University of Chicago / 1370-1560 / 27%
Williams / 1330-1530 / 20%
Swarthmore / 1340-1530 / 17%<br>
Haverford / 1300-1480 / 25%
CMC / 1310-1510 / 16%</p>
<p>Macalester was also pretty high on the list of best LACs for economics, and a bit less selective in admissions:</p>
<p>Macalester / 1290-1450 / 46% </p>
<p>As for public universities with top econ departments, keep in mind that the University of Minnesota pegs its OOS tuition rate at $4,000 above the in-state rate (so currently $16,669). A student with the OP’s stats would almost certainly qualify for the university’s Honors Program and very likely be eligible for some amount of merit aid.</p>