This is my first post on College Confidential. I live in New England and only look at schools from Maine to DC I currently am looking at majoring in either Political Sci or History in college. I will be graduating next spring (2016). I have always loved History and Politics and would like to continue studying about them in college. I have already taken the SAT and ACT. I received decent scores of 1600/2400 and a composite of 23 respectively. My current GPA is around a 3.3. I took two AP exams last spring and got a 5 in US History and a 4 in English Language. I have a rough list of schools that I am looking at but I would like some help with finding good Pol Sci and History departments. What should I look at in a school? What makes one school better than another. Which major would benefit me better in pursuing a law degree?
How much can your parents afford? No specific major impacts a law degree. Just get a good GPA and LSAT score.
These are usually strong majors everywhere, given the glut of qualified instructors on the market. So the question should be, what school would be the best fit for me given that I can afford it.
I would say Gettysburg but it might be a reach. It is test optional though, so you don’t have to submit your ACT or SAT. Clark might be an option too
I am looking at Colleges that cost less than 40K. No need to waste so much money on an undergrad degree. So any good Poli Sci or History programs at schools at or under 40K. Note 40K is after grants etc.
You will find that the sticker price of a school is not the net cost depending on your family situation. State schools for out of state students could cost twice as much as private schools. The schools with the lowest net cost are often the most expensive based on the advertised cost. Even for instate schools this can be true.
It’s not as simple as you think. Gettysburg for example could be 20k or less despite a top line cost of 60k. At Stanford for even families with 125k income, tuition is free. Have your parents run the calculators.
If you are a resident of one of the states in your search area, then check out the public colleges in that state.For your stats and interests, they should offer the best bang for the buck.
I have looked at state universities and colleges in my state and I do consider them for their low prices but, do they offer me a good education to pursue a future law degree? And BatesParents2019 my family income is 100k+ and we receive no financial aid from any school. We have done countless net price calculators and nothing financial ever comes from it. The only help I get from colleges and universities are from the grants they give to me, which are middle of the road at best. Does the family that makes 125K+ a year have no assets? Because I have never been offered any financial aid.
State schools don’t give much. Much of this depends on where you apply. The more selective private schools give the most aid. Thats what sort of sucks about the system.
I did the Gettysburg calculator assuming 125k of adjusted gross income, 50k of non retirement assets and only one child in college and the cost of attendance was $35k
The Catholic schools have a lower starting number usually so they may be something to look at. They are generally strong in humanities. St. Michael’s in Vermont shows a net cost on average for about 75% of all students to be 24k. St. Anselm is about the same.
Allegheny, Drew, Goucher, Muhlenberg, Providence, Washington
If you increase your test scores a bit, also consider Franklin & Marshall, Hobart & William Smith
Either major would be fine for a law degree. (In fact, major is irrelevant for law schools. Not a single law school in the country cares.) What’s important is how well you do in your program! So, study something that interests you and excites you because you are most likely to achieve in that subject.
Yes that is the problem. My parents have created and worked for a large asset fund. It is a lot more than 50K. And yes I have looked at St Mikes and Saint Anslem. St Mikes is a good choice as I live in the area and attend a Catholic School they give me an extra 5K off of tuition, making tuition at around 30K very do able. Saint Anslem is actually my #1 choice as of right now. I love their NH Institute of Politics, their tuition for me is around 38K, which is okay but I wish it was lower. I’m planning to visit there again. A major con with Saint Anslem is that there is no dual enrollment with the college and a law school as far as I know. I was looking at SUNY Albany, Siena and College of Saint Rose based off of their ties to Albany Law. Saint Anslems I don’t think has that. But I love vibe at Saint Anslem. I am also visiting the other schools later this summer to see if the school has a good feeling to it.
@pointoforder I’ve never heard of those schools besides Drew and Providence. I get mail from each of them. I have already discounted Providence, would cost 49K a year after grants and what not. But should I look into the others?
@MathieuB How would you compare the St. Mike’s and St. Anselm campuses?
Yes, definitely.
Yes. University of Maine, University of New England, St Joseph’s, University of Southern Maine etc. all offer solid educations.
“But should I look into the others?” (#11)
@MathieuB Yes, you should.
@BatesParents2019 I like the Saint Anslem campus more. I’ve grown up around the Saint Mikes campus and want to experience something different. But to compare the two, both are relatively the same, expect Saint A’s has the NH Institute of Politics.
@TheDidactic I am making a trip up to Maine later this summer. And will be looking at UMaine and University of So. Maine. I’ve been to Umaine before and really liked it.
@MathieuB My younger son is keenly attracted to St. A. because of ratio of females to males.
Okay, I was under the impression you were from Maine. So those schools I recommended are good, but look at schools in-state in order to save money financially and still get a solid education.