<p>Hey, I'm a junior right now in the middle of a college search.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.75 from a nationally known competitive high school, well rounded transcript
3 AP's this year (English Lang, Spanish Lang, Computer Science), 4 more next year (English Lit, BC Calculus, Government, Comparative Government)(all my school allows)
SAT R/M/W 750/700/790
SATII Lit: 710
Some extracurriculars, leadership positions, internship etc.</p>
<p>I'm interested in majoring in Poli Sci/Government most likely, maybe some kind of political journalism. I'm also considering going to Law School. I would like to stay near the east coast (I live in NYC) but that is not necessary. I would also like to go to school somewhat near a big city.
So far I'm looking at Tufts and Wesleyan as top choices. My concert about Tufts from an info session is that students are all expected to do something incredible like an impressive research project, and that the school is too science-oriented for me. I also don't really like pretentious artsy types, so I am concerned Wesleyan is not for me. I want a really intellectual and motivated student body.</p>
<p>If anyone has any thoughts/suggestions please post!
Thanks</p>
<p>i was about to say American Georgetown & GW…dc schools are always great for poli sci
American University’s School of Public Affairs is a especially good program in DC</p>
<p>I’ve been looking at both of those. I’m worried that admissions at Georgetown will be difficult. American seems great for Poli Sci but I don’t know how good their other departments are, and a well rounded education is still something very important for me.</p>
<p>Though it’s not on the east coast, I feel like Macalester might be good for your interests - known for having an “international” focus, and it is urban. If you might open up to the Midwest, it could work.</p>
<p>That said, I feel like Wesleyan and Tufts are actually both very good choices, from what you said. I also second looking at Georgetown, GW, and American.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either choice. If Tufts seems preoccupied with the sciences that’s because any sort of serious scientific research at a major university leaves a gigantic footprint; the need for funding is ravenous; lab space is constantly being expanded. With science, it’s sort of “in for a penny, in for a pound”.</p>
<p>And, I’d say the same thing about Wesleyan; there are probably no more “pretentious artist types” at Wesleyan than there are recruited athletes. It’s hard to have these discussions because one is forced very quickly to reduce a couple thousand warm, vibrant and highly motivated people to tropes and, it’s not really fair to all the jocks who play music, the theater major who is also pre-med, and all the rippling pools of people who don’t fall easily into categories.</p>
<p>My advice would be to apply to both and supplement your list with some of the colleges other’s have suggested. You’re from New York City, so it’s by no means a slam-dunk that you will get into any or all of these schools. If at the end, the choice still comes down to Wesleyan and Tufts, you will be very lucky indeed!</p>
<p>I know many students at Tufts who are not in the sciences but English, International Relations, Jewish studies, and various foreign languages. They are happy and feel their teachers are top-notch.</p>
<p>You are talking about two very different schools, in some ways–the geographies, the size, and resources (one has the resources of a major university, the other does not). Funny about the “pretentious artsy” types you mentioned because three, unapologetic drama queens are going to Wesleyan from my child’s school. I mean to say that they like/do drama and are very hungry for the spotlight.</p>
<p>Based on Tufts stellar International Relations, language requirement, and number of students who do Gap years, I would guess that Tufts selects for a kind of student with a very global/international outlook.</p>
<p>Academically, both are excellent schools and, likely, equally liberal.</p>