<p>I'm a junior, currently starting to work on my college list. The most important things to me are academic quality and prestige. I want to get a strong liberal arts education, and definitely want to avoid any pre-professional atmosphere.</p>
<p>PSAT: 80 CR, 73 W, 73 M
GPA: 3.93 UW</p>
<p>Major: Computer Science and/or Political Science
Location: anything besides too large a city (needs a campus), don't want to need a car
Region: Northeast or northern midwest; maybe California; nothing south of DC
Religion: can't be overbearing; I'm atheist, but would be willing to meet the challenge of going to a Jesuit school.</p>
<p>Any school suggested should have a beautiful campus (including "old" architecture), a strong study abroad program (esp. Paris), and decent internship opportunities, particularly in politics. I don't want an athletic atmosphere.</p>
<p>I'm looking for reasons to move schools up to list 1 from list 2 and eliminate schools from either list. So, give me your gripes and raves! Also, feel free to suggest others if they fit in, particularly matches & safeties.</p>
<p>Primary List:
1. Harvard University - (apply early) awesome
2. Stanford University - (apply early) awesome
3. Princeton University - (apply early) awesome
4. Yale University
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Early Action awesome
6. Dartmouth College - (apply early) nice campus, mix
7. Georgetown University - Early Action Washington, politics
8. Amherst College - pretentious, LAC, beautiful campus
9. University of Chicago - Early Action intellectual atmosphere
10. University of Vermont - Early Action safety
11. Swarthmore University PA
12. Williams College farming </p>
<p>Secondary List:
1. Colgate University
2. George Washington University
3. American University
4. Washington University in St. Louis midwest
5. Wesleyan University
6. Tufts University
7. Bucknell University PA
8. Carnegie Mellon University - (after EA results) match, tech
9. Skidmore College
10. Carleton College MN
11. Vassar College liberal
12. Haverford College
13. Columbia University über-urban</p>
<p>Martha Coakley went to Williams; that should be reason enough to remove it from list #1. And based solely on current Senate members whose performances reflect well on their alma maters, I’d replace it with Wesleyan, (Michael Bennet; D, Colorado). I would also have said Swarthmore (Carl Levin; D, Michigan) but you already have it on your list.</p>
<p>In one of the threads here are a ranking of schools based on strength of the unddergraduate computer science dept. Take a look at that list vs you schools lists. For instance, I don’t see Brown on your list but their CS department is stronger than many on your list and that will matter to employers and grad schools. And it meets many of your criteria.</p>
<p>Also you might want to look at the different CS programs themselves because the schools really approach this major differently. Sorry I don’t know anything about Poli Sci.</p>
<p>Realize that as you find out more about your schools, your opinion will change. I know that many will even change between application time and acceptance deadline. Some has to do with greater familiarity but also with your growing maturity and self assessment. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Make sure when you talk about Swarthmore it’s Swarthmore College, not University. Maybe look at UPenn?</p>
<p>It’s a shame that you won’t consider schools south of DC, because otherwise Rice University would sound like a good fit. Intellectual, undergraduate focused, in Houston and usually a pretty good deal financially.</p>
<p>I’m a Holy Cross alum and parent of a recent grad. I think HC might match your political science/internship interest.As an indication of its political bona fides, HC has five current members of congress --4 representatives plus Sen Casey of PA–which surely must rank among the highest percentages relative to school size in US. HC has a junior semester in DC program. As far as Junior Year Abroad I believe about 1/3rd of HC students study abroad jr year. My dughter spent that year in Spain. The campus is gorgeous.</p>
<p>Definitely move Carnegie Mellon into list one. They have an amazing computer science program. I would also move Vassar into list one. A friend of mine goes there. From what he says, they have the EXACT kind of environment you described. </p>
<p>So I would say apply to your primary list + CMU and Vassar.
I say that because many of the schools on your secondary list don’t fit well into what you want. For example, GWU does not have the kind of campus you require.</p>
<p>I think realistically speaking you might want to move more LAC’s from list 2 up into list 1; it is very possible for you to get into only 2-3 schools on your current list 1. Be wary of dismissing any schools because they are less prestigious, fame does not necessarily mean better education, happier experience, or even better job placement (although you don’t sound like this is a motivating factor yet). Also there is no Harvard or Princeton early. It looks like you’re taking the shotgun approach with the best of the university and LAC worlds, I would suggest you browse a few of their websites, visit those that you can, and soul search a bit to refine your lists.</p>
<p>*Religion: can’t be overbearing; I’m atheist, but would be willing to meet the challenge of going to a Jesuit school.
*</p>
<p>LOL…nobody at a Jesuit school is going to care that you’re atheist, so no “challenge” will exist (unless, your agenda while there will be to bother those who do believe.)</p>
<p>Is money an issue? Or are your parents willing to pay $50k+ a year for whatever school you get accepted to?</p>
<p>BrownParent: Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve added Brown to my list and will hopefully be able to visit.</p>
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Indeed, but I really don’t want to spend time in the South.</p>
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I imagine the religious aspect might be a barrier. How overbearing is it at campus?</p>
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I’ve heard that CMU can be a little stingy with the financial aid, which I’ll be needing a lot of. My other worry is that there seems to be less opportunities for interdisciplinary studies.</p>
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I don’t see too much of a problem with getting into only 2-3, though I do agree that I need more matches/safeties. Any particular schools you’d suggest to move up?</p>
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Haha, no. I guess I’m just referring to required theology or philosophy classes + general atmosphere.</p>
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Money is definitely an issue. I’ll need a lot of financial aid, so most schools should be full-need and need-blind (or offer a lot of merit aid).</p>
<p>I recommend Haverford if you’re looking to move up a LAC. You mentioned that academic quality is very important to you-- Haverford easily fits the bill with that one. The campus is gorgeous. There is no athletic atmosphere. Move it up :)</p>
<p>Money is definitely an issue. I’ll need a lot of financial aid, so most schools should be full-need and need-blind (or offer a lot of merit aid).</p>
<p>Since you need a lot of aid, then you need to find out if you qualify to get aid. Aid is not awarded by what families say that they need. Aid is awarded based on a qualifying process.</p>
<p>I recommend Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. Also, are there any activities that might filter some schools (eg: particular sport, club, etc)?</p>