<p>What college has the most rigorous and/or prestigious undergraduate history program? I'm really interested in studying in history, and I will probably be going to grad school, if money is available. What colleges have the best undergrad program? Really the only institution I've heard who has a really good program is Gettysburg College, but I know a few alumni who really despised the College. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>There are many schools with strong history programs, so I'd suggest you tell us a bit more about what you are looking for beyond the particular major: do you want large, small or medium? A liberal arts college like Gettysburg or a research university like say Johns Hopkins? Any geographic preferences or preferences about urban, suburban or rural location? Will you need financial aid or are you hoping for merit money? Do you like the idea of an active Greek (frat/sorority) scene or would you prefer something else? How would you describe yourself (i.e., liberal, preppy, conservative, artsy, etc.)</p>
<p>Finally, give us an idea of what you will have to offer -- your GPA, estimated test scores, etc. There is no point in folks recommending schools that you don't have a shot at, or that you will be over-qualified to attend. With that said, however, there are EXCELLENT history programs at colleges of all levels of selectivity, so think a bit about what you're looking for, fill us in on your potential grades/test scores, and I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions.</p>
<p>any ivy league school will suit your history needs just fine.</p>
<p>High School Junior</p>
<p>GPA- 4.2 weighted
SAT- 750 Verbal 560 Math 690 Writing
- For SAT II's, I will be taking the History test
AP- Taking US History, English this year
-Will be taking Gov't and Econ, English, Calc, and Spanish next year
NHS Member</p>
<p>I am looking for a very strong history program, regardless of location or size. I know the Ivy League schools all have strong programs, but I need to bring my Math SAT's up to even think about that. However, money is a bit of an issue</p>
<p>Also, I am looking for a study-abroad program. I am looking for a program to either the UK or Ireland. </p>
<p>Any suggestion from anyone would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>Once a time I knew the complete rankings, but all I can remember is that Yale is #1. You can check the NRC rankings online for a fee if it's super important.</p>
<p>I have a doctorate in history and taught college for a number of years. I'm going to suggest an undergrad school that you've probably never considered.....Kalamazoo College. Your stats should get you into the school and get you the aid you need.</p>
<p>I did my undergrad there and went on to Johns Hopkins and Brown for grad school. Kalamazoo has a strong history program and virtually everyone goes abroad their junior year. I went to the University of Wales at Cardiff where I studied history and archaeology and participated in the Cadbury/Camelot dig. I had other friends at Aberdeen, Glasgow, London School of Economics, and University College, Dublin. I had many friends at Kalamazoo go on and get doctorates in fields like history, English, and Poly Sci. The school also has a neat "career service" quarter in the spring of your sophmore year. I went to work in London just because I was into British history; my boyfriend at the time worked for a Member of Parliament--talk about seeing history in action! </p>
<p>When you are looking at rankings for individual departments, just remember that those are actually geared to grad students. Some departments that are highly ranked are very good to undergrads; others really make relatively little effort to help them. There have been a number of studies done that show small LACs actually send a higher percentage of their students on to get doctorates that many of the large research insitutions, including the Ivies. You may be surprised to learn that, in many of these studies, Kalamazoo is actually tied with Brown for the percentage of students that they send on to Ph.D. programs.</p>
<p>I am an Ivy alum so I can certainly appreciate the Ivies. However, it bothers the heck out of me that so many students focus their eyes strictly on such a small group of colleges when there are so many more schools out there that will give them what they are looking for. </p>
<p>You haven't given us a geographic or size preference (and I'm not sure what you're unweighted gpa is) or told us if you're looking for merit money. However, I'm going to assume your SATs will increase by a bit your senior year. Here's just a few other possibilities, a mixture of matches and reaches: U Chicago (great history dept.), Muhlenberg College, University of Virginia (especially if you're into colonial history - my husband went here for undergrad before he went on to get a Ph.D. in history), Vassar College, Union College, Colorado College, Emory University, Johns Hopkins (it's easier to get into Hopkins in history than if you were a pre-med), Grinnell College, Trinity University in San Antonio, Vanderbilt, Indiana U - Bloomington (probably a safety but good in history), Colgate.... This list could go on and on. It would help if you could give us more specific preferences.</p>
<p>BTW, you mention taking the SAT history test... Will that be US or World History? You might want to consider the US History AP.</p>
<p>Good luck in your decisions!</p>