Likely/Safety School Suggestions for Econ/Poli Sci

College Search & Selection
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Son has 3.8 UW/4.6 W GPA from highly ranked HS, mostly AP/honors classes throughout HS, 35 Superscore ACT. He is applying ED to Wash U in St. Louis (legacy). Other schools on his reach list are Emory, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, U MIchigan, UVA, Case Western, Cornell. His Possibles are Brandeis, American and Current Safeties are CU Boulder (we live in Colorado), IU Bloomington and U of Wisconsin Madison.

He is interested in Econ and Political Science majors but not decided fully. He wants a medium size school preferably but is open to something larger. He does not want a small school. Urban campus is a definite no but otherwise open to location. We don’t expect any financial aid but are always hopeful about merit. As we are getting to the EA deadlines that coincide with the ED deadline he needs to firm up his list. Any input appreciated. Thanks!

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A student with this combination of interests may want to research schools with an available public policy major. William and Mary, for example, could represent a match for your son.

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Thanks. I don’t know if William & Mary would be safety, more of a fit into the “possible” category for him in my opinion. I’d love some more likely options for him as he does not seem that jazzed about his choices of CU, IU and Wisconsin. I want him to be excited about going to a school even if it is a safety option.

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So urban campus is a no - and he’s chosen a lot of “larger” schools.

The first one that came to mind is Denver. Because it’s not downtown, I wouldn’t call it urban - but I’ll concede you might think so. But then Vandy is urban - much moreso…as is Case Western…both set a mile or so from the main city. Syracuse would be similar.

When looking for mid size and merit - well IU and Wisconsin are not mid size. IU will bring merit and would be fine for poli sci.

Michigan is unlikely to bring merit and is HUGE.

Elon has become popular and while merit is small, their tuition is less. U Rochester could work - it’s in a city but not really (like Denver).

A school like Miami Ohio is rural (small town) but not far from society - and it’s large but under 20K large - and has great merit. So that might be a fit - and it’s accessible (50 mins from the Cincy airport).

If you’d want to be near a capital, American U is in DC - but suburban - but for poli sci and internships it could work. It’s not urban like GW or Gtown - especially GW which is uber urban. It has a suburban feel.

A U Richmond is another - it’s address is Richmond but it’s not really in Richmond. May be a tad small.

Truman State is well respected and would bring merit. In the middle of nowhere.

I’d almost look to capitals - because there could be great internships to access - but you’ll typically either have larger schools or smaller schools but often urban schools.

But an FSU in Tallahassee - large school - not really urban - but you can do a living / learning community, as an example, to make the school smaller.

Someone mentioned W&M - it’s gorgeous, it’s awesome but merit unlikely. Miami Ohio is a larger version - and has great merit. It’s not the same pedigree but when you’re on campus - it feels similar.

Hope that’s a little help.

Edit. I already see u listed American.

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I have heard great things about Miami of Ohio - that might be a good one for him. He is all over the place when it comes to the size of the school but I think a bigger school that can be made to feel smaller through residential colleges or honors colleges would work just fine for him.

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Here’s what you can expect $ wise from Miami.

It’s wide ranging so assume the bottom and be happy if more come in.

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Wisconsin isn’t a safety as an out of state student. It is also huge and Econ is one of the biggest majors.

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Just wondering if this is a typo, because I’d consider many of those you listed urban, including WUSTL.

Normally I suggest Pitt as a safety because they do rolling admissions. If a student likes them, they’ll know they’re in quickly and can just wait on other acceptances, but if you don’t want urban, scratch that. It is larger, but not that much different than some of those you listed.

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Here are a few schools that your family might want to consider:

  • Butler (IN): 4500 undergrads in the state capital of Indiana. Depending on what you mean by “not urban” this could work (it’s not like GW or BU).

  • Hope (MI): 3100 undergrads. This is part of the Colleges That Change Lives association and has had some very positive reviews here on CC in the past year (Hope’s CTCL profile).

  • Loyola Maryland: 3800 undergrads. Again, depending on how “urban” is not desired, this is another possibility, and it has good proximity to the nation’s capital for special events.

  • Siena (NY): 3500 undergrads. And in political season, I hear a lot of the “In the Times/Siena poll…” Poli Sci and econ appear to be two of its biggest departments.

  • SUNY at Albany: 13k undergrads and offers both political science and public policy majors (and a large econ department). This school is in a suburb of New York’s capital.

  • SUNY Geneseo: 4500 undergrads. Your son’s interests are well-represented here and is likely to have a bit more of an intimate experience that at bigger state schools.

  • College of New Jersey: 7k undergrads. A few miles away from New Jersey’s state capital, but not what I would consider an urban school. Some call it a suitcase school, but others argue that it’s not.

  • U. of Nebraska – Lincoln: 20k undergrads. If your son decides he wants to leave the state but not go too far, this flagship is in Nebraska’s state capital but isn’t as big as Madison or Ohio State.

  • U. of New Hampshire: 12k undergrads. So long as New Hampshire remains an early primary state, this place could be very interesting for a political science major.

  • U. of Denver, already mentioned, I think would be another good choice to consider.

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When I say urban I mean in the city itself. Like an NYU, GW type campus. I went to WUSTL myself and consider it very suburban.

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Pitt might be too urban then. It’s right next to CMU, so there’s a little bit of a college bubble, but not compared to some other schools like U Rochester. If you were closer you could visit to see, but it’s not like it’s a short drive or flight away. Many students like the school, and many more love the rolling admissions aspect.

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Definitely not a safety school but UChicago is one of the best for Economics. Consider ED2 to Chicago if the ED1 to WashU doesn’t work out.

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Would schools of religion work? Portland, Gonazaga, LMU, SCU, etc.

When you say in city but not in the city - why not Denver? Great merit.

Syracuse - ehhh on merit.

Butler is mid size and solid.

I think the trick for merit is - you have to go where you outpreform.

Arizona too big - but doesn’t feel too big and could do Honors.

U Miami (fl) or Tampa which is a pure safety.

SUNY Albany (capital) or Binghamton.

UVM

Kansas will have merit - a it big. Wyoming, K State, etc. UN Reno.

Edit. I see @AustenNut me ruined a few such as Butler and SUNY A previously. Sorry bout that.

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Since you’re in Colorado, you may want to look at WUE reciprocity schools for safeties.

U of Utah has very similar racial/ethnic demographics to CU Boulder, but a less affluent student body. The Honors College has its own very-spiffy housing, and particularly robust programming, with year-long Praxis Labs that grapple with a variety of societal issues and could enhance a poli sci or econ degree. The location in the state capital offers a lot of opportunities. It would be very affordable, between merit money and either the WUE discount or the path to residency after the first year.

Others WUE schools to look at could include UNR, Western Washington U, Cal Poly Humboldt

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He wants a school with a decent sized Jewish population so a school with a religious (Christian) affiliation is probably not a great fit.

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Economics at UChicago is a double fit program. First, the core at UChicago has to be a fit. Second, the Econ program is way more math heavy. It is not for everyone.

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I’m counting 13 schools on his current list. That’s pretty robust already. Agree with the point made above about Wisconsin for OOS applicants – it’s no safety.

Also, American will be following your student’s demonstrated interest very closely, so be sure to open emails and attend virtual info sessions. Have you toured?

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Ok. I get it. I’m Jewish too.

Mid or mid large. CU Boulder would be great but large.

So Western Washington…up and coming and you may get WUE.

U of Oregon, a bit large, but strong Jewish life.

I mentioned u of AZ already. Honors dorm is AWESOME.

Cal Poly - a bit large but strong Jewish presence.

DU

Kansas I mentioned - large Jewish population. Much smaller but a Jewish life is Mizzou.

It’s very big but he’d go dirt cheap - lots of Jewish students is Alabama. Smart kids abound. They have auto merit and the most NMFs in the country. Check out the Bloom Hillel. His tuition would be $3-4k. Strong presence.

Delaware

AU already mentioned.

Syracuse already mentioned.

Miami Ohio safety and U Miami match. Rochester slight reach

SUNY Albany and Bing

UVM

FSU but a large student body but not campus.

Elon

Crazy to say but take a look at SMU - Hillel lists it as a top.

DU and American heavily cross shop each other so the answer might be in your own back yard, especially if he has interest in international politics.

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I am basing the “safety” aspect of Wisconsin on the Naviance admission profile for his HS - he is at/well above the scores/GPA for kids admitted from his school. Yes he is opening emails, etc from American but no we have not visited and do not plan to unless admitted.

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For any schools that require demonstrated interest, you should sign up for a virtual info session or two - sometimes they offer others related to a major. Yes read the emails. Yes play the videos even if you walk away.

We went to the AU preview day. It’s Hillel is impressive. We worked it hard. My daughter had a higher gpa but lose act 32). We got $15k. Was thinking $25k.

Denver $30k. Miami Fl $25k and Miami Ohio $21k but that was the bottom of the band that year. Was 2021.

The auto merits to consider if not too big are Arizona and Alabama for Jewish life. FSU is reasonable to begin with but if your son got in, he could get an OOS waiver. It’s large but getting in a living community can shrink that.

My daughter is at Charleston and loves the Jewish life. We are from Nashville and she’s had none. Check out the Charleston Fellows and International Scholars. It’s mid size but urban.
Not NYU/GW urban as it’s a smaller city and has a campus. But it’s urban so probably not a fit. But the education within the program has been awesome. Last week Dennis Ross was in and my daughter went to 3 sessions. She’s interfaced with different diplomats through the Scholars program. So it might be one to look at (but only if he went after those programs).

Beat of luck.