<p>So I'm in a bit of a spot. My top three schools I've applied to are Penn, American U and Wake Forest.</p>
<p>Wake Forest and Penn clearly have a better academic reputation than American and I'm honestly in love with Penn. However, I want to become a lobbyist and I've been told that's all about connections as opposed to education. Should I be admitted to all three, I honestly have no clue how to decide.</p>
<p>I do live in the DC metro area, so a summer-time internship is a reality if I don't go to American.</p>
<p>But in all honestly, what's more important, self made connections or relying upon the prestige of your degree and the education you got while earning it?</p>
<p>You do not need to rely on location to make connections. Penn and Wake Forest will have PLENTY of connections in the DC area. Your education is important, but also American is like RIGHT THERE so it would be a tough decision. Do you think you might be bored at America? It's a much easier school than Penn or Wake Forest.</p>
<p>The fact that GW doesnt have a campus was a big turn off - I'm not ready for that yet. And as for GTown...I had a pretty bad experience with their undergraduate admissions office that totally made me decide not to apply (it was my first choice until late October).</p>
<p>I DO think I would be bored at American. Plus I didnt like that the entire campus rushes off into the city on the weekend.</p>
<p>Wherever I go for undergrad, I want to do a year or two on Capital Hill as some sort of underling, then apply either to law school or GTown's political management graduate program.</p>
<p>Penn is my dream school, as I mentioned in my OP, but I doubt I'll get in. I havent visited Wake, but it seems too Southern for my like. And I've applied to UMD, but it's just so BIG.</p>
<p>I wish there wasnt a drawback to every school I've applied to</p>