<p>Hi, I'm a senior from Utah trying to see what colleges would fit best. I plan on either double-majoring in political science and Chinese, or taking a major in political science and a minor in Chinese. In terms of non-academics, I'd prefer a school with a few thousand people, not a commuter school, and where drugs/partying isn't the only entertainment. What would be the best schools for that? So far looking at Georgetown, BYU, Columbia (reach), Notre Dame, and UMich. Any suggestions of ones to add or strike from my list? I have a 3.8+ GPA, top 3% in course difficulty at my school, 34 ACT, and I'm a National Merit Semifinalist</p>
<p>You might also be interested in University of Wisconsin. It’s a lot like University of Michigan, just a bit less prestigious. They have a very highly ranked PoliSci program.</p>
<p>Isn’t that one of the top party schools, though? Can non-partiers feel comfortable too?</p>
<p>Middlebury has an amazing Chinese department. Another majori option if international studies with Chinese as your language and political science as your substantive focus.</p>
<p>Gtown is strong in IR, not politics. Of course their politics dept is quite good, but you can find many better programs. </p>
<p>You say you don’t want party schools but you have Notre Dame and UMich? Okay…</p>
<p>You have Columbia, so I’ll assume the NYC location is good and since you listed a state school, I’ll assume you aren’t concerned with FA. </p>
<p>So, I would recommend NYU (very strong Politics dept.) and GW (if you want a safety)</p>
<p>Furman University has a strong poli sci department as well as Asian studies. They offer a summer in China experience for incoming freshman. Students study in China for two weeks before their freshman year, then continue their studies for a few years back at Furman. The cost of the Chinese experience is free, as long as you continue with the program. Seems like a program you might enjoy.</p>
<p>“Gtown is strong in IR, not politics. Of course their politics dept is quite good, but you can find many better programs.” </p>
<p>Maybe, but I liked that it had the programs I wanted in a good location. </p>
<p>“You say you don’t want party schools but you have Notre Dame and UMich? Okay…”</p>
<p>Really? I thought they weren’t as much of party schools. Oh well, haven’t submitted applications there yet anyways.</p>
<p>“You have Columbia, so I’ll assume the NYC location is good and since you listed a state school, I’ll assume you aren’t concerned with FA.”</p>
<p>I prefer more urban universities, especially since I want to attend LDS institute, which is not offered in most rural areas in the east. I’d love to go to college in New York. And I am planning on applying for financial aid. </p>
<p>“So, I would recommend NYU (very strong Politics dept.) and GW (if you want a safety)”</p>
<p>Thanks for the recomendations. They fit very nicely, just wanted to clarify myself further.</p>
<p>One of the best Chinese program in the country with Global Gateway Office located in the heart of Shanghai, China.</p>
<p>[Home</a> | The Ohio State University MidWest US-China Flagship Program](<a href=“http://chineseflagship.osu.edu/]Home”>http://chineseflagship.osu.edu/)</p>
<p>"China Gateway opens</p>
<p>With the official opening of the China Gateway in June 2010, Ohio State has made progress in its collaborative efforts in the Greater China area. Ohio State continues to move forward building relationships in Shanghai, not only with the academic community, but with local government officials, Ohio-based businesses in China, and our alumni.</p>
<p>The Gateway is the result of the university’s global initiative to expand the reach and impact of its many resources with a physical presence in strategic areas of the world. When the Gateways are fully implemented, they will serve as a multifaceted location for recruiting, networking, teaching, business consulting, and executive training.
OSU China Gateway Summer Internships"</p>
<p>[Office</a> of International Affairs - China Gateway](<a href=“http://oia.osu.edu/china.html]Office”>China Gateway | Office of International Affairs | The Ohio State University)</p>
<p>Top-notch ‘Political Science’ Department tied with NYU and ranked ahead of Cornell & Northwestern.</p>
<p>[Best</a> Political Science Programs | Top Political Science Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/political-science-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/political-science-rankings)</p>
<p>Four years in a row, #8 ‘Up-and-Coming’ on USNWR, currently leading by President Gordon Gee, former President of Brown & Vanderbilt (Best President in the nation by Times). The School also offers some of the best facilities in the nation, such as the newly renovated Thompson Library, RPAC & Student Union…, etc.</p>
<p>[The Ohio State University Travel Companion Journals](<a href=“http://www.bfhstudios.com/blog/tag/the-ohio-state-university/”>Assorted eLearning Infographics – BFH Studios)</p>
<p>[First</a> Year Experiences | Rankings | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/first-year-experience-programs]First”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/first-year-experience-programs)</p>
<p>[Up</a> and Coming Schools |Top National Universities | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/up-and-coming]Up”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/up-and-coming)</p>
<p>[E</a>. Gordon Gee: The Big Man on Campus - The 10 Best College Presidents - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1937938_1937934_1937914,00.html]E”>http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1937938_1937934_1937914,00.html)</p>
<p>In addition, Ohio State is located in the vibrant Capital City of Columbus which provides ample political internship opportunities for the students.</p>
<p>[“Buckeyes</a> in the Statehouse” - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>[ExperienceColumbus’s</a> Channel - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/ExperienceColumbus]ExperienceColumbus’s”>Experience Columbus - YouTube)</p>
<p>Princeton Reviews: Best Values 2011; the school also provides National Buckeye Scholarship for the qualified OOS students.</p>
<p>[Scholarships[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Last but not least, Ohio State Honors College provides students with small class teaching / learning environment and is widely accepted as one of the best Honors Programs in the Midwest. </p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/]Honors”>http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/]Honors</a> & Scholars: The Ohio State University](<a href=“Merit-based scholarships - The Ohio State University”>Merit-based scholarships - The Ohio State University)</p>
<p>LOL. I always feel I’m either right above or right below Sparkeye on these Chinese suggestion threads.</p>
<p>Oberlin. Great Chinese with lots of opportunity to live/teach abroad and good Poli Sci.</p>
<p>You should consider Claremont McKenna. It’s small (~1,200 students) but it’s part of the Claremont Consortium with four other colleges, the campuses of which are contiguous. Overall I think the student population is around 5,500.</p>
<p>It’s very focused on politics and similar fields and very highly regarded in those areas. Additionally, the school has very good connections in China for study abroad and that sort of things. I don’t know the specifics, but you can probably find more info online.</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross-great campus 1 hour from Boston.</p>
<p>If you are looking at International Relations (which is technically a sub-set of IR) then check out Tufts. You can see the Boston skyline from campus, they have a strong language program, great study abroad programs, and the school is small relative to others (They have about 5,000 undergrads. The school used to be a liberal arts school but is now a national university. It’s the only national university in the little ivies).</p>