Looking for good colleges with strong IR/PoliSci programs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am looking for colleges with strong IR/PoliSci programs, preferably somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic or the Northeast, but location doesn't matter that much. I am considering both LAC's and bigger schools, but I would prefer a college with less than 15,000 undergrads. The school should also have a pretty good financial aid program for families making around $100-120,000 a year. I would also prefer a more urban environment, but it doesn't matter that much as long as it's not rural.</p>

<p>Here are my stats :
Hispanic Male from Maryland
GPA: 3.65 (UW)
3.1 Freshmen year, due to many deaths in the family and my father being sent to jail, which I am writing my main essay about, got 2 C's in Health (ugghh evil teacher) and Biomed
3.85 Sophmore Year
4.0 Junior Year</p>

<p>Rank: Top 10% at an average public school, however I'm in the competitive biomedical sciences program, which is very difficult and very competitive.</p>

<p>Class Rigor: Most rigorous, have taken all honors, and AP World, APUSH, AP Calc AB, AP Psych, and AP Eng Lang, 5's in all, am taking AP Calc BC, AP Physics B, AP Comp Gov't, AP Eng Lit, and AP Spanish Lang this year.</p>

<p>SAT I: 2370, 800 CR, 800 M, 770 W, essay 11
SAT II: 800 Math IIC, 800 World History, 780 Chem</p>

<p>EC's: Varsity Tennis, hopefully captain this year, Academic Team Captain, and some awards from that, write in school's literary magazine, NHS, National Merit Scholar SF, National Hispanic Scholar, AP Scholar with distinction, 800 hours of volunteer work, at hospital and teaching summer school, Johns Hopkins CTY program, and some more that I don't feel like listing.</p>

<p>Recommendations: Should be very good, at least one should be excellent</p>

<p>Essays: Writing main essay about my father going to jail and how that affected and changed me, should be very good</p>

2

<p>Georgetown and Johns Hopkins are the big ones. American as a safer one. And wow, you’re a stellar applicant. Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>Yeah I’ve checked out those three schools and plan on applying. Thanks :)</p>

4

<p>Strong IR/PoliSci programs, preferably urban and in the Mid-Atlantic or the Northeast (more to less selective):</p>

<p>Universities:

  • Princeton
  • Columbia
  • Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Tufts
  • American U, George Washington</p>

<p>LACs:

  • Middlebury, Bowdoin (rural)
  • Willian & Mary
  • Macalester (St. Paul, Mn.)
  • Trinity (Hartford)</p>
5

<p>Thanks guys. Does anyone have any more suggestions?</p>

6

<p>The University of Chicago is another mid-sized urban university that might interest you. Unfortunately, their non-binding EA deadline and Georgetown’s are both today. Non-binding EA would be a good option for you because it would give you a decision by December or early January, at which point you could decide whether to add more match/safety apps. But, you can also take a little more time to apply RD to more schools.</p>

7

<p>With a family income you will not get much FA at most schools. If you look at some slightly lower level schools (like American) you have a good chance at merit aid. Here is a thread on best poly sci programs: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/239292-good-political-science-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/239292-good-political-science-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;