I think it’s the overall size that bothers them. Even with Honors you’re still on a campus of a size. But some big schools - like Purdue for example - don’t feel big. But they seem restrictive on overall size.
For what it is worth, I would be completely unconcerned about class rank for the sorts of reach and possible target/matches we are discussing. Those sorts of colleges will very likely reassess transcripts according to their own standards.
Yes, he has both UK and Western Ky University honors programs as his safeties. I approached the “match me” looking for good match schools. He has his reach schools and safety schools lined up. We were looking for more match options. Thanks!
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I’m a Purdue grad and would disagree with your “don’t feel big” statement 
West Lafayette (and Cornell for that matter) is a huge campus, teeming with kids. He would like something a bit smaller. The honors colleges at both UK and WKU work well for safety schools.
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He’s got safeties he likes and can afford; he’s got reaches he’s excited about. Add American or another school filled with poli sci majors- or kids studying other things but jazzed about political discussions- and you’re done!
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I totally agree. American, GW, Gettysburg, Dickinson. see if he likes a few of those. Harder to get in W&M, Richmond (both of which I would put as reaches if applying RD).
Here’s my issue with Richmond (and Villanova): those 2 have EA, and tons of kids who are doing ED somewhere else throw an app towards Richmond and/or Villanova as they are one of a few selective schools that have EA.
I literally looked for a list of schools by population size. Then you could filter for your regions and have just the 6-10k. But couldn’t find one. So went state by state in states of interest.
I’m guessing regardless of bucket, most have been shared.
In Ill there are none. You could say Bradley (just under) but you said Chicago and it’s not near.
If you had a school list by population you’d have an assured list but if you look at postings from many of us above we likely got 80% from the Salisbury and Maine to the higher even schools. And at the beginning I saw some small LACs.
As your focus is narrow, and without expanding geography, you’ve seen most Of you expanded size you can add in a UVM, URI, UNH, even a Delaware or a Binghamton. TCNJ is regional but fits as does Marshall not too far from home. Yes too South.
But these names won’t excite you - most of them - I don’t believe.
I’ll throw out two other names - both too small but bigger than the others. Not big research schools but why not - Richmond and here’s the off the wall one - Bentley - who has a public policy major. Over 4k kids. But known for business.
A kid who loved Chicago is not likely to love (or even like, or tolerate) Bentley. Among the more pre-professional options in the Boston area. I know a lot of kids at or recently graduated from Bentley… they are gung-ho pre-corporate types with a few “I want to start the next Amazon” kids for diversity.
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Yeah, it sometimes takes only a few filters to get down to just a few, or indeed zero, schools.
Like:
Medium-sized college at a research university
Generally very-well-regarded
In a really popular large-metro college market
OK, that’s doable. Now add:
Doesn’t get a huge volume of applications (so is neither a reach nor a yield-protector)
Yeah, that is pretty much an empty set. And the reason is the first three things make it basically impossible for the last thing to be true too.
So basically, you have to figure out which of the first three things you will compromise on. And actually, the first thing isn’t the real problem (like the same problem will apply to bigger research universities, SLACs, and so on), so now you are down to two.
Something has to discourage so many applications, and either it will be the college not being so well-regarded, or it will be the college not being in such a popular location.
Pick your poison.
For someone interested in political science/politics, I would take an especially good look at schools that are either in D.C., or in state capitals. These are students who can end up working for state legislators, or lobbying groups, or the district office of federal Congressional officials during the school year, which can vault them into better positions for summer jobs or a semester/year in D.C. And there’s usually less competition in the state capitals than there are in our nation’s capital.
Your son will be a strong candidate for any school. But because the schools on his list have so many top applicants, his chances are not favorable. The schools I’m going to mention are either safeties or matches, but are included more for their location possibilities.
Match-ier schools
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Providence (RI): About 4k undergrads and less than 2 miles from the state capitol
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Trinity (CT): About 2200 undergrads and less than 2 miles from the state capitol
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U. of Richmond (VA): About 3100 undergrads and about 7 miles from the state capitol
Safety-ish school
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Siena (NY): About 3500 undergrads and approx. 5.5 miles from the state capitol. All those NY Times/Siena polls you here about in the news? This is that Siena.
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Suffolk (MA): About 4400 undergrads and about 1/4 mile from the state capitol.
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SUNY Albany: About 12k undergrads and about 5 miles from the state capitol
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U. of Hartford (CT): About 4k undergrads and about 3 miles from the state capitol
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The Colllege of New Jersey: About 7k undergrads and about 4 miles from the state capitol
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Virginia Commonwealth: If an honors program at an out-of-state school with about 22k undergrads would work, this school is less than 1.5 miles from the state capitol.
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U. of New Hampshire: About 12k undergrads and about 34 miles from the state capitol. New Hampshire, so long as it remains an early primary state, can be a very interesting location for national politics, and your son could likely have some early opportunities to work/volunteer for a presidential candidate.
GW & American are obviously good contenders to look at as well. Seton Hall has about 6k undergrads and is just outside of New York City and would be worth a look for its international relations/political opportunities.
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Southern public flagship honors colleges would be safeties with merit money. Small school advantages in a large university setting. I know that it is not your preferred geographic region.
American University is located in an attractive, safe area of Northwest Washington DC. The school is liberal (too liberal for some) and the campus is quiet.
GWU is a pure urban campus like NYU & Boston University.
Trinity College in Connecticut is surrounded by a bad neighborhood.
Any interest in law school after finishing his undergraduate degree ? If so, prepare to spend about $100,000 per year (total COA) for an additional 3 years. Might be more in 5 years for a highly ranked law school.
If grad school is contemplated, then it is wise to minimize costs for one’s undergraduate degree.
P.S. I meant to address this post to OP, not to AustenNut. Sorry.
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Just throwing out names - trying to get in the size desired - which is hard.
You can make a similar comment about UC and NU from what i’ve read here many times.
As I said it was an off the wall - just trying to give OP names in the restrictive qualifier allotted.
You have to turn over all stones 
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If you were willing to rethink geography, University of Denver and Lewis and Clark both check a lot of the other boxes (including generous merit). But it sounds like those are too far west for you, and you don’t sound especially enthusiastic about Denver.
If Chicago is acceptable, how about Milwaukee? Specifically Marquette? If Catholic schools are acceptable – in addition to Marquette, Providence College, DePaul, and Holy Cross? (Holy Cross is probably more of a reach, but not as much as the schools already on your list). Temple University might also work (though could be on the large side).
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Was just thinking the same thing as I scrolled through the thread - Catholic schools tend to have the size and location that OP is looking for. I specifically thought of Villanova, being at least semi-Northeast and a solid match for admissions, though it’s not known for merit aid.
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Class rank is very important for elite university reach schools.
Catholic schools are not on the list.
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His unweighted class rank is 1 FWIW.
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Is that published/provided?
I thought Georgetown was on the list?
So let’s look state by state:
Maine - U Maine - not near a large metro area. Southern Maine is in Portland - but would it qualify pedigree wise?
New Hampshire - UNH is not - but has direct train service to Boston. 11,500 undergrad.
Vermont - UVM - in Burlington - small city
Mass - Brandeis likely closest but under 4K. Bentley has a Public Policy - and is over 4K. But neither seems a fit.
Rhode Island - Bryant too small and just has a minor
Connecticut - Quinnipiac and U Hartford
New York - U Rochester, Manhattan College (could be interesting), Hofstra, Marist. I think Ithaca doesn’t meet the requirement.
New Jersey - TCNJ (not urban), Ramapo
Delaware - None
PA - Lehigh, Millersville (safety, small city)
MD - UMBC (a bit big)
DC - American
VA - W&M doesn’t meet the environmental requirement. Richmond small but not crazy- but possible. Christopher Newport a bit small and regional but top marks for food, campus, etc. A bit small. U of Mary Washington also a tad small.
NC - a little too south probably - but UNCW is a tad big but could work.
SC - I’ll keep saying due to its geographic diversity - College of Charleston and its Fellows Program…
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