Matches and Safeties

College Search & Selection
1

Hi,

I’m a senior in high school trying to finalize my college list. Initially, I was limited to schools in the northeast only, but my parents have reconsidered and are willing to let me apply to schools farther away.

I already have some reaches, but I could really use help finding some target and safeties.

Just some context, I have a 4.0 GPA unweighted and a 1530 SAT. I am undecided, but am interested in everything EXCEPT natural sciences. Might consider studying econ, international relations, law/gov, business.

Reaches:
Dartmouth
Brown
UPenn

Targets: idk!!!

Safeties: need more!!!
Rochester

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR READING THIS POST AND TRYING TO HELP A STRESSED OUT SENIOR!

2

Unless you are committed to the idea of a large school, the higher positioned colleges below would be superb (and among the country’s absolute strongest) for the study of economics and related social sciences:

https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html

3

Have you spent time with a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges? You’ve given us very little info to go on… what is your financial situation? Have you visited other schools not on your list (that you didn’t like)?

4

@intparent

yes I’ve looked through fiske. my parents can afford tuition.

i like schools small to medium sized, or large with programs that make it seems smaller
i like a traditional campus (it’s fine if the school is in the city but i want the campus to be contained)
i’m not into greek life (fine if there is greek life at a school but i want other options for social life)

Schools I’ve visited that I DIDNT LIKE:

Vassar
Tufts
Northeastern
NYU
Colgate
Lehigh

5

Hmm. Those seem like a fit with what you said you like mostly. What didn’t you like about them?

6

@Undecided2018

Great Schools for Political Sciences/Government
American University
Amherst
Bard
Bates
Bowdoin
BYU
Bryn Mawr
Carleton
Claremont McKenna
Clark
Holy Cross
Columbia
Connecticut College
Davidson
Dickinson
Drew
Franklin & Marshall
Furman
George Mason
George Washington
Georgetown
Gettysburg
Gonzaga
Grinnell
Harvard
Kenyon
Macalester
McGill
Princeton
Scripps

Source * Princeton Review*

Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Macalester, Carleton, Gettysburg, Kenyon, Davidson, BYU, Georgetown, Harvard Princeton also fulfill your interest in excellent econ programs.

In order to assist you help expand your list of possible schools, the Idea.repec.org list of the top 25% US economics departments Is inclusive of LACs * and* universities. https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.usecondept.html

7

If you could settle for a business minor rather than a business major, Rice would satisfy all of your criteria, from academic programs, to campus size and location, to absence of Greek life (but still with a very active social scene).

Wake Forest would be a solid match in terms of admission, but it might be a tad too preppy/fratty for your taste. Emory would be a good contender, though it might fall into the high match category.

8

Rice is going to be another reach, though.

9

I would look at Dickinson, Gettysburgh, Davidson and Clark for solid matches/safeties.

10

Here’s a good list from the IDEAS site of its ranking of the top economics department at liberal arts colleges. Many of them overlap with Princeton Reviews list of good government/poli sci schools. https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html

11

Would you be interested in any southern/midwest schools or would you prefer east coast?

12

@katec19 I prefer east coast, but am willing to consider other options

13

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS EVERYONE!

14

Have you said whether you are female or male?

15

I wouldn’t consider Rochester a safety, more likely a match. University of Rochester is an outstanding competitive school and a school in which demonstrated interest is important, along with an outstanding essay. American or a school like Pitt or University of Delaware or University of Denver might be more safety options. What about looking at Boston University?

16

Would your state’s public universities by reasonable safety candidates?