Narrowing down colleges - Economics with a twist?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I'm an international student with a deep interest in the field of economics. I've got good grades, so I'm looking mostly for the top colleges. So far, my list of interests includes:</p>

<pre><code>* Boston College
* Columbia
* Duke
* Georgetown (Int'l Political Economy?)
* Harvard
* Northwestern
* Princeton
* Stanford
* Swarthmore
* U Penn (Huntsman Program for Business & IR)
* Williams
* Yale
* Brown
* MIT
</code></pre>

<p>I am not sure, however, about which of these colleges could satisfy me the most. While I find my interest in Econ the most significant, I also really enjoy the fields of International Studies and Political Science, and Business to a minor degree. In my dream college I would be able to combine all these interests in a way that made sense and could proportionate me a good college life. I also have a preference for colleges with liberal, open-minded and smart student bodies, and I prefer avoiding those colleges that are known for having students constantly under pressure and doing all-nighters.</p>

<p>Considering all of this, does anyone have any comments on my list? Any additions, critics? I would also appreciate if anyone ranked them according to their capability to satisfy me. Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>“I also have a preference for colleges with liberal, open-minded and smart student bodies, and I prefer avoiding those colleges that are known for having students constantly under pressure and doing all-nighters.”</p>

<p>This is a bit of a contradiction in that top students are usually challenged to their limits, and this means pressure and some all-nighters. There’s probably no school more challenging than Swarthmore (though a few equal it).</p>

<p>We don’t have a clue about your chances without your numbers and finances, and even then it’s hard to know.</p>

3

<p>there’s no way to narrow down such a list strictly using academics alone as a basis; each choice is adequate in a slightly different way. MIT has arguably the best Economics department of them all, but, that’s strictly from the point of view of research and number of faculty stars. You’d probably absorb just as much at Swarthmore, yet it’s in a completely different setting. Are you asking a bunch of strangers on the internet to make that choice for you? Same could be said, for Stanford and Williams: no one here can tell you where you would learn more, in a wealthy California suburb or an alpine village in Massachusetts?</p>

4

<p>I thank you for the comments, but that wasn’t the primary focus I intended to center my question on.</p>

<p>I’m basically looking for suggestions of good colleges where I could interact an Economics major with International Studies, Political Science and/or Business, and comments on those on my list in relation to that.</p>

5

<p>Uh…University of Chicago maybe?</p>

6

<p>There is some interesting economics research going on here: [fsu.edu</a> | Doctoral Program in Economics](<a href=“http://mailer.fsu.edu/~tzuehlke/doctoral/]fsu.edu”>http://mailer.fsu.edu/~tzuehlke/doctoral/) If you qualify, you may be accepted to the honors program and perform substantial research as an undergraduate.</p>

<p>Couple it with this: [fsu.edu</a> | The Department of Political Science](<a href=“http://polisci.fsu.edu/]fsu.edu”>http://polisci.fsu.edu/) and this: [International</a> Studies Program at Florida State University](<a href=“http://www.coss.fsu.edu/intrnstd/]International”>http://www.coss.fsu.edu/intrnstd/)</p>

<p>at state university prices. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Do you have at least one safety in your home country?</p>

8

<p>Yes, and I’m in no hurry to enter an university.</p>

<p>More suggestions, please?</p>

9

<p>Still looking for more suggestions…</p>

10

<p>Some of your schools of interest are top 10 in economics (i.e. HYPSM, Northwestern, Penn, Columbia); the others are not. </p>

<p>Also, you may wish to consider Chicago and Berkeley.</p>

<p>[Rankings</a> - Economics - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-economics-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-economics-schools/rankings)</p>

<p>On your list, it’s hard to evaluate the LACs against the research universities because they prioritize different criteria. Both types of schools, however, matriculate “liberal, open-minded and smart student bodies.”</p>

11

<p>Wash U in St. Louis offers a Political Economy second major for Econ or Poli Sci majors.</p>

<p>[Washington</a> University–The Center for Political Economy](<a href=“http://artsci.wustl.edu/~polecon/]Washington”>http://artsci.wustl.edu/~polecon/)</p>

12

<p>University of Denver?</p>

13

<p>Northwestern would be a good fit; with the quarter system in which you take 4 courses per quarter, you can easily double major or even double-major+minor while still have room for electives.</p>

14

<p>I appreciate the suggestions. Any else?</p>

<p>Actually, Berkeley and Chicago were already on my list, but I forgot about them when typing the first post.</p>