<p>Hi, I really just need some suggestions for some schools to apply to. Overall I've felt my interests conflict, and just need some help so in a certain sense I can escape my own indecisiveness.</p>
<p>I get mostly A's in the toughest curriculum at an AP/IB-less private school that sends 20% of students to Ivies, with more to other top schools.</p>
<p>I'm interested in studying <em>Political Science</em> and either <em>Creative Writing</em> or <em>Play/Screenwriting</em>.</p>
<p>I'm open to both LACs and National Universities, though I do want to be in an <em>urban</em> environment. I tend to be kinda' geeky/nerdy and want an intellectual, creative environment with people that don't just follow what they're told, but instead question authority and question the norm.</p>
<p>Well, Brown leaps to mind, but you've probably already thought of it. Urban, with much of your other criteria, also suggests Macalester to me. If you are less insistent on urban, then look at Oberlin and Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Well I guess I don't necessarily need urban, but it would be preferred. I could stand suburban, just I would not be able to go to college somewhere rural.</p>
<p>From what I've heard Georgetown is very preppy, and I don't know if I'd really like that. Also American and Bennington, from what I've heard, are below the academic intensity/standard that I'm looking for. I really want a truly intellectual and creative environment.</p>
<p>Bard (depending on your school and your scores, could possibly be a safety), NYU, Wesleyan, Oberlin, Reed, Swarthmore, Carleton, Chicago.</p>
<p>I'm only really an expert on Chicago... I wouldn't say it's a "down with the man!" kind of school, but it's definitely a school where people think about unconventional things in unconventional ways and aren't afraid to share their opinions. Academic standards are set high, and I think the arts community is pretty solid-- it's not a huge part of campus life, but it's definitely there.</p>
<p>I don't really like Bard: they're known to have almost no library, and aren't exactly known for intellectualism. NYU sounds good, I know that they're renowned for Creative Writing and Dramatic Writing, and their political science department (at least from graduate rankings) is top-notch. Wesleyan, Oberlin and Reed all sound good, though Reed might be a bit too alternative for my taste. Carleton and Swarthmore sound great (even though I live close to Swarthmore, it's far enough away that I wouldn't mind going there). Also Chicago sounds really good, and has even been recommended to me by one of my teachers this year.</p>
<p>Some other schools that were recommended to me were UPenn and Princeton. I think I would have a very little shot at getting into Prinecton, but I think I have a decent chance at UPenn, and my mom works at their medical school which is a plus.</p>
<p>Bard's a certain kind of intellectual-- but it doesn't sound like it's your kind.</p>
<p>Funny you mention that a teacher suggested Chicago... a LOT of my friends first learned about Chicago through their high school teachers suggesting it to them-</p>
<p>I also forgot Columbia and USC. I think those would also fit your requirements very well.</p>
<p>Sorry that I'm only thinking on the elite wavelength... you might also want to look into state schools that have big theater programs.</p>
<p>as far as wanting an intellectual environment, American may not be as high an academic quality as the ivies and other schools you're looking at but they do have an Honors School, and it is a very politically active and intellectual campus. It doesn't have that reputation but most people don't consider the Honors School.</p>
<p>other than that though, definitely look at NYU, Bard, maybe the Claremont Schools (though not really urban), USC (great film school if you're into the schol screen-writing thing), UChicago, and maybe some LACs like Amherst or Williams (though once again, kind of the opposite of urban)</p>
<p>Both USC and Columbia sound really good, as both are renowned for their creative writing programs. I don't think I'd do well at a state school--I'm a bit worried about getting "lost in the crowd" but I also don't want a school as small as most LACs.</p>
<p>Overall, I'm looking for schools that have the best writing programs, and still good political science. Any others? Maybe ones that would be safeties or matches instead of mostly reaches?</p>
<p>I also think that the "overwhelming" size of state schools doesn't appear as overwhelming-- I mean, once you find your network of friends, a large school can become very small. But that's just me.... state schools, on the whole, don't seem to readily offer the kind of environment you are looking for.</p>
<p>I would be open to University of Iowa as a backup: they have amazing writing programs, and also have a top 25 political science department. Any other suggestions still? For some reason I'm kinda' freaking out about where I ultimately want to go.</p>
<p>As noted before, I preferably want to study political science and writing--because I ultimately want to keep my options for the future open. My biggest passion is politics, however I really have no intentions of ever running for political office as my very liberal views would make me essentially unelectable. Another passion of mine is writing, and ultimately the writing I would want to do is a la Vonnegut, Orwell, and Kushner -- political and social commentaries in the form of fiction.</p>
<p>I ultimately want to combine both of my passions by either studying political science at a graduate level, or writing satire and political commentary in the form of fiction.</p>