Both lists likely have some validity and are good starting points. The Princeton Review data is from 2013, so a little dated, but probably still relevant. The methodology combines institutional data with input from ‘admissions experts’
Niche uses some institutional data, but also self reported input from Niche users. They also factor in self reported SAT scores, which to me wouldn’t give much indication as to strength of the program with regard to depth, breadth, professor quality, research etc.
Methodology from Niche seems more subjective, while a Princeton review seems more objective. Both worth looking at.
A ranking system that I know nothing about the methodology that its based on, but seems to make sense from a high level perspective is that created by colleges.startclass.com - filter with Political Science as the major and see what you think.
Are you interested primarily in smaller schools? Some of the strongest Poli Sci programs, in terms of depth and breadth of offerings, are going to be universities, and not just privates. For instance, Wisconsin, where my son is a Poli Sci major, is ranked in the top 15, and has superb faculty across all the sub-fields – American, Theory, International etc., with summer programs in DC etc. Georgetown, GW and American have the DC access for school year internships, which is a plus for students to build their internship experience during the year, and not compete with the thousands and thousands of students trying to get (unpaid) internships for the summer.
If your focus is smaller schools, then take a look at faculty – how large are the permanent, not visiting, faculty list, what are their specialties, what courses does the department say it offers, are there special research programs, funding etc. Poli Sci, like Econ, is the kind of bread and butter of most LACs, and the top 50+ LACs will generally have solid to excellent offerings.
Also, consider, what your goals are with Poli Sci major. Law school? Then minimize debt, maximize gpa. Grad school? Then a school with strong faculty connections, robust course offerings, and other perks.
Regarding #21, the referenced site seems to rank colleges with political science programs, but not the PS programs themselves:
http://colleges.startclass.com/d/o/Political-Science-and-Government
In terms of your core list and the preferences you have indicated so far, @robertobaz2, you might be able to build it from three to five NESCACs, a Claremont school such as Pitzer or CMC, and maybe Holy Cross if you overcome your tentative reservations there. Georgetown or GW might make appropriate university options. HWS might make a good safety.
@mer81, that site does both. If you enter other majors you’ll see different rankings.
@Chembiodad: It appears as if the ordering of the schools stays constant irrespective of the major entered, or have you found otherwise?
Like a lot of people going into undergrads, I’m a bit unsure of my overall goals. My interest most firmly lies in government, but at this stage I don’t know exactly what part of it, or if I want to immediately go into it. Political science is the field I just am most interested in that I think is general enough to get my all the places I might want to go.
I have no opposition to bigger colleges. As for the DC schools I liked American a fair amount, did not like the lack of campus felt at GW, and it seems unlikely I can make the 3 Subject Tests requirement of Georgetown (because of the way my school works the only non-science APs I’ve been able to take before senior year are APUSH and Lit meaning those are the only two subject tests I can really take).
Overall, I really just want a place with a nice campus and a good community. Internship opportunities are great obviously, but part of me just wants to spend my year being present in college and learning all I can. Not saying I never want to take one I just don’t necessarily want to pick a place because of frequent access.
@merc81 you have been very helpful with this, thank you for sort of helping me get together sort of a list. I still probably need to find more targets, but you’ve been of great help. Also how big of reaches are the 2 Claremont schools you named (CMC and Pitzer) for me. It’s very hard to tell as where my school is located almost no one applies there so Naviance is very unhelpful
I’ve been more opinionated than typical for my posts, but I thought you might be looking for some structure in creating a core of schools. I’ll emphasize, though, that I think your thought process has been excellent, and that colleges that appeal to you based upon your judgment (e.g., American) will probably be great options for you. As you mentioned, strength in political science, though important, should be considered in the context of the schools in general.
With respect to what may constitute a reach for you, note that you would be likely to be strongly academically prepared for even highly selective colleges, so none from this category should be dismissed casually. (Note, though, that reach schools should also provide “utility.” That is, you should substantively prefer them to you target schools.)
Regarding the Claremonts specifically, you exceed Pitzer’s typical profile, but their low acceptance rate might make it a high match for you. CMC, similar to several of the NESCACs, seems to be a reach for nearly all applicants at this time.
For further statistical information, this site has attempted to adjust for the new SAT format:
Michigan
Since ecomomics pertains so strongly to public policy, you may want to consider these analyses among your other resources:
@merc81 Yes I understand and I really do appreciate it. And that is good to hear about the reaches, I figure if the school has a holistic approach to admissions maybe I have a shot (I plan on having a very strong essay, writing is probably my expertise). And good to know about Pitzer and CMC.
Look at the University of Michigan and Washington University in St Louis. Both have very strong political science programs.
Berkeley has a very strong poly sci program as well if you want to consider California schools.
^^^No doubt! I only mentioned Michigan because it wasn’t listed in post #16.
@Midwestmomofboys you mentioned that a lot of large schools are known for their programs? Can you possibly give me some examples?
@merc81 I realized early on in the thread you listed Bowdoin as a possibility. I’ve looked more into it and it actually seems like a really, really great place, however it seems nearly impossible to get in based on Naviance (granted not many people have applied from my school). But seeing as you listed it as a possibility for me, I just wanted to clarify if you think I actually had a shot based on my stats I listed at the beginning
@robertobaz2: Looking back at my earliest post, I think you would get into ~11 of those 15 recommended schools. Differentiated the ~4 reaches (which would include Bowdoin) from those of these 4 that may be out of reach would be difficult however. As you indicated, Naviance would be a good place to start, provided you can generate a reasonable sample size.
@merc81, agree regarding Bowdoin in particular; without a hook the OP’s stats would make acceptance a super reach, and acceptance to CMC, Davidson and Hamilton a reach - MHO based on just going through this with my DD’s who profiled higher.
Yeah my problem was my sample size is not great with Bowdoin but that’s what I assumed, thanks for clarifying though.
My sort of plan ATM is to apply to my state flagship (Rutgers) as a safety as well as American as a low target/safety and one or two more targets as I feel like if I don’t get in anywhere else I would be totally happy going to those two and then focus on applying to a bunch of reaches just to sort of test my odds (shotgunning I guess). Maybe this is flawed but I am honestly content with going to those two if I got in nowhere else, leaving room for reach applications, and am positive I can get into at least Rutgers and near positive about American (especially because I am doing a long program with them over the summer).
Luckily I do have an advantage with one school with good polisci that you mentioned, in that both my aunt and uncle are alumni and donors who live right next to it. Haven’t seen it yet but I’m figuring this is my most realistic reach given the circumstances