Questions about PoliSci at UR, Admissions, Campus, and FinAid

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Richmond
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<p>The following is my background, scroll down for questions:
White male
Lower Middle Class (EFC is going to be just about $1,000-2,000)
Junior at a small, VERY high ranked, relatively (to the rest of the area) wealthy public school in a rural PA college town.</p>

<p>Background/Grades:
I spent freshman year at a large, but high ranked, public school in another state. They calculated GPA on the 4.0 scale and I had all As and a GPA just above 4.0 because of an honors weight. My new school calculates on a 100 point scale. Sophomore year I had a disgusting 93 (a B in the upper level, but not weighted at that point in time, Bio course and a high C in Latin [juggling Spanish and Latin for a self described "sucks at learning languages" student during a hectic post-move soph year wasn't fun] brought me down). It's the end of first semester Junior year and I have all As with a 98 GPA, but I'm going to need it as I don't know how Freshman year is going to be used for calculating class rank (guidance, with their super secret guidance people double speak, said it would be used to "estimate") and Soph year's numbers won't cut it. A conservative estimate at this point regarding class rank would be anywhere in the top third, but I really don't have any idea where I'll end up (could be top 15%, could be top 40%). I plan on taking 4 APs Senior year (AP English, AP Bio, AP Econ, and AP Gov) with that generous AP weight that I'm only enjoying in one class this year (AP US History). Like I said, it's a small school, and outside of art/music classes, US History is the only AP offered to Juniors who aren't crazy accelerated in math or science.</p>

<p>SATs (I took them in October to take advantage of the prep I did over the summer--I plan on retaking in June):
690 CR (I want to get this to 720 2nd time around, but I hate speculating when it comes to test scores, so let's assume that's where I'm staying)
650 Math (I had a 66 on the PSAT math that I took a few weeks later and I think I'll get even higher once I finish Trig, which I'm in this year)
700 Writing (69 MC and 9 on the essay, which I knew was bad the minute I read it back online and I know I can do much better)</p>

<p>ECs (I'll keep it brief):
Very heavy on Speech and Debate
NHS invites go out soon (our school does it 2nd semester jr. year and you're in it till you graduate as long as you keep your grades up) and my numbers are above the benchmark to get one according the student handbook, so I'll be doing that
120+ hours (?--haven't been keeping track thoroughly) community service through Red Cross, nursing home, and Church from 8th grade to current
3 clubs
Three People to People trips in middle school, not sure how that's relevant to the process, but the cultural experiences and fund raising experiences will make for good essay topics.
TONS of volunteer work during campaign season. Worked countless hours at the local party HQ and out in the field for Presidential campaign, House campaign in very swing-ish CD, AG campaign, State House campaign, and did phone banking for Congressional campaigns in other districts. I plan on doing even more come 2010 midterms as we have a tight Senate race brewing here in PA.</p>

<h2>Part time job</h2>

<p>I want to go Political Science. Is the program good? Would I have a chance for an internship in VA Government? What are the Law School admissions rates for graduates? Do I have a decent chance of getting in RD? I'm really intrigued by the need based aid; I know they meet 100% need (AWESOME), but is it loan-heavy? Would I qualify for any merit aid? How is the housing situation? And, for current/past UR students, did you like it? Is the campus safe (I know Richmond is a rough city, but I'm not familiar with the area the University is in)?
EDIT: Also, how bad is the drug/drinking scene there? I realize that it exists at every school, but I don't want to go to some loud, 24/7 party school for four years.</p>

2

<p>Hi malan,</p>

<p>Richmond caps loans at $4,000 each year but I would encourage you to apply so you can review your actual financial aid package. I have a similar situation (my loans were covered by an outside scholarship) and my package is great. I am not an admissions rep so I can't say for sure or answer all your questions but I believe the only merit aid is the Richmond Scholars program (full aid). There are some scholarships within majors that have a merit component but they are smaller and you probably won't apply until you've declared your major/minor (so probably not during your freshman year). </p>

<p>I would say the campus is safe. The campus police are very good and I feel safe walking across campus after a late night in the library. The campus is close to the city but is by no means in the city. If you've looked at the website the pictures of trees and the lake are actually how the campus looks. The official city boundary actually includes a few of the apartments for seniors, but what most people would call the city is about a 10-15 minute drive away.</p>

<p>The party scene is not too invasive if you aren't into it. Living in a male freshman dorm it might be a little loud on weekends just depending on who lives around you, but usually the parties are pretty contained. I think the majority of students put academics first but still like to have a good time on weekends, not necessarily including drinking.</p>

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<p>Do you think someone with my stats has a good shot of getting in?</p>

4

<p>malan, UR has a lot of opportunities with political involvment while on campus. I have two friends working in the GA now (and working from ~5:30am-8:30pm every day...) and both got their start as undergrads. </p>

<p>Unsure of law school acceptance rates, but all my friends who applied to law school were admitted. Nice thing about UR is they will give you admission to TC Williams (UR's law school) if you achieve a certain SAT/ACT and maintain a minimum GPA while at UR, so no LSAT if you choose that route. I had a 33 ACT (~1480SAT) and received the invite, but don't know what the cutoff is (got mine in '01). </p>

<p>Poly Sci is strong and has a nice new home. </p>

<p>Also, Richmond, the city, gets a bad rap, but it's actually really nice in most parts. You should never have issues as long as you use common sense. I wish I had explored the city more as an undergrad. I liked it so much, I ended up sticking around after graduation.</p>

5

<p>Working at the GA would be awesome. Those are the kinds of opportunities I'd be looking at.</p>

6

<p>I will agree that it is a rare political science major who does NOT work in the General Assembly at least one session while they are here. Also, we have a program called the DC Initiative, that links students with internship experiences in Washington DC. Not all are political, but since the city is drenched in politics, this is a good intro into all the various organizations there. You can read more at: University</a> of Richmond: Career Development Center</p>

<p>You have to click on the link within the page to get the PDF of all the places looking for UR interns this summer.</p>

7

<p>malan89</p>

<p>The statement in the second post in this thread "Richmond caps loans at $4,000 each year" is misleading. </p>

<p>An independent source, US News Reports states that the average total indebtedness of Richmond's 2007 graduating class was $19,214 not the $16k as that post may lead you to believe. </p>

<p>So yes, Richmond does offer fine financial aid but as the US News state indicates many Richmond grads owe $20K+ upon graduation.</p>

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<h2>Otis: That could that have something to do with students borrowing to cover their EFC. If one's EFC is $4,000 and UR covers 100% of their need with $4,000 in loans AND their family isn't able to pay anything toward the EFC, it makes total sense for that person to be in debt $32,000 at graduation. But that doesn't mean URMary's statement isn't true. Richmond DOES cap loans in your financial aid package (COA-EFC=Financial Aid Package) at $4,000.</h2>

<p>URAdmissions: That sounds great! I'd really like to have solid "real world" experiences in college and it seems going to school in a capital has its perks!</p>

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<p>You will not fit in at Richmond. Go to a school that's more accepting of your socioeconomic background.</p>

10

<p>Question for URdefect, after you left Richmond, were you or are you happy with your current college? In what ways is/was it better? In what ways is/was it worse? Perhaps your bad time at Richmond made you appreciate your next college more than if you had started at that college from day one.</p>

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<p>malan89:</p>

<p>What part of the $19,214 average debt per University of Richmond graduate don't you understand?</p>

<p>It does not matter what amount of money a student owes Richmond at the time of graduation; what matters is what the student's total indebtedness upon graduation. </p>

<p>The fact is that the average total indebtedness of Richmond's 2007 graduating class was $19,214 not the $16k as a prior post may have been intended to have readers believe. </p>

<p>Please also note that that $19,214 average debt per University of Richmond graduate may be higher for the 2009 grads and those thereafter since Richmond hiked tuition and cost of attendance 30% for the class of 2009.</p>

12

<p>
[Quote]
The statement in the second post in this thread "Richmond caps loans at $4,000 each year" is misleading.

[/Quote]

All I'm saying is that the statement isn't misleading. The poster was referring to Richmond's issuing of loans through the University's financial aid. I'm not arguing with the rest of what you said. The average indebtedness is what you said it was. But URMary WAS NOT misleading and she did not imply the average debt was $16K. You both stated facts.

[Quote]
You will not fit in at Richmond. Go to a school that's more accepting of your socioeconomic background.

[/Quote]

Need blind admissions and 100% need met is pretty damn accepting. You must be referring to the students. In what ways are they "not accepting"? I live in the same town as a small, expensive LAC, so I'm pretty familiar with the way they operate. Seems here that it's all what you make of it. There are kids off all sorts of backgrounds. How is UR different?</p>

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<p>Malan, please disregard URDefect's comments... I already addressed this in another thread, but UR is NOT just for rich kids... sure, there are many wealthy students here. But I am in a similar financial situation as you, and have never felt that anyone doesn't "accept" that, whatever that means. I come from a town where nobody is rich, really. So it's been interesting to meet people who were raised much differently than I.</p>

<p>Otis, a $4,000 loan cap in the financial aid package doesn't indicate $16,000 debt at graduation... therefore, the statement about the loan cap isn't misleading. It's true. Most students choose to take out their own additional loans in order to cover whatever tuition is NOT covered by their financial aid package, hence the additional debt. That's out of UR's hands.</p>

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<p>Kellie--
I am glad you enjoy Richmond. That being said, the stereotype of a school filled with entitled wealthy students from the posh suburbs of the mid-Atlantic and New England is very accurate. This school is a downright AWFUL fit for many high school students. </p>

<p>Singleparent--
I think UR is an exceptionally terrible college choice. The biggest problem is isolation. The school is not a part of the city of Richmond at all. The only "UR community" is the students--who themselves aren't diverse or particularly interested in developing. UR is more like what I assume a boarding school would be like. There's school and there's drinking and drugs for entertainment.</p>

<p>At the state school I went to there was a lot more to do. What helped me out the most was being able to get a paid part-time job where I was able to begin to accumulate on-the-job experience for when I graduated. This would be unheard of at Richmond. Their idea of "working" is being a student writing or speech consultant or stamping books at the library.</p>

<p>I wasn't happy at Richmond. I thought I would be. When I got there, it became painfully obvious the school was a bad fit. A lot of students at Richmond are very unhappy. It is a depressing place to go to school. I think this is what may be behind low giving rates and ****-poor alumni networks.</p>

<p>I transferred to a school that actually has an extensive alumni network. It's great. I've been able to meet people and connect with others professionally in ways that would have been impossible if I'd stayed at Richmond.</p>

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<p>If anyone is interested in following in URdefect's footsteps, I believe he (she? We've had so many entertaining debates and I don't even know your gender. How sad.) transferred from UR to UGA. Another great school, but, you know, different.</p>

16

<p>This has little to do with whether today's high school juniors decide to attend the University of Richmond, but I am guessing that with its new president hired away from UVA, a comfortable endowment and a better alumni giving program, Richmond can climb the ranking charts over the next decade. If we fast forward to 2019, and look at the CC list of top liberal arts colleges, I could imagine Richmond being on that list. Richmond could replace Kenyon on that list. The only thing holding Richmond back might be its "hybrid" status -- part LAC, part small university -- which keeps Tufts off any list.</p>

17

<p>Does anyone know where I can find info on UR grads admissions into law school? I'm aware of the guaranteed admission into UR's law school program, but what other info is out there?</p>

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<p>The law school admissions process has been standardized. Any data you are looking for is available at LSAC.org</a> Homepage. Every law school requires an LSDAS Report which are compiled by LSAC. These reports contain information regarding # of students applying to law school, GPA ranges of applicants, LSAT score ranges for every college/university. This will be the most accurate source of information.</p>

<p>Richmond is fairly selective so it probably has a mean LSAT score of 159-161 (i.e. 75-85 percentile). Grades will depend on the individual applicant.</p>

<p>Law school is not like high school. UVA law won't take a 165/3.50 Richmond Student; but would probably take a 170/3.50 VCU (or any similarly low-ranked college) student.</p>

19

<p>UR Admissions - where do students live when they participate in the DC Initiative? Does UR provide housing or is the student responsible for finding an apartment in DC while doing their internship?</p>

20

<p>In addition to Wavewatchers question:
Does financial aid carry over to the DC program?</p>