S21 - ACT improved so now reworking PolSci/IR/Govt list of schools

[123Mom123]

@Twoin18

S18 had a similar set of interests (though with somewhat higher stats: 4.0UW, 1540 SAT, 10 APs, top 1%) and went through this two years ago. He had always seen himself in DC and loved the summer program he did at GWU after sophomore year of HS.

He applied to UVA, W&M, GWU and American. Not Georgetown because we didn’t want to pay $80K per year. Admitted to those four (with Echols at UVA, Monroe at W&M, $25K merit at GWU and $20K merit at American) and a few other places like Macalester. When making his decision he ranked them in that order, despite UVA and W&M being outside DC and not offering merit money, because he felt they were better schools (also GWU didn’t impress during his admitted student visit).

But in the end he decided to stay instate at UCLA and save his 529 money for later. He’s loving it there and is planning a summer internship in DC this year. He could spend a semester in DC but decided against it because he is involved in lots of organizations on campus and it’s hard to have leadership roles if you are out for part of the year. He doesn’t feel at all limited by not being in DC, he’s developed relationships with a number of politicians who are teaching courses, and will have the opportunity to go to the East Coast for grad school with a lot more money in the bank.

I like hearing specific accounts of others’ kids and how they approached the process. I get overwhelmed with all the info, but I still need/want the info. Just have to then organize it for continued reflection and decision-making.

So does he live in the dorms? Will he have other internships besides DC one? How is the career counseling center support at UCLA?

And, your story is a good reminder that DS has been happy at every school we’ve visited. (Granted it’s been Davidson, Duke, WF, Rice, GW, AU, GT - although he felt it was pretty formal and not friendly but has since said that maybe we just got a self-absorbed tour guide on a bad day and to recognize the school may be quite different…and every school will have some minor issue but the bigger picture is more important.)

We visit W&M in a few weeks. Will be interested to see what he thinks.