<p>logicwarrior- i originally posted it in the wrong forum “Financial Aid” and someone told me to repost it. ha im sorry im new to the boards. thanks for the advice.</p>
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<p>I implore you read his posts more carefully, word for word.</p>
<p>You will find that he is looking for a reputable school whose students and political atmosphere won’t oppress him on account of his religious beliefs and his personal ideologies, a school that will offer him a respectable financial aid package.</p>
<p>I’ve offered two institutions that fulfill these criteria satisfactorily.</p>
<p>He is asking for “fit” schools, not “match” schools.</p>
<p>University of Dallas</p>
<p>Fransican U of Steubenville, OH (very pro-life)</p>
<p>Spring Hill</p>
<p>It occurs to me that you might want to pick out schools that you think would be a good fit academically and in terms of size, location, etc. and then get in touch with the Catholic student group on campus and have a frank talk about the campus culture and how well it works for others who share your religious convictions. You would also be able to address the issue of political conservatism, although obviously not all students in the religious group will share your politics. Talking to the young Republican campus groups on campuses you’re considering could also yield some good info.</p>
<p>The painfully obvious choice is Notre Dame. Incredible atmosphere (if you’re Catholic), VERY conservative campus (re: catholic, mid-western, known for conservatism), and one of the best Philosophy programs in the country. </p>
<p>And I HATE ND. </p>
<p>Also, your stats put you around there mark for them.</p>
<p>notre dame i would suggest, judging by your scores you should get in, and from what my friends says its pretty balanced politically. I would suggest Boston College, which is catholic and from the research i have done also balanced. Hillsdale is very conservative, was ranked as most nostalgic of reagen, and a few years there was literally 1 or 2 people who were openly liberal. its a good school for the humanities too. also i have heard that claremont mckenna is more conservative than liberal and a very good school.</p>
<p>I agree with the poster who said top Catholic schools are a good choice, so that would be Notre Dame, Georgetown, BC, and Holy Cross, in that order. You’ll find some people doing serious philosophy (theologically influenced, perhaps) at any of these schools, and while you may be more theologically conservative than the majority of the student body at these schools, you’ll also find plenty of like-minded folks.</p>
<p>I’d rate Notre Dame a reach. Your GPA and test scores are competitive, but their low acceptance rate (26.8%) makes acceptance far from a sure thing. Ditto for Georgetown; SAT scores comparable to ND’s but their 18.8% acceptance rate is even lower. BC is a better bet. I’d rate it a match. There your test scores are very competitive, and with a 36% admit rate your odds are significantly better. holy Cross would also be good. their 33% admit rate is not quite as high as BC’s but their test score range is favorable, putting you squarely in the top quartile; it’s a good match. </p>
<p>Fordham is another possibility. There your test scores put you easily in the top quartile, and their 46.8% admit rate is applicant-friendly; I’d rate it a low match or possible safety. Can’t vouch for their philosophy program but as a Jesuit school I’d bet they’ve got some pretty subtle thinkers teaching philosophy. You still need one dead-cinch safety, but there I’d urge you to consider UST. I don’t know their philosophy program but I’m sure you can find some people to help you along the way, and through the Associated colleges of the Twin Cities you could take philosophy classes at other schools in the Twin Cities Metro.</p>
<p>You may want to consider the University of Chicago. Rigorous education, okay to be conservative, and an excellent philosophy program (and a divinity school to boot).</p>
<p>U Dayton and Xavier for less selective schools than BC and ND (particularly if you like Basketball).</p>
<p>^^ Chicago would be a high reach for the OP whose SAT scores would come in right around the 25th percentile. Worth a shot, possibly, but it’s a long shot.</p>
<p>Here’s the profile of Chicago’s class of 2012:
<a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/admissions/classprofile.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/admissions/classprofile.shtml</a></p>
<p>Yes, it’s reachy, but I also agree it would be worth a shot if Grimsa thinks it’s a fit.</p>
<p>So you want to major in philosophy but don’t feel confident enough defending your conservative viewpoints in a college such as Columbia University? You’re not going to be a very good philosopher.</p>
<p>Not necessarily so, Viper. At a lot of colleges they wall off entire areas of philosophy like “Continental” and religious philosophy, and don’t even consider them philosophy. I agree with those who recommend Notre Dame, BC, Georgetown, and Holy Cross. Fordham is superb in philosophy. Also Marquette and St. Louis U. are very good. U of Toronto has a huge philosophy dept. and includes some top-notch philosophy profs in all areas.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Chicago puts considerably less emphasis on test scores than do many of its peer schools.</p>
<p>Okay…what are your goals? To get into a prestigious school or to get as much scholarship money as you can? Both are not synonymous. </p>
<p>If its prestige, a 1380 won’t get you too far up the ladder. But you can reach for Georgetown and BC if is Catholic you want. Notre Dame you are on the bubble. They like 1450 and up. Holy Cross will likely take you. So will Fordham. Money at Fordham is also on the bubble. They like a 1400 before scholarship money starts to flow, though I have heard of a 1350 getting money…so it depends…but its a tough economic climate and they will likely save their money for the top of the pool. Villanova is also a match. </p>
<p>So, where does that leave you? Marquette, Loyola Chicago, St. Louis University, Creighton. I know St. Louis University will pour money at you. Apply before December 1 to make sure. They have rolling admissions. So you will know by Christmas. Also look at Gonzaga University. </p>
<p>If its just any conservative school, then your choices narrow considerably. USanDiego, Furman, Bucknell, Washington and Lee (but you are on the bubble there too), Wofford, Wake Forest, Clemson, Rhodes, Sewanee.</p>
<p>Hey Schmaltz, speaking of different types of philsophy, do you (or anyone else) know what schools have good programs in continental philosphy?</p>
<p>RowNathan, I’ve emailed a buddy of mine who’s a philosophy professor to get an updated list of likely schools. I’ve been out of the field of philosophy for a while, and don’t want to give you any outdated info.</p>
<p>St. Olaf isn’t obscure at ALL. It’s a good school, one of the best in Minnesota, definitely. Also, check out Fordham- it’s in NYC but Catholic with a strong Jesuit structure.</p>
<p>Not sure about their philosophy departments, but Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Trinity College, Davidson, Washington and Lee, and even Duke (although it would be somewhat of a reach) all sound like good fits considering your conservative slant and scores.</p>
<p>RowNathan, my friend the philosophy professor specifically mentioned Yale, Toronto, Northwestern, and Penn State, along with pretty much every Catholic college (especially Boston College, Fordham, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Marquette, Holy Cross, and St. Louis) as having good continental philosophy offerings. Here is a valuable web site for more research: <a href=“http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/departments.asp[/url]”>http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/departments.asp</a> Somewhere in the web site it mentions to be aware that sometimes continental philosophy is offered, but is sort of walled off and looked down upon within the individual philosophy departments. Ah, I found it for you:</p>
<p>Continental Philosophy of the 19th and 20th Centuries</p>
<p>"People’s conception of what the right approach to take to Continental philosophy varies more than in more sedate and mainstream areas of philosophy. Even if a potential advisor is a specialist in just the area a student wants, s/he may have ideas about the subject-matter that make it difficult to work with a student who sees things differently. Some scholars engage argumentatively and often quite critically with Continental philosophers; others treat the figures more reverentially. Some treat Continental philosophy in isolation from other parts of philosophy (Continental philosophy is “ghettoized” in some programs); others brings styles and methods of argument associated with Anglophone philosophy to bear on Continental philosophers. Students should try to read some work by potential faculty advisors to get a sense of their approach. Of course, don’t assume that everyone who takes a particular approach is incapable of seeing the merits of alternatives; but be aware that that is a danger. Given the variety of approaches and attitudes towards Continental philosophy, a plurality of potential advisors in a department can certainly be an advantage.</p>
<p>You should also consider carefully what departments offer outside Continental philosophy. There are institutional reasons for this (departments for the most part require students to complete a general education in philosophy in the initial years of graduate study, and once on the job market, it will behoove you to have “areas of competence” beyond Continental philosophy), but intellectual ones too: certain areas of philosophy—for example, Kant, ancient philosophy, moral and political philosophy, aesthetics, parts of metaphysics and epistemology, among others—are complementary to major themes and currents in Continental philosophy."</p>