Schools I'm on the fence about

College Search & Selection
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<p>At the end of this year I will have a 3.8ish Weighted GPA and a 3.45ish Unweighted. I got 1820 on the SAT's (1230 M+V) and I'm taking the ACTs next week, and have alot of EC's and crap. I'm a poli-sci major.</p>

<p>Right now I have a list of 7 schools I want to apply to: Wisconsin, Texas, Washington, Pitt, Ohio State, Rutgers and LSU, However there are about another 10 I am on the fence about.</p>

<p>I'm looking for a Big City, Academic Party School (a school that will benifit both my education and my social life), preferably a large school in a liberal area (for career reason)</p>

<p>The schools are Cal (because my parents will probably make me) , UC Davis, UCSC, Tulane, Florida State, Michigan State, Arizona State, Tulane, NYU, American and Colorado</p>

<p>Which ones are possibly worth an aplication, and which ones arent?</p>

2

<p>What about UCSB?</p>

<p>My parents also wanted me to apply to Cal, which I did, but had I not received a fee waiver for the application, it would have just been a huge waste of money. UC Davis is definitely not in a big city, and if there are other schools on your list that are easier to get into and equally as affordable, I would probably not apply. Tulane seems like it will suit your needs perfectly.</p>

<p>It would help a lot to have your thoughts on the schools, though. What are your concerns about the schools you’re on the fence about?</p>

3

<p>Michigan State: it’s the weather, the paarty atmoshpere and the eduation next to the schools I’m applying to.</p>

<p>Cal: I don’t think I can get in and even if I did, I’d probably chose Wisconsin for social reasons, and because I like the history of Wisconsin alot more</p>

<p>UC Davis: I love sacramento, and I have stayed there, but for how hard it is to get in vs. the quality of the Poli Sci Program, I don’t know if it’s worth it against say ohio state, rutgers or Udub, which are all more prestigious and easier to get into</p>

<p>UCSC: is just because my councilor wants me to have something of a back up in california, just incase I want to stay, I like the area, it’s easy to get into, but it dosen’t have a well respected polisci program</p>

<p>Tulane: I love the location and other things about it, however it’s hard to get into, expencive, and it’s reputation is debatable</p>

<p>Florida state: I’m drawn to it for the same reason as I am to LSU, it’s more reputable in poli sci, but hader to get into, and I like the Idea of going to school in Baton Rouge more than in Florida, But I could throw it in there as an extra</p>

<p>ASU: suits my needs, but I think I’d perfer LSU as a safety </p>

<p>NYU: It’s another risk vs. reward thing</p>

<p>American: It’s all about location, but it’s smaller, and less suited towards my non political nerd and location needs and yeah</p>

<p>Colorado: I know a lot of cool people going there, It has a somewhat reputable polisci program, but it’s not in a huge city.</p>

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<p>You’re applying to a lot of out of state publics. Are your parents willing to pay the out-of-state costs? OOS publics can cost $35k-50k per year.</p>

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<p>Tulane’s reputation is actually stellar.</p>

<p>I don’t really understand your concerns about American. If you’re majoring in poli-sci, it’s excellent for that.</p>

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<p>It’s the “Party School” thing and that it’s small and private (Samething with Tulane)</p>

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<p>and as for price, LSU is actually cheaper than most of the UC’s for instate tuition and room and board.</p>

<p>And I’ll be able to finance these.</p>

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<p>I mean it’d be cheaper for someone from California to go to LSU than to a UC</p>

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<p>Florida State seems like a good school for you. Just apply and see what happens.</p>

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<p>I would put in Penn State instead of OSU - better reputation and much much nicer campus.</p>

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<p>I always like to show parents this chart before decisions come out:</p>

<p>[UC</a> Admissions Statistics](<a href=“http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/uc_admissions_statistics.htm]UC”>http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/uc_admissions_statistics.htm)</p>

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<p>Tulane is no longer as much of a party school as the rep that hangs on. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of partying, as there is at any school. But it is no more than most and less than quite a few. Why? As the academic quality of the incoming classes has gone up, the balance has gotten better. Again, it is far from nerd heaven, just saying it as much or as little of a party school (and in this context party=drinking) as you want it to be. There are tons of non-drinking and light drinking activities around and the school has really stepped up the efforts to provide on campus alternatives as well. So don’t let that hold you back. Tulane will be a reach with your current stats, but certainly possible. And you are right, it is expensive and you would be unlikely to receive merit aid.</p>

<p>Cal is a huge stretch. Frankly it is probably a waste of time, but if you don’t mind that and a few bucks you have nothing to lose. NYU also a (smaller) stretch, about the same as Tulane, and you would want to be sure you are comfortable with the fact that it has virtually no campus.</p>

<p>Baton Rouge not really a big city, but Phoenix (Tempe) is. I think ASU a good choice for you in that regard, as well as good poli sci programs. Also, Boulder not that much further from Denver (30 miles) as Davis is to Sacramento (16 miles), so maybe that moves Colorado up in your list. And Boulder is very cool, way nicer than Davis.</p>

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<p>Look at UAlbany as a safety. It’s known as a party school, with a solid polysci program that can get you an internship in one of the most influential political cities in the country (capital of the 3rd largest state).</p>

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<p>True Randum, but if he is concerned about the weather in Lansing Michigan, Albany will really turn him off, lol.</p>

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<p>Pfffff the weather in Albany is perfect</p>

<p>Plus it can’t be much better in Madison</p>

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<p>*and as for price, LSU is actually cheaper than most of the UC’s for instate tuition and room and board.</p>

<p>And I’ll be able to finance these. *</p>

<p>Are you saying that you’ll have to take out loans to attend an OOS school? Who will be taking out these loans? Your parents or you? </p>

<p>As a student, you can’t borrow much. Did you know that? For freshman year, you can only borrow about $5500. That won’t get you far. </p>

<p>how much will your parents pay??</p>

<p>Some of these schools that you’re considering are $40k-50k per year. How will you pay for them?</p>

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<p>I could put up with the weather if I know it’d be worth it in albany.</p>

<p>And as for financing I know the answer to those questions, I don’t really want to tell other people, but trust me I’ll be fine.</p>

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<p>ASU sounds like a really good fit, provided that you can afford it.</p>

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<p>Very appropriate questioning Mom2college.</p>

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<p>

Sure, but most students don’t attend school in the summer. lol</p>

<p>You are right about Madison. Spent one winter there, wasn’t there for the next one.</p>