So not fair!!

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Hrm. I think most of those institutions have great programs as far as theoretical learning. DC is more hands on; you can get an internship opportunity faster there than, say, oh, Rochester, NY?</p>

22

<p>Here is a more complete ranking from US News</p>

<p>2005 US NEWS Political Science (Ph.D.) </p>

<ol>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 5.0 </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) 4.9 </li>
<li> University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 4.8 </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) 4.7 </li>
<li> University of California–Berkeley 4.6
Yale University (CT) 4.6 </li>
<li> University of California–San Diego 4.4 </li>
<li> Duke University (NC) 4.3
University of Chicago 4.3 </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY) 4.2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.2
University of California–Los Angeles 4.2 </li>
<li> Ohio State University 4.0
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill 4.0
University of Rochester (NY) 4.0 </li>
<li> University of Wisconsin–Madison 3.9
Washington University in St. Louis 3.9 </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY) 3.8
New York University 3.8
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 3.8 </li>
<li> Northwestern University (IL) 3.6 </li>
<li> Michigan State University 3.4
Texas A&M University–College Station 3.4
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 3.4 </li>
<li> Indiana University–Bloomington 3.3
University of Iowa 3.3
University of Texas–Austin 3.3
University of Washington 3.3 </li>
<li> Emory University (GA) 3.2
Rice University (TX) 3.2
SUNY–Stony Brook 3.2
University of California–Davis 3.2
University of Maryland–College Park 3.2
University of Pennsylvania 3.2 </li>
<li> Pennsylvania State University–University Park 3.1
University of California–Irvine 3.1 </li>
<li> Florida State University 3.0
Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.0
University of Arizona 3.0
University of Virginia 3.0 </li>
<li> Georgetown University (DC) 2.9
George Washington University (DC) 2.9
Rutgers State University–New Brunswick (NJ) 2.9
University of Notre Dame (IN) 2.9
University of Pittsburgh 2.9 </li>
<li> Brown University (RI) 2.8
University of Colorado–Boulder 2.8 </li>
<li> Arizona State University 2.6
Claremont Graduate School (CA) 2.6
Syracuse University (NY) 2.6
University of California–Santa Barbara 2.6
University of Florida 2.6
Vanderbilt University (TN) 2.6 </li>
<li> University of Georgia 2.5
University of Kansas 2.5
University of South Carolina–Columbia 2.5
University of Southern California 2.5
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee 2.5 </li>
</ol>

<p>2005 US NEWS Political Science Specialties: Comparative Politics </p>

<ol>
<li> Harvard University (MA) </li>
<li> University of California–Berkeley </li>
<li> University of California–San Diego </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA)
University of California–Los Angeles </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY)
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor </li>
<li> Yale University (CT) </li>
<li> Duke University (NC) </li>
<li> University of Chicago </li>
<li> University of Wisconsin–Madison </li>
<li> University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill </li>
<li> New York University </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY) </li>
<li> University of Rochester (NY) </li>
<li> University of Washington </li>
<li> University of Notre Dame (IN) </li>
</ol>

<p>2005 US NEWS Political Science Specialties: American Politics</p>

<ol>
<li> University of Michigan–Ann Arbor </li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) </li>
<li> Ohio State University </li>
<li> University of California–San Diego </li>
<li> University of California–Berkeley </li>
<li> Yale University (CT) </li>
<li> University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill </li>
<li> Duke University (NC) </li>
<li> University of Minnesota–Twin Cities </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY)
University of Wisconsin–Madison </li>
<li> Washington University in St. Louis </li>
<li> University of California–Los Angeles </li>
<li> Michigan State University </li>
<li> Texas A&M University–College Station
University of Rochester (NY) </li>
<li> Massachusetts Institute of Technology </li>
<li> University of Washington </li>
<li> SUNY–Stony Brook </li>
</ol>

<p>2005 US NEWS Political Science Specialties: International Politics</p>

<ol>
<li> Harvard University (MA) </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY)
Princeton University (NJ) </li>
<li> University of Michigan–Ann Arbor </li>
<li> University of California–San Diego </li>
<li> Duke University (NC)
University of California–Berkeley </li>
<li> University of Chicago </li>
<li> New York University </li>
<li> Yale University (CT) </li>
<li> Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ohio State University </li>
<li> University of California–Los Angeles </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY)
Pennsylvania State University–University Park </li>
<li> University of Minnesota–Twin Cities </li>
<li> Rice University (TX)</li>
</ol>

<p>I hope these are the right ones...let me know if these rankings aren't right from US News.</p>

23

<p>Actually it gives even more weight for Rochester in undergrad because of the fact that while in Harvard you have TAs teaching a good deal, Rochester there are NO TA's teaching you at all. It is the same professors teaching the grads as the undergrads so this is really giving you a scope of the department</p>

24

<p>Hrm. I hope you mean 600 in each subject area and not 600 composite. :P..</p>

<p>You may want to try and get that SAT up to 2000. That's what, 666.6667 each subject? A 670 in each subject, almost? Give or take a few points?</p>

25

<p>totally do not listen to these peopel... there is nothing wrong with applying to 15 colleges... hey if u dont get in to 14 of them at least u have 15. better safe than sorry. </p>

<p>there's nothing wrong with applying to american: i did, and i didnt even know where it was.. haha... but it was FREE! go to commonapp.org and search for all the schools that are free if u apply online. save u lots of $$ and its common app so u got the whole app almost done, just some supplements and such. like case western is a great back up for med students if u dont get into JHU or something, im just making an example. i only spent $400 on apps and i applied to 15 colleges. the ives and ivyplus are really expensive, ranging from 60-80/app, so basicly thats where all my money went, (HYPS + cornell) i end up going to wellesley, which was free.. haha so "technically" i could've spent $0 and gone to a great college, but u know... what IF u got into harvard? u never know. say wellesley was ur first choice, what if u get into harvard and not into wellesley? u NEVER know. there is NOTHING absolutely NOTHING wrong with applying to many colleges. people are telling u that so they reduce competition haha well i dont care anymore seeing as im already through with undergrad apps. seriously, i think i applied to too little schools. (maybe i would've gotten into MIT, who knows? guy from my school with same stats did) if u have the time to polish ur apps really nicely, apply to 


AS MANY

as you can. leaves u more options for choice and chance. trust me. </p>

<p>ps... commonapp is a gift from God! i ended up not applying to upenn (who knows, maybe would've gotten in there, but my situation? no way im gonna write 2 essays in 5 hours and pay 70 bucks), uchicago, and northwestern because of their essays and amount of time required for applications. </p>

<p>ALSO... during summer do write ur essays. when school starts it gets kind of overwhelming especially with APs and stuff, so i didnt get a chance until winter break to work on my apps, which meant i couldnt apply early to any schools and i couldnt apply to berkely (insane 11/1 deadline) </p>

<p>schools i regret not applying to:
berk
mit
uchicago
upenn
columbia
northwestern
whilliams
swarthmore
amherst</p>

26

<p>These are all fine schools. Looking at grad rankings is particularly irrelevant since you are looking at LACS.</p>

<p>I think you are missing some awesome schools that you might like. I think Vassar is one you cannot ignore. I have found it to be one of the coolest LACs out there, very open, liberal, cool, fun, with great academics and you have a strong shot. Also, Skidmore as a safety.</p>

27

<p>totally... top 20 LACs since ur into LACs, pick out 5-10 of the top regular national universities, then pick out some safeties and matches</p>

28

<p>If I were you:</p>

<p>BIG Reach
Amherst</p>

<p>Reach
Vassar
Wesleyan
Tufts
Middlebury</p>

<p>Match
American
Hamilton</p>

<p>Safety
Skidmore</p>

29

<p>Thank you so much guys. I appreciate your comments and will definitely consider them.</p>

<p>Keep commenting : )</p>

30

<p>i applied to 14 total... It wasn't as tough as i thought but in hindsight i never had the chance to really focus on a few colleges and do really good in applying to them... Like, applying to honors. Applying to 14 honors programs isn't good and i didn't do that. Financial aid i barely got away with. 5 seems too small but anything above 10 is not smart unless you're "into" college app stuff.</p>

31

<p>I don't think your counselor can put any limit on how many colleges you can apply to. You can apply to as many as you like. I think he/she might just want you to limit your list for his/her convenience. I would think tho that 15 is a little on the high side. I also agree with Celebrian25 that you should make sure you have some safeties.</p>

32

<p>i made my mom fill out my finacial aide since its not like i know exactly how much is in the bank anyways. i mean... why bother asking her when i can just say, okay dont tell, just write it down. saves time</p>