<p>So. After being booted EA from my #1 choice, I'm left pretty heartbroken. I feel like I need to start totally over. Or atleast get a few more schools on my list. </p>
<p>I'm looking for an urban school. Liberal arts preferably. I would like to be in the midwest for college, but I wouldn't mind going Northeast. I want to study Political Science but I'm looking for a school that is all-around strong in regard to academics.</p>
<p>My ACT is a 28 (11 Essay). My GPA is around a 3.5 UW, maybe a 3.8 or a 4.0 weighted. I'm in the top quarter of my class. It has been a significant upward trend since freshman year (something like 3.0, 3.2, 3.9) Editor in chief, NHS, Council secretary, yearbook editor, and many other EC leadership/community service. I have great recs written from teachers that know me very well; I can/have written personal essays that I am very confident about.</p>
<p>I'm being a bit vague here, but does anyone have any advice? I'm in at DePaul and U of I already. I'm applying to Boston U and Macalester (huge reach but my top choice right now). </p>
<p>I'm open to any suggestions: safeties, matches, reaches... preferably catered to my stats, if at all possible. Thanks.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is a very good LAC with strong political science program and many internships in Washington. HC has a nice campus and better reputation than BU.</p>
<p>University of Rochester has an excellent Political Science department and I think you can get in... UR really likes kids who show improvement... The only thing that is hurting you is your ACT score but you never know...</p>
<p>Another excellent school to consider (just outside the Midwest) is Secretary of State Rice's alma mater, University of Denver. It is an up-and-coming mid-sized University that likes to interview every applicant (so you can shine here). As a testament to its growing stature, one of its students was recently named a Rhodes Scholar.</p>
<p>Another favorite of mine just outside the Midwest is the University of Tulsa, also a mid-sized solid university with relatively low tuition for a private university (only BYU charges lower tuition among the private universities in the top 100 national universities - public and private - per U.S. News). Along with its usual complement of Goldwater Scholars this year (for science and math), TU also had two Truman Scholars (national scholarships for those intending public service).</p>
<p>Par72 please stop recommending Holy Cross in EVERY single post you make, I bet if you check the IPs you'll find he is the same guy as the guy who got banned for having 3k+ posts all about holy cross.</p>
<p>I too think Univ of Rochester is a good bet, most kids that go there submit SAT scores though, but might as well give it a try</p>
<p>I will repeat this in another post: "YOU SHOULDN'T TAKE REJECTION PERSONALLY." I can't tell you how many people that I have met in life that has been rejected from their #1 choice yet succeeded phenominally at other schools! Honestly, if I didn't know better, I would swear there is an element of "roll of the dice." </p>
<p>Remember, schools want a diversified class and not necessarily a diversified student. If they want an athlete, or someone who is very musical, or someone from a lesser known state, any of these variables can affect undergraduate admissions.</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying, taxguy, and I'm REALLY starting to believe that there is the random factor in admissions. Regardless, that doesn't help me in any way, shape, or form. And the rejection is making me look at other options, which I actually think is a positive thing. I'm broadening my options here and at the same time being realistic. </p>
<p>Could answer though, what was your first choic and why it appealed to you so much? That would help me make more suggestions and gain a better picture of what you're looking for.</p>
<p>Sorry Cre8tive1, didn't even see your question when I responded to taxguy... it was U Chicago. And the whole atmosphere appealed to me - "life of the mind" and such. Sorry if I'm being vague here... thanks for your help.</p>
<p>No I read you exactly, and University of Chicago is unique in that it is one of the few elite institutions in an urban setting to offer that feeling, which something hard to find or duplicate.</p>
<p>If you could put Swarthmore right next to Philadelphia instead of in the suburbs, that would probably be exactly what you want, but since that's not happening anytime soon...</p>
<p>Someone already mention Trinity College</p>
<p>I'm also strongly suggest that Boston College seems much closer to what you want the Boston University. A reach, but a perfect match for what you want perfect.</p>
<p>I also want you to look at Loyola University of Chicago.</p>
<p>Okay, so those are the three school I'm [N]telling** you to look at. What I'd also suggest for further options are:</p>
<p>American University
Haverford
Villanova
Bradley and DePaul (one which you have already looked at) both seem like safe bets for you. I'd check out Bradley as well.</p>
<p>And if you will stretch your mind, take a peak at University of San Francisco, small private Jesuit institution in literally the heart of San Francisco, only about 3,00 students, and I think you may enjoy it. Even if you're not fond of the west coast, it is hard to hate downtown San Francisco, especially being just 2 block from Golden Gate Park. I actually think down San Francisco is a better urban setting for a college student to focus, study, and live than Manhattan, a lot less congestion and distraction and very scenic.</p>
<p>Thanks cre8tive, the suggestions definitely helped in finding more schools to look at....</p>
<p>Keeping in mind the majors I'm interested in (poltiical science, urban studies, maybe geography)... I will be applying to these schools:
-American University
-Boston University
-Fordham University
-New York University (maybe.. I think it might be a big reach, so I'm unsure)
-Northeastern University
-MAYBE Trinity College... I still want to research it a bit more.</p>
<p>Cre8tive- I'm already accepted at DePaul. Loyola, unfortunately, does not the majors I"m interested in. Also, some of the schools you listed (which was very helpful, again) have deadlines that are beginning of January... while I could get the application in by then, there's no possible way I could get the transcripts and recommendations in by the deadline. So I've been looking closer at 1/15 deadlines.</p>
<p>kcirsch- I've looked at Reed; I think it's way too much of a reach for me.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help, guys, I feel a lot more confident. Even though I expected the rejection I can't say I wasn't a bit crushed... hopefully I'll have a chance at some of the new schools I listed above (probably won't apply to NYU).</p>
<p>Do you not have your reccomendations complete already? Tey only need to be copied over and an official transcript can be obtained within a few days even if you're on vacation. Students call into school all the time for transcripts. You need to work with your guidance if you really want some of these schools because 11 days should be plenty of time to get this stuff together if you've already completed the application for one school. And also realize that it is postmark by January 1st.</p>
<p>My recommendations are personalized for the school- "To ___ College" and a lot of them need a counselor evaluation which my counselor has, I do not.</p>
<p>CBA321 - Besides the schools you already mentioned, here are a few others that might pique your interest. Consider Drew University in suburban New Jersey just outside New York City; a small solid up-and-coming LAC. It is known for merit aid and has a strong political science program and Manhattan is at your doorstep.</p>
<p>If Washington D.C. is to your liking, also consider Catholic University which is strong in political science as well as liberal arts in general. Again, your scores definitely put you in the running. </p>
<p>Undoubtedly, you are resilient and resourceful as your posts show and you are going to do extraordinarily well at whatever fine university/college is lucky to get you. As a transfer student with a couple false starts in the college/university arena, I felt some of the "ouches" you are currently experiencing. You are now proactively taking the next steps to decide your future which will make this ouch a dim memory before too long. Chicago doesn't know what it is missing.</p>