Undergraduate Political Science Safety Schools?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,
I am about to enter senior year at a fairly competitive public school located close to Austin, Texas. I am looking for safety schools for political science as I am concerned that the schools I am currently considering are too far out of my range. In addition to political science being a part of my considerations I am also hoping that the school I attend is either urban or within driving distance of an urban area.

My stats are as follows. 3.3 unweighted gpa 4.2 weighted gpa (My school calculates both and calculates them based on only math, science, social studies, english, and foreign language) I took all honors and AP for everything with the exception of the two years of Spanish I took. I have taken six AP classes so far. I am also two years ahead of my districts suggested math courses as I took AP Calc AB junior year. I have a 1410 SAT.

My Extra Curricular activities are as follows. I have played high school soccer for the past three years and intend to play this year. I have played club soccer the past three years but do not intend to play next year as I do not believe I want to pursue soccer any longer. I have volunteered through my school as well as through local community programs. I have been certified as a referee since freshman year and consistently work as that during weekends during the fall and spring. Lastly I spent four summers in the Duke TIP Summer studies program.

The schools that I have been looking at online that seem very appealing include Boston University, American University, Northeastern, Loyola in Los Angeles, and UT Austin. Although I don’t see it as impossible to be admitted to one of those schools, I worry that my gpa is too low as most of the students at those schools have much higher gpas. American University is my dream school and I plan on applying early decision, but even with early decision I don’t think my chances are great. I have considered University of Denver as a safety as it has more students admitted with a low gpa, and my friend said she was impressed during a college visit. Other than that I’m basically lost regarding where I would be admitted.

Would really appreciate any feedback regarding my college search even if you do do not have an exact suggestion. I have been reading around here but I feel most other students asking for help in their search either have different stats or are looking for different things. Thanks!

2

Congratulations on your hard work and success. You sound like a great student.

Apply to the schools on your list. I don’t think it unreasonable that one will work out.

There are lots of schools where you would be a great candidate. Some that come to mind:

Macalester College: terrific urban LAC, in St. Paul, MN, the state capital; international vibe; strong in political science; really, take a good look at this one; would be very cold, coming from TX

https://www.macalester.edu/about/#/0

Denison University: outside Columbus, the capital of Ohio, beautiful campus

University of Nebraska, Lincoln: state flagship, urban school, state capital

University of Denver: I agree, a good choice

Belmont University: in Nashville, state capital, nice campus

http://www.belmont.edu/about/index.html

Dickinson College: Okay, not urban; in a small town; but near Harrisburg, state capital; great for political science/government; really beautiful LAC campus; we love the school

http://www.dickinson.edu/homepage/286/life_at_dickinson

NC State: in Raleigh, a great state capital; ACC sports

https://spia.ncsu.edu/undergraduate/political_science.php

I don’t know if you’d be accepted to all these, but it seems like you’d be a reasonable candidate at all of them. They combine strong academics with access to state capitals (government/poli sci internships). American is less competitive than Georgetown and GWU in DC, though still a competitive school, more so in recent years. George Mason University in the VA suburbs might also be an option. It’s a long commute to downtown DC, but you probably could create opportunities from there. Good luck!

3

University of Maryland and Tulane could also be a good fit. You have a solid SAT score, and American University does have good opportunity for political science.

4

If you’d consider a smaller LAC, you might want to take a look at Willamette—located in Salem, Oregon, right across the street from the state capital offices (internship opportunities). I think you would be very competitive there and they offer merit money.

Applying ED to American is definitely the way to go if you are dead set on it as first choice. The admit rate is MUCH higher than in the RD round.

5

I don’t see Mac or Dickinson as anything approaching a safety due to the OP’s GPA. I like Willamette as a suggestion.

6

You say you took two years of Spanish, but did you reach level 3? If not, fir that class into your schedule as it’ll hurt you a lot especially considering the field you want to enter. Alternatively, take college Spanish 2+3 (equivalent to 3+4 in HS) or two semesters through dual enrollment of another romance language (Portuguese, Italian, or French) or, if you’re courageous, two semesters of a critical or less commonly taught language such as Swahili, Wolof, Creole, Korean…

Kalamazoo is strong in that field and would have better odds of admissions.

7

Hi Op. good luck with senior year. No one can know for sure what will happen for any particular student.

You have a really solid sat score and good gpa Especially since your school eliminates
non-academic classes. Many colleges do that anyway.

Naturally there are schools you would assuredly gain admission with your core profile.

Of the schools you and some others have listed as possible safeties some would be more selective for you than a true safety.

These full reach schools would be BU Tulane northeastern

high match low reach would be ut Austin oos, and UMD oos. American is a high match.

@TTG posted a list of great schools that meet you thread topic question.