Where would I fit well?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm looking for schools that are medium-large in size, sub-urban or urban (preferably in the East - Chicago too), with top programs in either political science or public policy analysis. I want a school that's laid back, social, not cutthroat competitive but academically enriching and challenging - definitely somewhere with the work hard/play hard mentality. </p>

<p>My stats are - 3.97 UW GPA, 4.41 W GPA, 780 (CR) / 760 (M) / 800 (W), a few state level awards and two national awards and one very unique EC. So I think I'm pretty qualified for the top schools. So far I'm thinking about (in no particular order)</p>

<p>1.) Brown
2.) Harvard
3.) UChicago
4.) Northwestern
5.) UPenn
6.) Yale
7.) UMichigan
8.) UC Berkeley </p>

<p>I understand if some of you say that I should do my own research but I've done a lot of research and I think these schools are right for me but I'm not sure as the prestige/rigor of each of their poly sci or public policy programs. Feel free to add any others you think would fit well. Thanks so much! At this point I'm just trying to see if any of you CCers see any glaring weaknesses for any of these schools in the criteria I'm interested in</p>

2

<p>Schools to Consider:
-Princeton has Woodrow Wilson program
-Duke(low reach)
-UNC( low match
-Syracuse( safety )
-Indiana( safety )</p>

3

<p>What can your family afford? At least one of UMich and Berkeley will be OOS with very low probability of any aid.</p>

4

<p>Thanks SeatleBulldog! Any insights as to the Wilson program? I’m out of state for both UMich and Berkeley. I need substantial aid and my family’s income is in the 100-120kish range</p>

5

<p>bumpbumpbump</p>

6

<p>For what you’re looking for, Brown seems like a pretty good fit. Your list definitely needs some financial and academic safeties, though. Financial safeties should be something your family can afford without aid or that you’re sure of getting aid for, such as an in-state university. Academic safeties should generally be places where your scores and GPA are above the 75% mark of accepted students.</p>

7

<p>Surprised not to see Georgetown and George Washington on your list. If you are serious about public policy and poly sci, DC is a great place to be. The speakers, internships, faculty connections and atmosphere (because so many other students share your interest), make them obvious choices.</p>

8

<p>American U in DC has some great aid packages, and is well-known in the Public Policy arena.</p>