I’m currently a Junior and am searching for colleges to apply to. I’m planning to study History, which I really enjoy. I’m a pretty good student academically, with my final GPA probably being from 3.75 to 3.85. I’m Hispanic. I’m a great test scorer, and will probably score more than 2200 on the SAT. By the time I will graduate I will have taken 9 AP classes. I have lived in a poor South American Country and haven’t had many opportunities to do extracurriculars. I might become a NMSF. I’m currently Stanford (where I am a Legacy), Northwestern (legacy too), Princeton, and Harvard. I’m interested in Colleges that are very good for History majors. Would anyone recommend any other schools?
The schools you list are great. Financial constraints?
You need to add some “match” schools. I don’t know which are best for history majors though i would think some of the great state schools may be a good fit.
Geographically, where would you like to be? What do you want in a school? Do you like rural, suburban or urban? What are your post grad plans? Grad school?
UT- Austin, UVA, UNC, Maryland, Penn State, Ohio State… too many to list.
Yes, some financial constraints. My parents won’t be able to help with paying college. I’d prefer being in California or in the North-East. I prefer suburban, but near to a big city. I’m planning on going to either Law School or getting a Phd or Master’s in History after graduating.
Are your parents unable to help, or unwilling? This is important. In the first case, you need to aim for 100% need colleges. In the second case, you need to aim for large merit scholarship (automatic&competitive) colleges. Of course, you can aim for both but your main strategy will be guided by this need to get a scholarship.
If you’re lower income (65K max), you should apply to Questbridge.
For History: most of the top50 LACS, especially Kenyon, Hamilton, Haverford, Gettysburg, William&Mary.
If you need merit money or need safety schools beside your state flagship’s honors program: Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Earlham, Hendrix.
How are you a legacy at those two schools? Your parents went there?
In another thread, you mention that your family is lowish income?
My mom went to Northwestern and then to Stanford Law School. However, she and my dad then went to live in South America, and my mom is now a stay-at home mom. Because of that, I’m a legacy at Stanford at Northwestern, but our income is below 45k. I know it’s a bit weird, but that’s how my life is.
If you’re a high stats, low income, Hispanic legacy at Northwestern, you should be a strong candidate for admission with very good need-based aid there. You may have a decent shot at Stanford, too. However, these schools are very selective, so you do need some match and safety schools. Consider public universities in your home state. However, you might get lower net prices from some of the ~60 schools that claim to meet 100% of demonstrated need.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/15/colleges-and-universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need
For a $45K family income, your expected family contribution may be close to zero at many of these schools. “Full need” schools that are a bit less selective than the others include:
Boston College, Holy Cross, Franklin & Marshall, Occidental, Trinity, URichmond.
Be sure to run the online net price calculators for the schools that interest you
History is a popular major that is offered at all these schools.
All the Ivies, as well as selective LACs and state flagships, are likely to offer many good history courses (although coverage of specific time periods and regions will vary).
.