Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:50     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
I wouldn’t be so focused on perceived strength of political science departments. They don’t vary too much among top schools
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:47     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Colleges with term-length programs in D.C. may be of particular interest. Hamilton's D.C. program, for example, was initiated over 50 years ago and offers associated internships. The school itself offers academic tracks in basic government, world politics and public policy.

But it is in the middle of nowhere, as is Colgate, Williams, and Midd…
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:46     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Macalaster

+1 came on to write same thing. Urban location, great school, big international tradition, even a little merit aid

Macalester also has EA and they let you know in time to decide on an ED2…
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:45     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For reach, id look at Georgetown. Mid size in a city and they love private school kids and 1500+ sat. For targets could be Case Western, William and Mary (maybe the st andrews jt program), URichmond, maybe Lehigh, Tulane, Emory, Wisconsin, Wake, Villanova, Hamilton, BU, GW. Lots of larger public options.

Emory is harder to get into than Georgetown.


Yes, Georgetown REALLY likes some of the DC privates. They routinely admit down to a 3.5 from ours. Weird but true.
Emory requires a high 3.8 if ED. otherwise it's a 3.9 from our school.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:44     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Colleges with term-length programs in D.C. may be of particular interest. Hamilton's D.C. program, for example, was initiated over 50 years ago and offers associated internships. The school itself offers academic tracks in basic government, world politics and public policy.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:44     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Macalaster

+1 came on to write same thing. Urban location, great school, big international tradition, even a little merit aid
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:42     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Targets:
Wesleyan
Davidson
Lehigh
Bucknell

Likelies:
GW
Conn
Denison
Lafayette
Dickinson


OK, I know some on this board don’t get the SLACs, but Wesleyan and Davidson are not targets, especially in RD. Denison and Lafayette probably aren’t likelies either. Maybe none of them are in RD when you consider demonstrated interest.


Yup, was thinking same. Both reaches in RD. And with a 3.75 maybe a reach in ED, too (depending on school context).
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:39     Subject: Re:What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If money isn’t an issue look at UC San Diego and UC Davis. You need much much lower stats being from out of state than in state. UC will calculate their own GPA so if he took APs sophomore or junior year that will increase his weighted scores. Both schools have excellent poli sci departments and study abroad options.


Someday, people back East will recognize the opportunities at UC Davis and UCSD. But for UCD that is probably far off into the future which is good for CA residents.


Between the wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, sky high housing prices and you know, lack of drinking water, I don't know why anyone who doesn't already live in CA would choose to move there.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:38     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:Targets:
Wesleyan
Davidson
Lehigh
Bucknell

Likelies:
GW
Conn
Denison
Lafayette
Dickinson


OK, I know some on this board don’t get the SLACs, but Wesleyan and Davidson are not targets, especially in RD. Denison and Lafayette probably aren’t likelies either. Maybe none of them are in RD when you consider demonstrated interest.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:24     Subject: Re:What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:If money isn’t an issue look at UC San Diego and UC Davis. You need much much lower stats being from out of state than in state. UC will calculate their own GPA so if he took APs sophomore or junior year that will increase his weighted scores. Both schools have excellent poli sci departments and study abroad options.


Someday, people back East will recognize the opportunities at UC Davis and UCSD. But for UCD that is probably far off into the future which is good for CA residents.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 21:21     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For reach, id look at Georgetown. Mid size in a city and they love private school kids and 1500+ sat. For targets could be Case Western, William and Mary (maybe the st andrews jt program), URichmond, maybe Lehigh, Tulane, Emory, Wisconsin, Wake, Villanova, Hamilton, BU, GW. Lots of larger public options.

Emory is harder to get into than Georgetown.

For his major, polisci, Georgetown is more desired than Emory.
On the other hand, Georgetown is weak on stem and premed.

True but that still doesn't make Emory a match.
y

Georgetown is great for poli sci for obvious reasons but Emory is in a politically dynamic state, near the state Capitol and other state government offices.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 20:48     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For reach, id look at Georgetown. Mid size in a city and they love private school kids and 1500+ sat. For targets could be Case Western, William and Mary (maybe the st andrews jt program), URichmond, maybe Lehigh, Tulane, Emory, Wisconsin, Wake, Villanova, Hamilton, BU, GW. Lots of larger public options.

Emory is harder to get into than Georgetown.

For his major, polisci, Georgetown is more desired than Emory.
On the other hand, Georgetown is weak on stem and premed.

True but that still doesn't make Emory a match.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 20:19     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
Anonymous wrote:This is a classical borderline applicant, it's a tough situation. 3.7-3.8 applicants are extremely rarely admitted to HYP.

With a higher test score > 1560, you may get in one of Cornell, Dartmouth, Penn, and Columbia; or more often deferred then rejected or accepted.

Better luck at Georgetown and Emory and WUSTL if the score is 1500+.

It also depends on what composed of applicant pool this year at your school.

GL


It’s a private thought right?

My 3.8uw 33 ACT was admitted to Cornell and Michigan OOS
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 20:16     Subject: What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
This is a classical borderline applicant, it's a tough situation. 3.7-3.8 applicants are extremely rarely admitted to HYP.

With a higher test score > 1560, you may get in one of Cornell, Dartmouth, Penn, and Columbia; or more often deferred then rejected or accepted.

Better luck at Georgetown and Emory and WUSTL if the score is 1500+.

It also depends on what composed of applicant pool this year at your school.

GL
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 20:11     Subject: Re:What are some ideas for "target schools" for 1500+ SAT, 3.75 unweighted gpa, male, poli sci?
If money isn’t an issue look at UC San Diego and UC Davis. You need much much lower stats being from out of state than in state. UC will calculate their own GPA so if he took APs sophomore or junior year that will increase his weighted scores. Both schools have excellent poli sci departments and study abroad options.