<p>Hello:
I always planned on double-majoring in Political Science and History, but after a lot of research and taking a cross-registered history/political science class at UW-Madison (under my school’s dual enrollment program) on Africa, I have become interested in Global/Public Health, and I would love to do a double major in Political Science (or International Relations) and Global or Public Health. Of course, only a few colleges offer a major, minor, or concentration in Global/Public Health, so I would be satisfied with good pre-medical/career advising and extracurricular and academic opportunities to explore this interest.
Here are the colleges I am thinking of applying to:
Amherst College
Boston College (Applied EA)
Bowdoin College
Brown University
Carleton College
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Georgetown University (Applied EA)
Grinnell College
Harvard College
Macalester College
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
University of Chicago (Applied EA)
University of Wisconsin at Madison
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
Possibly Clark University, Allegheny College, or College of Wooster.
Would any of these be better fitted for my interests than the others?</p>
<p>At the risk of adding to your too lengthy list, Duke is an obvious suggestion. Great programs in political science, public policy, and global health. DukeEngage and other funding for students to volunteer overseas during the summer. Pretty good financial aid.</p>
<p><a href=“http://polisci.duke.edu”>http://polisci.duke.edu</a>
<a href=“http://sanford.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate”>http://sanford.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate</a>
<a href=“http://focus.duke.edu/clusters-courses/past-clusters/2012/07/16/global-health-determinants-and-solutions”>http://focus.duke.edu/clusters-courses/past-clusters/2012/07/16/global-health-determinants-and-solutions</a> (freshman program)
<a href=“Undergraduate Programs”>http://globalhealth.duke.edu/education-and-training/undergraduate/major</a>
<a href=“Experiential Learning & Field Research”>https://globalhealth.duke.edu/education-and-training/experiential-learning</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://dukeengage.duke.edu”>http://dukeengage.duke.edu</a>
<a href=“http://undergraduateresearch.duke.edu/opportunities/opportunities”>http://undergraduateresearch.duke.edu/opportunities/opportunities</a></p>
<p>A lot of the other obvious suspects are also curiously missing (Johns Hopkins, Wash U, Emory, U Rochester, Tulane, and GWU). </p>
<p>You certainly have a lot of good colleges on your list, but I don’t think anyone can help you narrow down without knowing what you’re looking for in a college. Your interests have already changed once, and they could very well do so again. What do you want in a college besides your academic interests? Your list is all over the place in size, location, and campus feel/atmosphere.</p>
<p>@warblersrule: Yes, sorry, I should have been more specific in what I want.
Some major things I am looking for in a college are:
~Mostly small class sizes, (less than ~40-50) mostly taught by professors (Of course, wherever I go there will be relatively large intro classes, and I am fine with that to a certain extent)
~Good career/fellowship advisors and offices
~Rigorous yet not cutthroat atmosphere
~No “screening” of med school applicants
~Opportunities for undergraduate research
~Intellectual students who are really interested in learning
~Plenty of opportunities and organizations for political activism
~Interesting, approachable professors (for the most part)
~Not too much drinking or drug use (I’m fine with some of both, but I don’t want everyone getting drunk or high on the weekends)
~Vibrant residential life (Not a “commuter college”)
~Opportunity to study abroad in Great Britain, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, or South Africa in a program recognized by the college/university (I want to make sure any credits I earn while studying abroad will transfer)
~Welcoming and accepting atmosphere for LGBT students
Obviously, there might not be a college that fulfills all of these wishes, but I would like one that fulfills most of them. And you are absolutely right in noting that my “interests have already changed once, and they could very well do so again.” I would like a college that has strong programs overall and a firm foundation in the Liberal Arts. I am pretty certain, however, that my desire to major in political science or public policy, at least, will remain.
I also would welcome advice as to whether or not to keep Vassar & Swarthmore on my list. I loved the unabashedly intellectual atmosphere at Swarthmore, their politically aware student body, and the excellent preparation for graduate/professional school provided through the Honors Program and the overall rigor of Swarthmore academics. But I am worried about grade deflation (or at least, lack of grade inflation) there, which could affect my chances of getting into a graduate/professional program of my choice (especially for med or law school, which place a premium on high GPA). Regarding Vassar, I am just wondering about the strength of their science programs, etc.
Thanks for responding!</p>
<p>Wesleyan Pluses:</p>
<p>Research in Political Science (Government) - check.</p>
<p><a href=“Report: Md governor's race among nation's most negative”>Report: Md governor's race among nation's most negative;
<p>Alumni Connections - check</p>
<p><a href=“Private Blog Message”>http://community.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2014/11/05/alumni-in-the-elections/</a></p>
<p>Political Activism - check.</p>
<p><a href=“http://media.middletownpress.com/2014/09/30/photos-wesleyan-students-host-event-to-honor-michael-brown/#1”>http://media.middletownpress.com/2014/09/30/photos-wesleyan-students-host-event-to-honor-michael-brown/#1</a></p>
<p>Vibrant Residential Life - check.</p>
<p><a href=“231 Pine Street Details, Construction Services - Wesleyan University”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/construction/projects-completed/senior_housing/231_pine.html</a></p>
<p>Connections To Kenya - check</p>
<p><a href=“Odede ’12, Posner ’09 Receive Award to Build School in Kenya”>http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/04/13/odede-12-posner-09-receive-award-to-build-school-in-kenya/</a></p>
<p>Study Abroad Opportunities - check</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/programs/africa.html”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/ois/programs/africa.html</a></p>
<p>Wesleyan Minuses (as far as OP is concerned):</p>
<p>I think that where you find the degree of student activism that you do at a place like Wesleyan, you’re also going to find a pretty sick party scene. You can avoid it pretty easily but it’s there, nonetheless.</p>
<p>I strongly suspect that there is some pre-med screening at all LACs. I know at Wesleyan they have something like a pre-med recomendation letter which is highly sought after. There’s no rule that says, you can’t apply to med school without one. I’m just sayin’…</p>
<p>What are your stats? Unweighted GPA, test scores (even a PSAT score is helpful). Also, this is a field where it is fairly tough to find employment – don’t go into a lot of debt as an undergrad.</p>
<p>@intparent: I go to a large, public school and rank somewhere in the top 3%.
Cumulative Unweighted GPA: 3.95
I have only taken 2 AP classes (European History & AP English Language & Composition) as the school I attended in 9th & 10th grade did not offer honors or AP classes, but I am taking 6 more this year (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature & Composition, AP US History).
I have also taken 3 college courses (one at UW Madison, one at a local community/technical college and another at American University) and I am taking another this year at UW-Madison under my school district’s dual-enrollment program.
US History SAT II: 800; Literature SAT II: 740
AP US History (4) (Self-studied, taken in 9th grade), AP European History (5), AP English Language & Composition (5)
ACT: 35 (English, 35; Math, 32; Reading 36; Science 35)
SAT: 2270 (Critical Reading: 800; Math: 750; Writing: 720)
I have good, but not outstanding extracurriculars except for my independent research of history and volunteering with a political campaign. I also have about 600 volunteer hours.</p>
<p>@circuitrider: Thanks for the information on Wesleyan. I am definitely keeping it on my list! </p>
<p>Are finances a concern for your family?</p>
<p>University of Richmond is a very nice LAC with majors which may fit. International studies, Polysci, healthcare, and international studies. DD1 is a biochemistry and CS double major and has been working in a lab starting freshman year. Lots of research opportunities in humanities as well as science. I have attended several research symposiums at UR and visited with many enthusiastic students as they manned their posters- many fascinating projects. Paid summer internships are available in both sciences and humanities. Daughter will be spending next semester studying at the university of St. Andrews in Scotland, many students study abroad. UR has reciprocal programs all over the world. She is not a big partier, and has no trouble finding things to do and like minded friends. They offer a good number of big scholarships, your stats are competitive, but if you are a senior, you have missed the Dec 1 scholarship deadline.</p>
<p>Another LAC to consider is Franklin and Marshall in PA. They have public policy, public health, international studies. Several family friends have students who love it there. DD1 also applied and it was a close second to the University of Richmond. Lots of research and study abroad opportunities there too.</p>
<p>@shawnspencer: Yes, my family will be able to pay about $30,000 a year. But I don’t want to exhaust all their money (for grad school and my siblings’ sake), so I am trying to find colleges with net prices of $20,000 and below. I have run the net price calculators on all the colleges/universities I listed above, and they are all within that range.
@warblersrule: I do love Johns Hopkins, but I am a little frightened by the stereotype of cutthroat pre-professionalism. Do you know if there is any truth to that?
Oh, and Duke looks great!</p>
<p>Williams has an excellent political science program and a strong concentration in Public Health.
<a href=“http://public-health.williams.edu/the-program/”>http://public-health.williams.edu/the-program/</a></p>
<p>Excellent medical school and health profession advising. Law school and medical school admissions track record is very good. They offer about 30 Africa based study abroad programs, plus their own program at Oxford/Exeter. There’s also an Africana studies concentration, but it’s hard to tell how active it is.</p>
<p>I was just perusing the Winter Study (January term) course list – for a different inquiry – and noticed that they offered a course featuring a trip to Uganda to work with marginalized (often HIV+) youth. They wouldn’t necessarily offer this course every year but it gives you an idea of the kind of projects that you’d have access to.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for that information on Williams, @momrath! I knew Williams was good, but I had never heard of those programs! </p>
<p>Political science you can find pretty much anywhere. It’s the health major part that’s harder to find. (I have a PhD in public health, btw.)</p>
<p>I know that Columbia is trying to expand the public health offerings for undergrads. They’re trying to make a public health major; the administrative obstacle is that the School of Public Health (and the majority of its professors) is located on 168th St, which is about 50 blocks north of Columbia’s main campus at 116th St. But there are some undergrad level public health classes taught on the main campus (my former advisor will be teaching a health psychology class starting this year!)</p>
<p>The Five Colleges have a certificate program in culture, health, and science, which is similar to public health. So that would be Amherst. Brown has an interdisciplinary concentration in public health; Brown is becoming a really great place to be in public health, as they have a brand-new school and the Ivy brand has the capacity to attract a lot of great professors to the school over the next few years (there are already some there).</p>
<p>Yale is an excellent place to do public health, too. They have a special 5-year BA-BS/MPH program, where you can earn a BA from Yale College and an MPH from YSPH in 5 years.</p>
<p>Wesleyan has the Science in Society major, and I know that they are hiring a new faculty member with an emphasis on health there (I was gonna apply for that job, lol). Georgetown has a major in international health, so that’s a good place to be.</p>
<p>You might also consider Johns Hopkins, which has an undergraduate public health major. The University of Rochester has several undergrad health majors - I think one in epidemiology, and then one or more in more general community health. I also agree with the suggestions of Tulane and George Washington. Emory has a BA in human health and a minor in global health, and you can do a 5-year MPH program with the Rollins school (in biostats or environmental health). Another place to consider is Vanderbilt, which has an undergraduate major in health, medicine, and society.</p>
<p>As for the other ones - Swarthmore is good for policy, with both political science and public policy majors (and peace and conflict studies, if that appeals to you). But they don’t have a formal health program. You maybe could take classes at Penn, but there are so many other schools on your list that are better for what you want.</p>
<p>Hmm, I didn’t know Williams had a public health minor! They had a job in my field this year. I eventually decided against applying, but maybe I should have, lol.</p>
<p>
That is up there with “Is Chicago really the place fun goes to die?” as one of the most commonly asked questions over the years. Hopkins students have given much better responses than I can provide, so I recommend doing a search in the JHU forum for some of the answers to that question. You can also look for relevant posts on [JHU’s</a> own admissions forum](<a href=“Taiga”>Taiga). </p>
<p>Grinnell definitely fits all your criteria, including this cooperative program for an MPH with University of Iowa, which lets students get a BA / MA in five rather than six years:
<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/academics/offices/ui-mph”>http://www.grinnell.edu/academics/offices/ui-mph</a></p>
<p>@juillet: Wow, I did not expect such a detailed, knowledgeable answer. I even printed it out to keep for reference! Thank you so much!
The Five Colleges’ program sounds great. One of my concerns about Amherst was that it would be too small and insular, but a certificate that includes study at other members of the five colleges would definitely give me a larger pool of classes and acquaintances. So Amherst definitely stays on the list.
Brown looks great too, and I imagine there’s plenty of opportunities with the presence of the Alpert Medical School and whatnot. I also sensed a real focus on international studies/relations, (which is what drew me to Brown in the first place) which could contribute to a good public health program.
Yale is all around amazing, and I would love to go there.
Wesleyan’s Science in Society sounds wonderful, and they also have a few four year BA/MS programs in the sciences, which might be a plus.
And I just read about Georgetown’s program after I posted this, and it seemed really strong.
@SDonCC: Thanks for the info about Grinnell. I visited them and interviewed, but I never heard of that program.
@warblersrule: I supposed that stereotype was mainly legend, so I will definitely consider Johns Hopkins.
I think I may not apply to Swarthmore & Vassar, and apply to Johns Hopkins & Duke instead. I really love Duke’s global health program and the Sanford School of Public Policy, which seems right up my alley.<br>
Ahhhh…so many good choices!</p>
<p>Also, perhaps I should ask this in the essay forum, but I was wondering if it would be wise to talk about my interest in public/global health as a reason for wanting to attend these colleges (for the Why _____ College essays). Since I just developed this passion and interest over the past year, my ECs and curriculum are more heavily focused on History and Politics. I have taken Biology, Chemistry, Math Physics (honors) and I am taking AP Environmental Science this year and may take Anatomy & Physiology and I am taking AP Calculus AB & BC and Statistics, though, so I don’t think my curriculum looks too lopsided in favor of the humanities.
I guess to summarize, my question is whether or not writing about this new interest in global/public health, which derived from my interest in politics/international affairs will look bad as the interest is recent and not backed up well by my ECs.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it’s a terrific idea to reference it in the “why this college” essay. There’s no reason why you’d have to do EC’s in it to express an interest in exploring it more in college. Mentioning it shows that you have explored the particular offerings at that institution and would be excited to benefit from them. The schools want students to learn about new things!!</p>
<p>As a high school student you wouldn’t be expected to have direct experience in public/global health. Public health is an interdisciplinary field with dotted lines to political science, international relations and policy plus a science science focus. An understanding of history helps too. </p>
<p>I don’t know what your ECs are specifically, but if they relate to politics and IR, they will most like have some bearing on public/global health as well, as will your independent research. </p>
<p>Why X essays are tough because you have to walk a fine line between what the college can do for you and what you can do for the college. Take another look at your ECs and life experience and think about what you can contribute to the campus community. </p>
<p>Public health in Africa is an important, hot button topic right now, and your interest in that area could easily be expanded to explain why X is a good fit for you and you are a good fit for X. It’s the Africa subset that I think is going to get their attention, so I would suggest you explain why you are interested in Africa and how that interest aligns with the college’s initiatives.</p>
<p>I think you could tie together a lot of separate strings – politics, volunteering, Africa, health, policy, history and make a case that College X would allow you widen and deepen your understanding of all of those interrelated fields.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks. That’s good to know. My ECs include volunteering with political campaigns, debate, activism, volunteering in my school’s archives, etc.- nothing too extraordinary, but definitely geared towards politics/history. I’ll definitely write about my interest in public health in Africa specifically, and how my passion for politics and history sort of led me to that interest.</p>