Best Schools for Geography

Sligh_Anarchist · January 1, 2008, 4:48pm

I know that the majority of CC'ers joke that AP Human Geography is the easiest AP exam to take; however, after beginning my self study on the topic, I am genuinely interested in the subject. Likewise, as a young child and to this very day, I have a great interest in cartography (I just love drawing fantasy maps.)

Does anyone know of any schools that have an extensive Geography program (that would be within my reach?)

For reference:

Valedictorian -> 4.0 UW / 4.5 W ; 1/198
SAT -> 2000
EC's -> Multiple strong EC's; not getting into them right now for time constraints

Thanks a lot!

BalletGirl · January 1, 2008, 4:53pm

Very cool interest.

In reach
Clark University (Worcester, MA) -- One of the granddaddies of the field!!
University of Arizona
Penn State University
University of Wisconsin
Boston University

Big reach
Dartmouth College
Brown University
University of Chicago
UCAL - Berkeley
UCLA

Sligh_Anarchist · January 1, 2008, 6:04pm

Yes, it is a strange interest; however, the field is absolutely wonderful, I think. I have been bashing myself for not figuring out what I really want to do in college, but I think I have found it!

Dartmouth would be nice. I would probably need to raise my SAT quite a bit, however. I don't actually study for the SAT as it is against my beliefs to study for an exam that will have no actual contribution to my general body of intellect. (However, you could extrapolate and say that if I did study for the SAT, I could increase my general body of intellect by having the opportunity to go to a better, prestigious university.)

Dartmouth was actually one of the top results when I googled "Geography Major" or something along those lines.

world_changer · January 1, 2008, 6:08pm

Actually, Penn State is one of the best programs in the country (and definitely within reach).

Also try looking at Syracuse.

Sligh_Anarchist · January 1, 2008, 7:04pm

Thanks a bunch you two. This is really helping. Google was sort of being stupid with searching for Geography major schools, and what schools I did find were only offering like ten courses in the subject. Even UNC's program looked sort of crappy (I live in NC.)

Native_NJ · January 1, 2008, 7:38pm

Agree with Penn State. I believe Geography is in the "College of Earth & Mineral Sciences" which has a great academic advisor...

Sligh_Anarchist · January 1, 2008, 8:35pm

Yes, it is in the College of Earth & Mineral Science at Penn State. I assume this is University Park Campus, no?

__

I also looked at Middlebury's website concerning their geography department. It seems very strong; however, it is a very tough school to get into (21% admission, just like Duke University.)

Concerning a bit of information I read on Middlebury's website, "We accept students based on many factors ... to increase the number of students in a particular major." That last bit intrigues me. Geography is certainly not a common major. Do you think if one of my essays next year for Middlebury or a school of similar quality focused on my desire to pursue a degree in Geography that would put me ahead or give me a "hook?"

collegehelp · January 1, 2008, 8:47pm

Gourman Report undergrad geography

U Minnesota
U Wisconsin
Penn State
UC Berkeley
Ohio State
U Illinois Urbana Champaign
U Michigan Ann Arbor
U Washington
UCLA
Syracuse
U Iowa
U Colorado Boulder
U Kansas
Louisiana State Baton Rouge
U Georgia
U Wisconsin Milwaukee
SUNY Buffalo
U Hawaii Manoa
Michigan State
U Arizona
Rutgers New Brunswick
U Nebraska Lincoln
UNC Chapel Hill
U Texas Austin
Clark
U Maryland College Park
U Florida
U Oklahoma
U Oregon
U Utah

Sligh_Anarchist · January 1, 2008, 9:02pm

Interesting. Thanks for the listings. How reliable is "The Gourman Report?"

From Wikipedia:
"It has been widely criticized for not disclosing criteria or ranking methods,as well as for reporting statistically impossible data, such as no ties among schools, narrow gaps in scores with no variation in gap widths, and ranks of nonexistent departments. The Princeton Review, a for-profit publisher of achievement tests and college guidebooks, has backed the Gourman Report, claiming that criticism is unfounded and originates mostly from schools that have not scored well."

NewEngSocSciMan · January 1, 2008, 10:19pm

Clark comes to mind FIRST. Ruggs says, among other places, Penn State and Boston U.

world_changer · January 1, 2008, 10:58pm

I'm personally not a fan of the Gourman Report. Basically for the reasons wikipedia gave, as well as for the fact that it's extremely slanted towards huge schools with large endowments. When, in reality, sometimes smaller schools have just as good of programs, if not better.

I prefer basing opionions off of personal recommendations from people who have had first-hand experience and success.

barrons · January 1, 2008, 11:22pm

Wisconsin

UW–Madison</a> Geography – An Overview

dwincho · January 2, 2008, 12:27am

Clark
U of Chicago
SUNY Binghamton
U of Washington
Syracuse

Handyandy58 · January 2, 2008, 12:33am

Call me ignorant, but what exactly does geography at the college level entail? I've not taken a high school class in it or anything, but the way friends talk about it, it doesn't sound very deep, at least as a single subject matter. Where it does get deep, it seems like there's a different field of study for it that's more popular than the broad "geography" term. I'm just wondering what it's all about, I guess.

fa-la-la-lena · January 2, 2008, 1:44am

I dunno about any good geography schools, but I have taken a college intro to geography class. It is a lot more in-depth than just maps and countries. There are quite a few components to it; there is environmental and physical geography (soils, mountains, rivers, natural disasters etc), demography/population/map-statistics reading, and then there is the cultural side of it (languages, races, etc.) and Political geography (with history tied into it). It's really broad, to say the least

killerforhire · January 2, 2008, 2:44am

AP Human Geo was a super easy exam for sure, but it was by far the most interesting class I've ever taken. I know that contributes nothing, but I sincerely understand your passion.

Sligh_Anarchist · January 2, 2008, 7:34am

Upon actually discovering that I enjoy the topic, I will study it for more than 1 week before the AP Human Geography exam. You know, it may actually help me when I major in Geography (Imagine that.) :P

Thanks a lot for all of your replies!

However, could someone answer my question regarding a Geography major a hook. As I said about Middlebury's policy of "accepting students based on many factors ... to increase the number of students in a particular major."

Sligh_Anarchist · January 2, 2008, 1:28pm

Bump! ( 10 Char )

UCBChemEGrad · January 2, 2008, 1:40pm

Link a degree in Geography with a specialization in GIS (Geographical Information Systems)...burgeoning career opportunities.

momfromme · January 2, 2008, 2:57pm

At big universities, University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin are really top programs. In Canada, McGill is excellent. These schools offer PhDs in geography. If you want to get a sense of the scope of geography today, look at those department's web pages.

There are also a number of liberal arts colleges with strong geography programs (including Colgate and Macalester) and they have some sort of consortium. LACs' geography programs often emphasize public policy and planning.