Chance Me for ED Columbia in Poli Sci/Econ + Match Help

tsbna44
Fri, 03 Sep 2021 20:44:30 +0000

If you don’t want to go in debt (good call), DO NOT apply anywhere ED until you check the net price calculator to make sure you can afford what it’s going to cost - because your reach schools = no merit aid. Especially if you’re going to grad school.

That’s where something like the Johnson Scholarship at W&L, given to 10% of the class, is a treasure. No debt…no expense…just a top notch, highly respected education. W&L is a highly rated LAC in the mountains of VA - depending on the publication from #3 to 10 - so it’s higher rates than your Colgages, Vassars, Wesleyans. We had a fantastic experience in the recruitment (chose another school). Others will tell you historically there’s been problems but from everything we’ve seen they are inclusive and working hard to be so. The Govt Professor there told us, on a per capita basis, they place the 2nd most people in govt in DC after of all schools Sewanee. Yeah, the Johnson is unreal.

If an LAC is ok and it seems you like the urban/suburban, you might look at Macalester, for example. Or Occidental to stay closer to home.

People will argue on here that W&L isn’t for everyone because it’s got General Lee in the school name and I suppose that’s true of any school - and all your schools are urban, except Duke and Princeton which are more suburban…I don’t know if that’s coincidence or not - but that’s a wonderful opportunity. All the URMs we spoke to had nothing but great things to say - granted that was 2 or 3 people.

Funny story about Wake. We looked. My daughter hated it - that’s the same with a lot of schools - you love or hate. The campus gets ok reviews on niche, etc. What she hated was, each building had a parking lot in front - rather than parking garages at the fringe. So it looked like an office park. It’s not in Winston Salem…at least the city part…but obviously it’s a great school.

SMU another with a full ride. I was talking with a mom from a school my daughter is going to - her daughter was headed to the same. But SMU offered a full ride (she’s hispanic) and she took that.

Back to ED - unless you are willing to pay (at least what the NPC says), steer clear.

As for your bias toward ASU, I understand. But as for commuting to save money, I don’t understand. I understand the concept - but you are applying to some of the best schools in the country and they are residential and yes they have a cost. So at $150k even if you get aid, you’re still going to be paying. So if you can’t afford a dorm, you should only apply to schools with full rides (W&L, SMU) and then ASU - because whatever any school costs will be too much.

But you are a fantastic student and you deserve that experience. Whether ASU, U of A or even University of Wyoming - it doesn’t matter. You lose that living at home. The night time study sessions or just chilling with your BFF, the clubs, the intramurals…whatever.

You should, and I understand there’s a financial angle, but you should work to move on campus and if you can’t, perhaps a community college for two years is a better angle.

Good luck.