When my California kid got into Rice, lots of people here were the same way. (“Oh. Congrats…? Is that an ag school?”) Never underestimate people’s ignorance about top-notch colleges. When they do know a school, it’s often because of sports, but that shouldn’t be a reason to choose a known-for-sports school over an known-by-people-who-know-colleges school. The people who matter will know all of the schools on your list.
6 Likes
Yes, the travel time needs to be taken into account. My S22 is a theater major at the LC campus and has been interested in taking some classes at RH, but it hasn’t worked out. Between the ram van commute (30-60 min each way depending on traffic), and needing to be back at LC by the late afternoon for rehearsals, it just hasn’t been possible. Although I have heard of students in different majors who make it work. The RH campus is definitely larger with a greater selection of classes, especially STEM classes. Your mileage may vary.
In regards to school spirit, I would say that the 2 campuses have different vibes. Students at both campuses have terrific experiences, but the RH campus is much more of a traditional college experience with sports, quirky traditions, Fordham T-shirts etc. In contrast, essentially no student athletes live on the LC campus, traditions are considered sort of corny, and very few students wear Fordham t-shirts or hoodies. Different strokes for different folks.
4 Likes
Princeton Review does extensive student surveys annually of the colleges in their annual college guide, “The Best 390 Colleges . . .” All of the colleges on your list are included in this guide. The results can be found on their website.
The surveys depict the way that current students rate their own college. If a college ranks #1 in any particular category, it means that their own students ranked them higher in this category than students at any other college ranked theirs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the school is in fact #1. Still the rankings can be useful in the same way that it is useful to ask students during a visit what they think about their school.
I’m going to list each of the areas where the the schools on your list ranked high on these surveys to provide more information in helping you get a picture of these schools. If a characteristic is negative, I separated it from the rest of the list and placed it at the end. The colleges are listed in alphabetical order.
American
#1 - college’s city gets high marks
#2 - top 50 green colleges
#12 - green matters: everyone cares about conservation
#18 - most politically active students
#50 - top 50 for entrepreneurship
#4 - Financial aid is not so great
Fordham
#11 - everyone plays intramural sports
#21 - best student newspaper
#23 - most politically active students
#38 - top 50 for entrepreneurship
#18 - campus food is not so tasty
George Washington
#9 - most politically active students
#11 - college’s city gets high marks
#48 - top 50 for entrepreneurship
Lafayette
#10 - best career services
#12 - students study the most
#13 - great financial aid (student satisfaction)
#17 - most engaged in community service
#19 - top 20 for financial aid (school data)
#24 - most active student government
#25 - best science lab facilities
#35 - top 50 green colleges
#41 - best value (private schools)
LSU
#7 - athletic facilities
#3 - professors get low marks
#24 - LGBTQ+ unfriendly
San Diego
#1 - most beautiful campus
#3 - quality of life
#10 - green matters: everyone cares about conservation
#13 - top 20 best schools for making an impact* (private)
#18 - best-run colleges
#21 - college’s city gets high marks
*”making an impact” category includes survey questions related to opportunities for community service, student government, sustainability efforts, on-campus student engagement, and alumni reports of having high job meaning
SMU
Syracuse
#3 - students love their school teams
#8 - best student newspaper
#13 - top 50 for entrepreneurship
#8 - lots of hard liquor
#8 - lots of beer
#14 - reefer madness
These results of these surveys can be found on The Princeton Review site by clicking on “Explore Schools” and then “Rankings & Ratings” where the various survey categories are listed. Alternatively any college can be found via the search function and selecting the site for that college with “rankings & rating”. The categories on which that college scored among the highest will be listed on the side bar.
5 Likes
A post was split to a new thread: Looking for information about Syracuse University
Obviously American, GW and GU would be top choices. That said, if you didn’t like the vibe at American cross it off the list. Choose a school you like and enjoy. You’ll be there for 4 years.
USD might be the most beautiful campus I visited. It’s Jesuit, the liberal Catholics.
I see you received some merit from Penn State. Did you get into Schreyer Honors? If so, that would move PSU up the list.
Of the schools on your list my vote would be for Fordham or Syracuse. Both are excellent schools.
S20 loved Fordham but didn’t receive enough merit. It’s also a Jesuit school. They know education. I loved Rose Hill. S20 loved Lincoln. They’re both self contained campuses. There’s a shuttle and it took about 45 minutes to travel between campuses. Your major would determine where you live and spend most of your time. I’m assuming RH would be your campus.
It’s sounds like you enjoyed Fordham. Going to a school you like is a nice problem.
Syracuse is your typical large university. S21 did a summer there in high school for film. If your into arts or some form of communications it’s an excellent school.
Good luck.
1 Like
As one point of clarification, USD is not Jesuit. It was founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart (Jesuits are the Society of Jesus):
2 Likes
delete
I stand corrected. That said, if you look at their mission statement it sounds very similar to a Jesuit school…and it’s a beautiful campus.
1 Like
Although it still identifies as Catholic, the University is no longer run by the Diocese of San Diego as it once was. Of the 1100 faculty members at USD, a handful are nuns from the founding order, the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Your comment made me dust off my look at poli sci rankings of these schools (Niche.). There are only four NOT in top 100: LSU, Penn State, Lafayette and Fordham. None of the other ones are a runaway leader (American at #49). So if strength of program is important, maybe chop list down to: American, GW, SMU, USD, Syracuse.
Depending on area of interest, I’ll at least note that USD has notable master’s programs within their Kroc School of Peace Studies as well as International Studies. It’s also ranked very highly in study abroad opportunities and participation.
This is top of mind, as I just wrapped a long look at this school for my daughter, who is enrolling there for 25-26. It turned out to be a real Goldilocks school for her. It’s just so solid across so many categories: academic programs, campus, quality of life, food, climate, alumni network, earnings outcomes, even friendliness. And it charts more liberal than most state schools here, which was quite a surprise.
I wouldn’t use niche as an academic rater. And frankly in the major, all can deliver. My student turned down many in that zone for a regional and interned for the state and a top think tank. She had 7 offers for that semester, 5 paid.
Find fit. Def don’t pick a school by niche rankings.
When I watched the Jan 6 testimonials, the staff was from schools like Christopher Newport and Kent State.
This isn’t a major, short of maybe Gtown and a few Ivies, combined with law school, that the where will matter.
I don’t use niche. Maybe mistakenly I always think of the IR ratings when looking at polisci. AU and GWU are in top 10 undergrad im the US in the Foreign Policy /TRIP rankings last time I looked. The 2024 rankings are behind a firewall for some reason.
1 Like
New issue here: I did not like SMU (too close to home, not super diverse, not my type of population) but I just got this email: “It is our privilege to notify you that the Pre-Law Scholars Selection Committee has chosen to offer you an invitation into the SMU Pre-Law Scholars Program. Your selection was based on your outstanding academic record, as well as your potential interest in attending law school.
As a Pre-Law Scholar, you are afforded the unique opportunity of securing admission to SMU’s Dedman School of Law, which is one of the country’s most competitive law schools for admission. You will also be invited to enroll in a special undergraduate course taught by a Dedman School of Law faculty member. In addition, you will be able to participate in our Mock Trial Club, Debate Team, and Phi Alpha Delta. Scholars also have full access to the lectures of visiting speakers, including former and current Supreme Court Justices, CEOs of top Fortune 500 and Fortune 50 corporations, and many other notable dignitaries.”
I do not know what I want to do post undergrad, thinking maybe lobbyist, lawyer, etc. What are our thoughts? I would still need to take the LSAT and keep a very high gpa. Is it worth it? I dont know if I want to spend 7 years back to back on the same campus either.
No!! Not for you.
1 Like
This is important especially since you didn’t exactly like SMU.
BUT keep in mind…you could change your mind about careers too.
At this point, choose an undergrad school where you think you will be happy and thrive.
3 Likes
In essence bcuz you’ve not yet enrolled - this is a marketing ploy.
They need and want Riley.
But unless it’s your only affordable option, you don’t need them.
1 Like
Do not go to SMU!! You don’t like it, aren’t sure you want to be a lawyer, and even if you did want to be a lawyer it would be better to go to a higher ranked law school.
5 Likes
Hello team! Just finished some crazy college touring schedule so have to make a decision now (one whole month of weekend touring) ! Final thoughts, I have narrowed it down to GW, Fordham, Lafayette, with AU as a maybe (I loved it, I just didn’t think it was as competitive as GW) These were my final thoughts as I toured them. Honestly I would commit right now to GW if it wasnt for the dorms. Also, almost 90% of students at AU get internships but 70% at GW, so a little worried about that. I loved Lafayette too and its the best general school but I think its just to far into nowhere.
lafayette
very pretty, walkable
cold
eh food, prob lower end
small cafeterias
old looking, not renovated
no graduate school
free bus, lcat around campus
20 food swipes a week
so little people, no alumi connection 2700
foreign language requirement
free laundry, some dorms don’t have it
D1, 1/4 athletes (im tall so this is important)
fordham
2 theo’s req
2 years language req
laundry only in basement
free laundry
ram train to ny but it’s an hour
beautiful campus
good food, best i had
internship promise, guaranteed intern
4-5 snowstorms yearly
some dorms don’t have elevators
law degree 3 + 3
gw
broken up
cool classes
everyone seems happy
unlimited food req
western market
best merch
very secure
HORRIBLE dorms, literally so tiny
american
no food
not unlimited food
love organization campus
people seem sad, no one on quad
far metro but has bus
laundry on every floor
great neighborhood
very eco friendly , carbon neutral
big dorms
got into global scholars program, degree in 3 years with classes over both summers
When my daughter when to GW she actually liked the dorms. Starting sophomore year you get a kitchen. THe larger dorms are on the Vern, but admittingly most dont want to live there freshman year.
It sounds like you like American the best. Please consider that you will be at the college you select for four years, and liking the college is far more important than the rankings of the schools.
1 Like