Help with Finding Out/In-State Schools (Early Action) [MD resident, 3.87 UW, 1400 SAT, English Writing + Poli Sci]

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Hello all,

I hope that you are well. I am a senior who is living in Maryland, looking at the Early Action deadline and going “Where did the time go?” I’ve got a little under a month to get my stuff together (I meant to have my complete college list by now, but oh well…)

I have five in-state colleges currently on my list to apply to, but I’m trying to speedrun my research on out-of-state ones, and figured this would be a good place to get some advice from. I can technically apply to more with Regular Decision, but it’s probably best to get most or all of them out of the way now.

For some background:

  • I am a 3.87 unweighted and 4.19 weighted GPA student
  • I have taken 11 total AP exams, with 4-5 more this school year. I’ve received 4s and 5s on all of them
  • I have a good deal of extracurriculars and activities–not a boatload, but definitely enough
  • I got a 1400 on the SAT (I wanted to retake it but that didn’t work out, though that score should honestly be fine these days)
  • I think I have a fairly compelling essay, it just needs some revising that I’ll do before the deadline
  • I’m confident that I will be getting very good letters of recommendation from my teacher and counselor. I am also receiving an extra letter of recommendation from my fencing coach
  • Not sure what else to put here lol, ask me if you need any other clarification

As such, I’m not really too pressed about trying for any college. I’m not the best student ever, but I could probably get into most places with some decent luck.

Here’s some information on what I want to do in college and, as such, what I’m looking for:

  • I want to be an English Writing major, with likely a double major in Political Science declared after the first semester. Just not 100% sure yet
  • I want an English program that is actually, practically useful: I’m not interested in something that is like 90% literature classes and media studies. I want actual writing classes, internship opportunities, etc. I’m looking for stuff that’s applicable to professional (and creative) writing
  • I also want a place with a good Political Science program that is, once again, varied and genuinely applicable to fields of work. Internship opportunities are desired here as well
  • I want a mid to large size campus. I just don’t want a school the size of a smaller high school–I like pretty campuses as much as the next guy, but I really don’t mind urban either
  • As such, I want somewhere that’s very walkable and has tons of stuff that I can do. Clubs, activities, extracurriculars, the works
  • A good music scene (as an aspiring performer) would be a plus as well
  • Fencing is a non-negotiable, I’d like schools that have at least a decent fencing team/program
  • Again, let me know if you need more information or want to know more particularly what I’m looking to do with my degree(s). Law school is an option on the table for me, though that isn’t really relevant right now

I am currently planning on applying to UMD College Park, UMBC, John Hopkins, and Georgetown in-state–with my fifth college likely being Towson or St. Mary’s. As such, I would also like some advice on whether or not it is worth it to apply to Hopkins and Georgetown financially, and whether there are any other in-state universities worth consideration (I haven’t found any others thus far).

Last thing: Finances-wise, my parents (bless their hearts) have enough in a fund to pay for 4 years of in-state tuition ($30,000/year). As such, I would be looking or places out-of-state that can offer sufficient scholarships/tuition discounts to make application worth it.

Again, I’m looking for recommendations on mainly out of state schools, but also in state. Distance is definitely a factor, but if a school is really good, I’ll apply to it even if it’s halfway across the country. I’m also looking for places that stand out compared to something like College Park that has pretty good programs for me to my understanding. Thank you all so much!

  • Bravo
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One school that you might consider is Loyola Maryland. They have a writing major. My understanding is that it’s quite good, but I don’t have a ton of details about it. You’d likely get merit aid so it could get your costs down, but I’m not sure it would make your budget.

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I think budget will be an issue. My kids had higher stats and applied to many oos public’s on the east coast. Only one came in around $30,000. Most were $40,000+ after merit, $55,000+ without. We weren’t eligible for financial aid (donut hole family).

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Take a look at the University of Iowa. Great school for your major.

FWIW, I don’t think you’re a competitive applicant for Johns Hopkins or Georgetown. Both are probably above your budget anyways.

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I’m not sure how fencing recruiting works, but as you aren’t currently committed, I’m assuming by a fencing program you either mean club or D3

Brandeis is everything you are asking for, but out of budget if you will not qualify for financial aid. You can run the NPC and see how it comes out.

UMN is also everything you are looking for (if club fencing is okay), but slightly over budget.

Wheaton College in MA has everything you are looking for except for size. There is a good chance you can get it to come in on budget with their generous merit.

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Hi - congrats on a fine record. I think you can find programs with good writing at most places - and definitely Poli Sci at most places.

UMD is very large. I wouldn’t recommend Alabama but with $24K automerit, you will be in the mid-upper 20s. But it’s a big school - and you were hesitant with that.

Ole Miss is known for English - considered one of the top - and it will also be inexpensive. It’s much smaller than Alabama - and you should hit budget.

U Kansas is another.

You can look at meets need schools. In other words, your family saved $30K but will the schools say you need to spend less….or more?

Sewanee is a small LAC that’s well known for English. It won’t hit budget unless you have need. I’ve linked the NPC below.

You may look at some SUNY schools - such as Geneseo or New Paltz. You may look at Salisbury in-state as it will hit budget or Mary Washington in neighboring Virginia, another budget friendly school. More regional but Marshall in WV is another mid size budget buster for you. UNC Wilmington will be another that could work for you, known for their writing program. A little further away is Central Michigan.

All of these have writing concentrations - given your desire not to focus on literature.

You could try Ithaca - I don’t think it gets you to cost….but worth a flyer.

I don’t see Gtown, JHU or UMD happening (I’ll hold out hope for UMD) - but I’ll think good things for you. I do think you need to fall in love with your back up in-states or you can look at some I mentioned out of state - which should hit $$ for you. Bama will 100% assuredly hit your budget but I think Ole Miss is a better fit (a bit smaller and well known for English/writing - and Poli Sci is solid everywhere - but there especially in international topics through its Croft school. I believe it will hit $$ but not 100% sure.

Not sure of your geographic desires - can you elaborate more - but hopefully that helps.

Net Price Calculator

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Welcome to College Confidential, @SuperBravo45! It sounds like you have done well in high school and are prepared to be successful at just about any college.

With your background, and applying as an in-state applicant during the EA round, I think you’ll get an admittance to UMD-College Park and that is a great option and will be very hard to beat.

Unless you family qualifies for need-based aid (run the Net Price Calculator at schools of interest to find out), it will be very challenging for “better” schools to meet that price (though of course, how is one defining better?).

That said, below are a few schools that you might want to investigate. They would all require generous merit aid, but I don’t think it’s impossible for them to meet budget:

  • James Madison (VA): About 21k undergrads with a popular writing major.

  • Marquette (WI): About 7700 undergrads at this Jesuit school in Milwaukee. It has a writing-intensive concentration within its English major.

  • Miami U. (OH): About 16k undergrads at this “public Ivy.” It offers a major in both professional writing as well as in creative writing.

  • U. of Pittsburgh (PA ): About 25k undergrads at this well-regarded school. Two majors that could be of interest are the English Writing major (with a focus on fiction, poetry, and nonfiction) or the Public & Professional Writing major.

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Check out Washington College. Some merit scholarships could bring close to your budget.

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You may already know this, but based on how you worded it, I just want to clarify: Johns Hopkins is a private university, so there’s no in-state tuition discount. The same applies to Georgetown, which is also private - and for accuracy, it’s located in D.C., not Maryland.

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Thanks for your reply!

I took a look at Loyola, and I do quite like the look of the school and its programs. I mean, it’s now very high-ranked nationally, and the campus/location is pretty good for me.

My two biggest qualms with it would be the fact that it’s Catholic/Jesuit, and that they don’t have fencing. The former isn’t really a deal-breaker—I’m Jewish, but only agnostic, and I literally do live in a majority Catholic area. Plus, as far as I understand, the school is more about the “Jesuit values” rather than pushing the Catholic religion hard. But it looks like the school doesn’t have club fencing or anything, and that is probably a hard no for me. Either way, I’ll think about it; thank you for the suggestion!

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Yeah, that is my main concern. I mean, I’m not particularly distressed if I just end up going to UMD or something like that—I just want to make sure that I’m exploring all of my options. Thanks for telling me your experience though! (And yeah, we are what would probably be a quintessential donut hole family, so I’m 99% sure I’m not getting any needs-based aid.)

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Maybe some of the suggestions in this thread from last year will be helpful. You will have to scroll through the thread for the suggestions.

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If club fencing is your top criteria…maybe start with this list…you might find another school or a few you like on this list.

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Your biggest concern here is- short of demonstrated need is $30k a year.

Knowing you want to stay close but one I mentioned Alabama (will hit budget) - is listed by Hillel as a top 60 Jewish school with 1,250 Jewish students estimated.

U Kansas, another to come in budget, estimated 1,300 Jews. Farther yet and to each their own and I know at some Catholic schools Jews attend, but it could easily make people uncomfortable, with all the imagery, regardless of whether religion is being pushed. Typically there will also be required classes, etc. .

Hillel says no Jews at Loyola but they say there’s a small Jewish student association.

Frankly your biggest issue is budget. If you’re truly limited to $30k a year, then you should apply to schools that can and will get you there. I listed some above in my initial post. .

You can run the NPC for schools like Loyola to see. They should estimate merit and need aid.

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I know nothing about fencing.

But New Paltz has a music scene. Toured the campus 2 or 3 years ago and the dorm we visited was littered with instruments. Nice small town to walk to. It’s Woodstock country. And they will be close on price.

Back in my day the biggest college music scene was Athens, Georgia, home to University of Georgia. Out of state cost is low to mid $40’s.

Mary Washington is a match for academics, cost, and culture, although might be smaller than you want.

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UGA is a reach. @AustenNut disagreed with me (thinks OP is in at UMD) - I’m less than 50/50 I guess.

I say that in part because the student is below the 25th percentile on the SAT. But only 43% submitted - so perhaps the student should apply TO to UMD.

Something to think about if the score doesn’t go up.

But the student has to find out - $30K per year is saved but perhaps they have more from cash flow. If not, they should run the NPCs at Gtown and Hopkins. While I don’t believe they’ll get in, if they’re going to be $90K, why apply? That’s the same with any school above $30K.

OP - if you have a true fixed budget, you have to build a list around that budget. There are OOS publics in VA (if you want to be close to home) and the South to hit your # - or you’ll have to focus in Maryland!!

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Op is applying to English at UMD so their SAT Math score will be seen are largely irrelevant even if it’s 600 (and it’s likely higher than that) - the submitted score average skews high due to Engineering and CS applicants who submit 750+ math scores.
OP is definitely in at UMD and after RD deadlines should focus on the Honors program they’d like to apply to if invited to the Honors College (they may also be invited to a Scholars program). It’s definitely the one to beat if they get into Honors/Scholars.

SUNY Binghamton will appreciate the rigor and grades; it’s currently trying to expand its OOS outreach and has 2 relevant special programs

A college that’s got fewer students than you’d wish but is rather large (it doesn’t feel like a HS at all) is Denison. The Lugar program is excellent for political science&policy and it used to have a specific professional writing program with a particular area of strength in long form non fiction narratives, but now it’s split into Creative Writing within the English dept with many literature courses and the Journalism major with a closer focus to what you’d want. They’re very good with professional placement.

Run the NPC: they do have merit aid but not sure it’ll be within budget.

Check with your parents whether the 30k budget is fixed or could be flexible.

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I don’t know - that seems a big strong to me. Hope you are right.

But in this sense, they wouldn’t need to apply anywhere else. Or if there are budget concerns + donut hole, they can apply to here and # 2 md public and be done.

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15 APs (implied: strong MD HS) with a 3.87 UW and 10+ 4s&5s, yes I can be that certain for admission to UMD English and pretty certain for either Honors or Scholars.

However having options is important; also, large universities with large STEM contingents might not be the best places for what OP wants, barring Honors/Scholars.
So, if OP doesn’t get into Honors/Scholars and/or needs a solid 2nd option, what college straddles preprofessional and English + club fencing with enough merit aid?

UMBC and Towson wouldn’t work as well for English as UMDCP, for instance - the subject rests heavily on peer quality (discussions, feedback). They’d be financial and admission safeties but may not work too well academically and professionally. Self motivated peers may be easier to find at St Mary’s but the environment isn’t what OP wants nor is the focus. All three are okay safeties but there may be a private college with sufficient merit scholarships that could work better for what OP wants while being a safety - Ursinus? Wheaton MA? Miami Ohio?
Op deserves to have choices :grinning_face:

Knowing whether 30k is a want or a need (aka absolute necessity) matters, too.

American University may be a target if OP shows a lot of interest. Financially, a full merit scholarship would make the college a reach.
Would have academic environment OP wants (+1/week dedicated to externships or placements).
https://www.american.edu/cas/literature/wsp/index.cfm
https://www.american.edu/cas/literature/wsp/writing-rhetoric.cfm
+Of course topnotch political science.

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I agree that OP will get in to UMD, in state, for English (they have a well respected pol sci major too). UMD would be an excellent, affordable choice for OP. Not that OP mentioned it’s important, but UMD also has a very large Jewish student population (about 20%)
I don’t see any reason for them to apply to Alabama

A couple of points regarding this: admission to honors is holistic, and I’ve seen kids with top notch GPA and test score not be invited. So it’s hard to predict honors at UMD.

Second, it’s either-or between Honors and Scholars. While UMD doesn’t publish their decision criteria, in my observation Scholars seems to be offered to kids who have engaged in community service or research.

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