<p>Congrats on three great choices.</p>
<p>I think Haverford would be a terrific choice. Certainly all of the schools have fantastic social sciences. I’m sure Bowdoin has a great government program, but I know Haverford has an amazing political science department. I know at least four Haverford political science grads: two went to Harvard Business, one Harvard Law, and one Georgetown Law.</p>
<p>Haverford’s political science department has some great and distinctive elements: (1) an emphasis on student research by requiring every student in the major to take two advanced research seminars and complete a senior thesis to be undertaken in close collaboration with a faculty member and (2) unique experiential course offerings drawing on relationships with Philadelphia-based organizations and research field trips to Guatemala and Venezuela. See [Haverford</a> College News Room : PATHS TO PEACE](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/26811/41]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/news/stories/26811/41) and [Poli</a> Sci/Hist 233: Guatemala](<a href=“http://news.haverford.edu/blogs/guatemala/]Poli”>http://news.haverford.edu/blogs/guatemala/) It also among the 5-6 most popular majors.</p>
<p>Despite what you may read in other threads (I’m looking at you Bowdoin), Haverford’s reputation is superb and would certainly shine in any group, especially this one. When the WSJ did its feeder school ranking (elite business, medical, and law schools) a few years back Haverford was #6 and Bowdoin #7 among LACs. See <a href=“WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights”>WSJ in Higher Education | Trusted News & Real-World Insights. Haverford frequently bests Bowdoin in PhD productivity rankings. I mention these to say that both schools have excellent reputations, and it’s hard to say that definitively that one has a better “reputation with employers, grad schools, etc.” than the other. </p>
<p>Haverford has an outstanding academic program informed by its Quaker heritage that makes it, in my opinion, as good as any you will find anywhere in the world. Haverford has an academic atmosphere that is as rigorous, serious, and stimulating. It also has a great social environment, students are very happy, and there’s a strong sense of community because of the Honor Code. Generally, students love the College.</p>
<p>So, I think you should focus more on which you might enjoy more. Good luck.</p>