Demographics
US Citizen
VA
Rural Public + 1/2 Day STEM Magnet School (Regional Governor’s School)
Budget: Full pay
Intended Major(s): Political Science, Public Policy
UW GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
GPA: 3.95 UW/4.5 W
Rank: 1/325
SAT: 1520 (780 EBRW/740 Math)
Coursework
AP Precalc (NA), AP Chem (NA), AP Human Geo (5), AP World (5), AP Comparative Government (5), AP Bio (TBA), AP Stats (TBA), AP Psych (TBA), AP Lit (TBA), AP US (TBA), AP Euro (TBA)
Senior Year CW: APES, AP Calc AB, AP Macro, AP Micro, AP US Government Was unable to take physics or Calc BC due to the track I’m on at magnet school.
Awards
FLEX Abroad Semifinalist
Virtual NSLI-Y Scholarship
NAIMUN LXII Best Delegate
VAMUN XLII Best Delegate
Model UN School Record (Most Points)
CollegeBoard National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program
NMSQT Commended Scholar (Predicted)
AP Scholar with Distinction
Extracurriculars
Model UN President
Model UN Conference Executive Director
Mock Trial Founder and President
Debate Club President
NHS President
County Democratic Committee Youth Outreach Coordinator
State Democratic Committee Rural Caucus Youth Coordinator
LG Campaign Regional Field Director
Research Project on Barriers to Voting in VA (in-Progress)
County Government Internship
Tutor at Kumon
Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities
Girls State Delegate
UChicago Emerging Rural Leaders I
UMD, UVA, W&M, Delaware, Brandeis, Syracuse, Rochester, Rutgers, UNC, U of SC….GW, American, Emory, Bryn Mawr, Haverford. JHU and Penn as outliers admission wise.
Congratulations on building such a strong record while in high school!
For students who are interested in public policy, I’m a big fan of capitals, both state and federal. There are lots of agencies, lobbyists, nonprofits, etc, to get involved with during the school year which can be particularly helpful when it comes to summer internships (and then full-time employment).
Below are a number of East Coast schools near capitals, sorted by my guesses as to what your chances for admission might be. And although I did not list UVA or William & Mary, both schools are excellent, and I yield to your school’s guidance counselors as to your chances for admission to them.
Extremely Likely (80-99%)
Catholic U. (D.C.): About 3100 undergrads at this D.C. school that is 3.6 miles from the U.S. Capitol.
George Mason (VA): This school of nearly 28k undergrads is in a suburb of D.C. and has very strong departments for policy.
Siena (NY): About 3500 undergrads attend this Catholic school that is 7.2 miles from the NY State Capitol. And all those political polls from the NY Times/Siena? Those polls are coming from here.
Suffolk (MA): About 4500 undergrads at this school that is 0.2 miles from the MA State House.
The College of New Jersey: About 7100 undergrads and 3.8 miles from the NJ State House
U. at Albany (NY): About 12k undergrads and it’s 4.5 miles from the NY State Capitol.
U. of Hartford (CT): About 4100 undergrads at this school that’s 3.5 miles from the CT State Capitol.
Virginia Commonwealth: About 21k undergrads at this school that’s 1.2 miles from the VA State Capitol
Likely (60-79%)
American (D.C.): About 7800 undergrads at this school 6.1 miles from the U.S. Capitol. Only a likely if you show a lot of interest.
George Washington (D.C.): About 11k undergrads at this school 2.6 miles from the U.S. Capitol. Ony a likely if you show a lot of interest.
Providence (RI): This Catholic college is less than 2 miles from the RI State House and has about 4400 undergrads.
Union (NY): About 2100 undergrads at this school that’s a 30m drive to the NY State Capitol.
U. of South Carolina: About 28k undergrads at this college that’s 0.3 miles from the SC State House. This school has a very well-reputed honors college.
Toss-Up (40-59%)
Brandeis (MA): This school of about 3700 undergrads is about 21m (12.7 miles) from the MA State House.
Florida State: About 32k undergrads at this school that’s 1.1 mile away from the FL State Capitol
Howard (D.C.): About 10k undergrads at this HBCU that is 2.6 miles from the U.S. State Capitol.
Trinity College (CT): About 2200 undergrads and 1.9 miles from the CT State Capitol
U. of Maryland: About 31k undergrads at this school that’s 10.3 miles from the U.S. Capitol
Lower Probability (20-39%)
U. of Richmond (VA): About 3100 undergrads at this school 6.7 miles from the VA State Capitol
Low Probability (less than 20%)
Boston College: About 9600 undergrads at this school 6.1 miles from the MA State House
Boston U.: About 19k undergrads at this school 3 miles from the MA State House
Brown (RI): About 7700 undergrads at this school 0.8 miles from the RI State House
Emory (GA): About 7400 undergrads at this school 6.0 miles from the GA State Capitol
Georgetown (D.C.): About 8k undergrads at this school 4.5 miles from the US Capitol
Harvard (MA): About 7100 undergrads at this school 3.1 miles from the MA State House
Northeastern (MA): About 21k undergrads at this school 2.2 miles from the MA State House; it’s low probability if you want to start in Boston in the fall of your freshman year, but a likely admit if you’re open to starting at a different campus for your first year.
Tufts (MA): About 6900 undergrads 6.3 miles from the MA State House
Wellesley (MA): About 2400 undergrads at this women’s college that is 14.7 miles from the MA State House.
I second and third the recommendation for Wellesley, one of the very best liberal arts colleges in the country. How good is Wellesley for public policy? Two of our Secretaries of State in the past 25 years, Hillary Clinton & Madeline Albright, came out of Wellesley. The alumnae network is awesome, full of brilliant women.
The Wellesley course offerings can be supplemented with cross registration at nearby partner schools, Babson College, Olin College, Brandeis University, and MIT.
Another school very strong in public policy is Pitt - and they’d offer you a 5 year Masters with Public Admin. Syracuse (Maxwell) is the #1 grad school in the country (with Indiana #2 and they have the Hamilton Lugar School - you’re a bit off the East coast - but would be other great options to look at.
