<p>I’ve been wanting to make this post for a while but just got my SAT and ACT scores back so I thought I’d give it a shot… I’ve done a bunch of research on the academic qualities of the top universities/LACs so I was especially interested in learning about the “personality” of these schools and where I would fit in well. I’ll try to include only pertinent info but let me know if there’s anything else I should add. For a quick skim, read the bold items.</p>
<p>**Applicant data:</p>
<p>Academic:
SAT CR: 740
SAT Math: 800
SAT W: 740<a href=“72,10”>/B</a></p>
<p>SAT II Math IIC: 740
SAT II U.S. History: 790
SAT II Chemistry: 750</p>
<p>ACT Composite: 34</p>
<p>Class Rank: 30/492
Member, National Honor Society</p>
<p>AP Human Geography: 4
AP World History: 5
AP U.S. History: 5 (projected)
AP English Lang & Comp: 5 (projected)
AP Chemistry: 4 (projected)</p>
<p>Extracurricular:
Debate Team President 2007-2008
Debate LD Captain 2006-2007
Debate Vice President 2005-2006
2x TFA State Qualifier 2006 & 2007
Outstanding Varsity LD Debater 2006 & 2007</p>
<p>Texas All-State Choir Performer 2007
Texas All-Region Choir Performer 2006
Outstanding Junior Performer 2007
Choir Treasurer 2005-2006
Choir Section Leader 2004-2005</p>
<p>Eagle Scout
Led effort to change state league rule
President of Young Republicans 2005-2006
Spanish National Honor Society Member
Teen Court Volunteer</p>
<p>**What I want in a school:</p>
<p>-Intellectually stimulating students
-Strong undergraduate education with solid pre-law record
-Strong PolSci program and politically active (I lean conservative)**
-Good a cappella singing groups (I’ve read most Ivies do)
-I’m neither interested in nor bothered by sports activities
-High level of prestige (not as important, but would be nice…)</p>
<p>High prestige, solid pre-law and poli-sci programs, not super-liberal…</p>
<p>Georgetown seems to fit the bill.</p>
<p>Also, the more I think about it…Bucknell seems to fit your criteria pretty well too. I think they’re known for their a cappella groups.</p>
<p>Look into Johns Hopkins. Obviously has the prestige, PS/IS is an incredible program with stellar faculty, plenty of singing groups (I have friends in many of them, and they get good crowds etc) as well as an open political atmosphere. I’m conservative too and I have always felt very comfortable. In terms getting into law school, it’s hardly possible to imagine any school having a much better track record, as the admissions rate for our undergraduates floats near 100% every year. </p>
<p>I definitely want to address the first thing you have listed on your “wants” as well. I’ve spent time at many of this country’s best academic institutions and I have plenty of friends at all Hopkins’ peer schools.That being said, I’ve seldom come across a place where the students are so well motivated, as well as intellectually diverse. Every student works extremely hard to reach their goals and very often these are in the realm of academia.</p>
<p>Try Penn on for size. PPE makes a spectacular pre-law major and under the university’s “one university” policy you can take some classes at Penn Law.</p>
<p>Penn Dems and Repubs are both very active here, as are the libertarian types. The Wharton b-school ensures a strong pro-capitalist sentiment exists on campus.</p>
<p>And we have so many ickypella groups that it borders on absurd. Penn Six (mine) is the best, of course ;)</p>
<p>Gtown sounds good too.</p>
<p>Woody, don’t put all your faith in any coordinated “pre-law” major or courses of study. Law school admissions officers what to know how rigorous your course of study was generally, how well you did, your LSAT score and your alma mater’s track record [to some extent]. Sure, it helps if your alma mater regularly provides strong applicants to XYZ law school, but clearly that is not the only nor most important factor for many applicants.</p>
<p>That being said, pick a college with a reputation for rigor. Make sure to ask about that college’s placement office. Pick any major of your liking and DO WELL. This can include Theater Arts, for example. Get stellar letters of recommendation from your professors. I am going to make a guess, based on your record thus far (which is a hazardous guess to say the least, since high school interests can be absolutely unrelated to you eventual tastes in college courses) and say that you will enjoy one of the humanites disciplines as a major. And you’re in the south, so I will recommend the following;</p>
<p>Washington and Lee University (VA)
Wofford College (SC)
Emory and Henry College (VA)
Furman University (SC)
U of South Carolina
Belmont Abbey College (NC)
U of Mississippi
U of Texas-Arlington
Rice University, TX
Stetson University, FL
U of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
and some border state schools; Indiana University-Bloomington, Washington University-Saint Louis, U of Tulsa, Kansas University, Saint Louis University.</p>
<p>Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Tufts. I was also Debate Team Captain, won states and went to nationals for Debate. This place is INCREDIBLY politically-minded. I am part of student run think-tank that goes on annual research missions to the middle east and then publishes a journal at the end of the year (New Initiative for Middle East Peace), we actually went to Lebanon over spring break. This campus has the largest contingent of college dem’s anywhere in the area (and considering how many schools there are, it’s pretty impressive), and IR here as an undergrad has consistently been ranked in the top 3 or so, on-par or better than JHU and Georgetown, and the Fletcher school is also continually ranked in the top 5 for IR grad schools and is the oldest in the country. I actually was a legacy at Georgetown and probably had a very good chance of getting in because my grandfather and uncle knew a lot of alum and people at the school, but I decided against it. This was because of the terrible vibe I received from a student body that generally all wanted to be Foreign Service Officers and be obedient to any administration. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, per se, but I wanted a politically minded school which had a plethora of ideas regarding foreign policy. I wanted a school where people start NGO’s while undergrads, where people actually apply for scholarships/grants to go to Africa/South America and truly HELP people there, instead of just going on a trip on daddy’s money and feeling better about themselves. The fact that we have both an excellent International Relations and Community Health program compliment one another incredibly well. I love this place, I love the people, everything. That’s my take.</p>
<p>if you lean to the right, try washington and lee.</p>
<p>The University of Michigan seems like a good for you. Michigan has the second oldest and one of the top Cappella traditions in the nation. The University has one of the better law school placements and is pretty prestigious. Ann Arbor is a very pleasant college town. Michigan’s Political Science department is one of the top 3 in the nation, particularly in US Politics. Most students take their education very seriously, so you will have an intellectually stimulating and diverse student body. Given your class rank, APs, ACT etc…, you’ll probably get a good merit scholarship. So if you are looking for a good match, Michigan would fit the bill nicely.</p>
<p>-Intellectually stimulating students
-Strong undergraduate education with solid pre-law record
-Strong PolSci program and politically active (I lean conservative)
-Good a cappella singing groups (I’ve read most Ivies do)
-I’m neither interested in nor bothered by sports activities
-High level of prestige (not as important, but would be nice…)</p>
<p>Columbia period.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot to mention that Tufts has amazing A Capella, the Beelzebubs are one of the best groups in the nation, and have toured Europe, etc.</p>
<p>Washington University in St. Louis
-Intellectual students (who often turned down Ivies) for the camaraderie and community feel (rather than competition of other top schools)
-Strong, well ranked PoliSci program with integrated coursework in Urban Development, PolEcon, Applied Stats and Econ
-Great a cappella groups (if you want some examples, PM me)
-Campus sports are well ranked, but not that competitive on the national scene. We have the Rams and the Cards for pro teams
-Very well received in the academic world (obviously not the same name as an Ivy), but with the very low acceptance rates in recent years and the strong caliber of students, the prestige factor is rapidly climbing. Basically, everyone you need to know knows that WashU is an elite school.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, consider Penn, JHU, Georgetown, Amherst and Dartmouth.</p>