Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Ok so these are the schools I'm considering: Brown, UPenn, UCBerkeley, UCLA, and maybe Cornell if I choose to weather the coldness and isolation.
Penn is giving me a lot of money, Brown is giving me next to nothing. I am planning to major in the poli sci/econ area. Any suggestions?
Thanks

By Confused86 (Confused86) on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 09:03 pm: Edit

Undergrad doesn't matter that much if you are goign to grad. I would go for where they give you the most money... UPENN. It is a great school, espeically if you are majoring in poli sci. I would maybe consider the schools in the West because it is warm there. Plus everything is newer.

By Brunoniana (Brunoniana) on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

Here are the top 15 political science departments, according to the National Research Council.

EdEff POLITICAL SCIENCE

1. University of Michigan 4.31

2. Yale University 4.24

3. Harvard University 4.17

4. University of California-Berkeley 4.13

5. Stanford University 4.02

6. University of Rochester 4.00

7. University of Minnesota 3.92

8. Princeton University 3.91

9. University of Wisconsin-Madison 3.86

10. University of Chicago 3.83

11. Massachusetts Inst of Technology 3.74

12. Univ of California-San Diego 3.70

13. Duke University 3.68

14. Univ of California-Los Angeles 3.62

15. Cornell University 3.61

UPenn ranks 53rd; Brown is not among the top 100.

By Satman04 (Satman04) on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 11:03 pm: Edit

Is that based on graduate/doctorate programs or undergraduate departments?

You have a link to the article by chance?

By Itscool (Itscool) on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 11:23 pm: Edit

do you guys really judge everything by rank

By Argus (Argus) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 02:42 am: Edit

Ok, so, just keep in mind that both Brunoniana and BrownAlum are likely the same person, since they both quote the same (unverfied, unsubstantiated) studies and since they both essentially come on here to slam Brown. Also keep in mind that in various other places (the Princeton Review Message Boards for one) that BrownAlum has been decried as a shameless Yale Troll.

In other words....neither of these two posters has actually gone to Brown (unless you count going on a college tour as attending a college).

By Argus (Argus) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 02:48 am: Edit

Another note on the OP's original post. If Penn is giving you a better need-based FA package, then call the Brown FA Office and let them know this. Brown can and will match need-based aid packages from other Ivies, as well as Duke, CalTech, MIT and Stanford. You just need to provide a faxed copy of the award letter sent to you by one of those other institutions.

By Burutzagiuribe (Burutzagiuribe) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 09:40 pm: Edit

OP-You should go to Brown.

It's really simple. Just CALL THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE and tell them how much more money Penn gave.

Brown will match it, cause Penn is Ivy League.

Problem solved. See you at Brown. ;)

By Nainer (Nainer) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 01:21 pm: Edit

Will they think I'm haggling/being miserly by calling them to ask for more money? Is it normal to do that? Sorry, I'm pretty illiterate concerning financial aid...I just don't want to do anything that will hurt me later. Thanks!

By Argus (Argus) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 05:44 pm: Edit

It's completely normal. Many people do it. The FA Office at most Ivies will realize that you're probably comparing need-based aid at their school to merit-based aid at another. Since merit-based aid is generally better than need-based aid, it behooves the Ivy offices to be nice and helpful and as accommodating as possible.

By Smhop (Smhop) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 12:36 pm: Edit

They will only match your aid if they want to woo you. (at least that is my understanding of it) Smaller aid packages mean they dont much care if you come or not-- or prob used accurate figures to base your aid. BUT bigger aid packages mean they really want you and used underflated figures to base your aid, hoping you will come! =) ... I read this online yesterday. And all this happens despite "need blind" admissions, etc.

Who knows what the truth is really. You can call and ask them to change it.

Pennsylvania is A WONDERFUL place to live!!! I have lived all over the globe, and Penn has such nice people. BUT, Prov is no slouch of a city either... pretty fun, but cold. Berkley is 5 mins from San Fran: who could resist THAT!?!?, though its sometimes chilly there too!?!? and, of course, UCLA has its own merrits.

Good luck.