Neither AU nor Georgetown are very convenient to get to, and parking around Georgetown is awful. The GUTS shuttle was simply hop on in my experience, but its not easy to find if you don't know where to look.There should be a shuttle from the metro to AU, but I haven't taken it. I would figure about $15 for two people in the cab from AU to Georgetown, maybe less if traffic is good. If $$ is an issue, note that hotels close to Georgetown will likely be very expensive, particularly in the summer. You will find much less expensive (relative to DC prices) accommodation up the red line in Maryland. Also I wouldn't really call AU in a suburb--its in a nice upscale part of DC, but still very urban.

You might look at George Fox in Oregon, which is ABET accredited, depending on what exchange you have (George Fox is a CCCU school).

I would chime in and say that if someone is a possible admit at an Ivy (or even a strong student but not quite that level) there is likely merit aid available for them somewhere, its a matter of finding the right fit. Certainly the honors program at my school has awarded very generous financial packages (70%-100% tuition) to students who are smart kids, but probably not Harvard material. My university is certainly not Harvard, but strong honors grads have done very well in their post-graduate pursuits.

Small liberal arts colleges, with a few very rich exceptions, care about headcount. Even if they are discounting tuition heavily, whatever you pay is part of their financial calculations. I would find out who has the authority to change the aid package, explain the circumstances, and suggest that if the college can't do better, you are going to have to consider other options. I would be ready to go up the food chain, and I expect that you will get someone to listen. At the same time, call the other schools on the list and see what they can do.

Collages will very widely on what they are willing to do-some are very formulaic, so quite flexible. Try to find out who has the authority to make aid calls (which will very from school to school). Also, if there is someone who really wants your child to attend (coach, department, band, etc) you can ask them to help with your request for more funding. You can bring up the full scholarship offer, but it depends if the schools are comparable--if school two is a different type of school (LAC vs state branch campus) or a different caliber of school (SAT scores at school 1 are 200+ higher) I wouldn't expect to get lots of mileage with that.

In a college with a strong advising system (IE, a LAC), I would recommend talking with his adviser, who would probably have some idea if the policy is par for the course or unusual. Yet another reason why I make multiple versions of my exams...

I would recommend a meeting with her adviser and at least one other sympathetic professor in a different field (sometimes an adviser might think too much about major retention) and talk frankly about both what she enjoys and doesn't enjoy about her major and what she might want to do in the future. This might help bring about some clarity--if boring things are linked to future goals, they might more worth slogging through, or if they have little to do with future goals, this might be an indicator that change would be a good idea. At a LAC, professors will generally be happy to find some time to talk with students. In general, well adjusted students who are happy in terms of location and friends will do better than students who are not, so enjoying location and friends does have value. But ultimately college must be about education as well as other ancillary things.

I think it would be doable at division three or as a non-scholarship competitor in NAIA (if they have swimming), but it would require a flexibility from both coaches and directors that I would suspect is often absent. It also depends on how good the times are--if your child is D-I caliber, a lower division coach is more likely to make things work to keep someone around who can really help the team. I would ,however, note that such a time commitment will require someone who is not only a good student, but also understands how to really manage every 30 minute block of time during the season.

Many professors are happy to give out past syllabi; I know I'd be happy to do this for a student who asked nicely.

I did an oxbridge graduate degree and was accepted at another UK university as an American. There is merit assistance, but this is quite competitive and for oversees students limited to something like the top 5-10% or so. US student loans are possible but the process was conveluted-in the end I didn't need them and it was a good thing. In terms of payment, a UK degree can be a substantial savings if the alternative is to pay for an American degree, which tacks on an additional year. In the humanities, funded master's degrees are often hard to find. I will also say in my experience, which was admittedly at the top of the UK heap, the expectation of independent research ability at the master's level was much higher than in the US at the master's level. Also, I would enquirer about doctoral placement, and if the degree is well respected in the US-usually with Oxbridge this isn't a problem, but sometimes well known programs in the UK are not as well known on the other side of the pond. Finally, since you mentioned Anglo/Saxon, note that in general a UK uni will expect a student to already have the language skills necessary for research, as one can't possibly learn it along the way in a 12 month programme. This is why students in areas like classics might have to take a second BA. It is more possible to pick up language skills in the course of a two year-long US program, though with no background this would be hard.

On the west coast, I know that Simpson University (CA) and George Fox (OR) both have nursing.

A good list can be found in schools affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities http://www.cccu.org/members_and_affiliates If I may ask, how competitive are you for merit aid (SAT/ACT, GPA, AP/duel credit, extracurricular) and what field(s) are you considering? The university I teach at offers up to full tuition, for example, but requires strong SAT/ACT GPA and an interview (its in Texas, however, so probably not the part of the country you're looking for). Also note that one can usually find Christians/Christian activities at even the most secular universities (ie, Reed College) if you're willing to look hard enough.

In my field (political science), GRE and GPA tend to be cut offs- you must reach a certain standard to be considered, but beyond that, skills and achievements that get you in and funded. For my field, the needed skills are things such as writing ability (including research), course work that demonstrates an ability to succeed in the field, statistics, and languages. For me the worrying thing from what you describe is a lack of support. One of the most important things a good dept. will do is understand how to help a student through the grad school process. With only a part time faculty member, I'm not sure that the school will have the ability to provide the kind of advising and support that successful students usually have. Also, there may be certain skills/courses/research experience required or expected by competitive graduate schools. If there is a nearby university with a desired graduate program, I would have your daughter talk to the director of graduate studies about what the look for, which could help you get a sense of how the current school can prep for this.

I would certainly say from my point of view that in law Oxbridge would be worth it. One question: why the English and then conversion course. My understanding is that this puts the applicant at a disadvantage: a 2:1 from a law first degree is better than the same from a conversion with a first degree in something else, especially the first degree doesn't directly add value (say, economics or finance and then law with an interest in business law). This is second hand, so ask people who are hiring where he'd want to work.

As someone who has one of my degrees from Oxbridge and also spend a term there as an undergrad, I'll put in my belated 2p. I think Oxbridge does a really phenomenal job of truly educating their undergraduates. The tutorial system, in particular, provides undergraduates meaningful access to some very successful academics in a way that rarely happens at a lot (not all) of the comparable places in the United States. I think the practice of defending your written and verbal ideas is an incredible experience that most prepared me for graduate school. Oxbridge is one of the few places that combines the contact of a liberal arts college with the research benefits of a world-class research institute. And the prestige of the degree can be helpful, particularly in recruiting, but this is field dependent. What does Calvin want to study? That said, St. Andrews is also good school (for readers without UK experience, think of somewhere like Dartmouth or a very elite LAC and somewhere like Michigan). Its sensible to apply to both and if accepted to both to weigh the pros and cons. Also, it would be smart to talk to people who are knowledgeable about career goals about how much the prestige matters. For more on the tutorial system, especially for US readers, see THE OXFORD TUTORIAL: 'Thanks, you taught me how to think' oxcheps.new.ox.ac.uk/Publications/Resources/OxCHEPS_OP1_08.pdf

I would also add, to the Phd programs, UCSD (Samuel Kernell) A couple of other suggestions, for MA programs (I reccomend applying for a couple of MA programs (1 in case ideal schools don't work out, to improve competativness. 2) so more options are avalible, in the case that plans change over the 9 months between application ) The following are 1 year programs that would likely fit interests. In this case its not a terrible idea to pay, providing it is financially fesible (depending on your views of loans, etc, it might make economic sence to pay for a year of strong master's program) University of Chicago Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) University of Cambridge MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History Columbia, MAO in Political Science Also, does he have any language skills? For the US it is not as crucial as for theory, but French would be quite helpful for early America. In any case, reading knowlege of at least one language is usually a requirment.

Based on your description of interests, he'll want a program with strengths in American Government and Political Theory. I would advice a major in American Government and a minor in Political Theory because there are many more jobs in American Government. American Political Development is likely the best concentration. It would be useful if he identified some more specific interests. He should also find a specific faculty member (or members) he interested in. Math will be needed though may not need to be a centerpiece of his research. Obviously the stronger the school, the better the job prospects. So he should apply for a couple of top programs, but also have some backups-I would recommend applying to at least 6 schools, more if more good fits are identified. At the high end, he should look at Yale (lots of people, Stephen Skowronek, David Mayhew), the University of Chicago, and UT Austin (Jeffery Tulis) but understand that these are reaches for anyone. In DC, he should look at Georgetown (George W Carey), Catholic (Claes Ryn, Matthew Green), American (Daniel Dreisbach). Baylor may be a good fit--they have done a good job at placing students for a new program. UVA, also. Also, don't go unless he gets funding--a tuition waver is the minimum, and a ta/ra position is pretty common. Given the uncertainty (well under half who start a phd will finish, jobs are not certain at the end) it is not something you should take loans for. I have not reccomended a couple of schools for this reason.

If you could let me know some additional information I think I could help substantially with this: What are his specific interests (subfield of political science)? What language skills/ regional knowledge does he possess? How are his math skills, and does he have any interest in statistically driven political science research? What is his GPA (major)/GRE breakdown look like? Does geography matter, or is the whole world in play? This will help me narrow my advice.

The general advice on graduate school is good--GREs and good recommendations are important. I would also add that a well crafted statement of purpose explaining why a school is a good fit also matters. If your son is not really into math graduate economics is not a good fit. Something like development studies will require some math, but not the same all math all the time focus. Some field specific stuff: 1) The Phd is a usually a reserch degree, not a practioner's degree. The sort of jobs people get with a Phd are ofter quite different from an ma in international affairs or public policy. Getting it paid for is not a good reason to start a PhD--in fact less than 50% of students who start phds finish the degree (in some disciplines, 25%)--you need to really want to do independent research. 2) Work experience in a practitioner track is important (I'm talking about jobs in policy, development, etc). Some programs are desiged to help students obtain work experience/internships, others are not. This is an important thing to ask about. 3) European master's degrees can be a great experience (and a good price) but they are not particualrly helpful for getting a US job. I reccomending anyone who wants a practitioner job to spend time in DC- at least a summer or semester internship, but ideally getting a job for a year-before doing the degree so they have ties to the US job market HEI (I assume this is the school in Geneva) is a great program--I was considering taking my master's degree there but ultimately a UK program was a better choice If your son has some particular types of jobs he is interested in I could give focused advise (I've worked in intl affairs and will be teaching in the field starting in the fall)--I certaintly understand, however, that figuring out what is often the hardest part.

Usually they would like to see 4s or 5s on relevant AP tests or the equivalent. But you will need to ask the specific program what they will want to see, as this will different from department to department. Here are a couple of requirements from the high end of UK schools: http://www.trinhall.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergrad/assessingapplication_page.asp?ItemID=178 http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/international/yourcountry/usa/info.aspx#Qualifications

I would also look at hybrid or evening programs. I've taught in an evening program that offers all of its classes after 5pm one night a week to accommodate working students. In a field such as psychology or counseling lab/practicals will likely be an important part of being able to get a job in the field.

Admission to elite private schools will almost certainly be far more difficult as a cc transfer student than as a freshman. Transfer to a state university system (in the same state) is quite possible, but in many cases CC students are guaranteed admission to a state university campus, which may not be the flagship but rather state university at somewhere. Which may be fine, but not elite. Further, for many of the non elite private schools that take lots of transfers, available aid is less. The college I will be teaching at, for example, offers up to full tuition for incoming frosh and does not come close to that for CC transfers (I think the most is something like half).

I think that while Adams makes some good points about applying yourself, his assertion that B students don't need things like classics and physics is misguided, in that it suggests that the advantages of critical thinking and skill at written communication from a real liberal arts education is limited to A students. There are many kinds of B students. Without being brilliant, they can learn to think critically and communicate effectively. Further, I think a liberal education done well is valuable in its own right. A democratic system presumes that we have educated citizens able to participate in the public square. Viewing education as solely job training is a mistaken. I would also say that doing well is more important than both the major or the school, with some exceptions (A B student from Oxford will have advantages over an A- student from nowhere state; an engineer needs a certain foundation that only an engineering degree can give). If you do well in your first degree you can change at the graduate level--history (with science courses, but not that many) to medical school, English to international affairs, biology to social work, humanities to information science) Finally, CC can work out well, but as noted above it depends on the CC and major. The same with AP and CLEP tests.

Just to follow up, I checked the catalog at the school I will be teaching at next year, which has both politics, where I teach, and criminal justice. Politics has two constitutional law classes, a criminal law and procedure class, legal evidence, and business law. Criminal justice has courses such as criminology, abnormal psychology, law and society, etc. Many of the law-related courses are actually taught, if I understand right, by the political science department. This will clearly vary from university to university, but my understanding is that in general a political science program with a good pre-law emphasis will have more of the courses that will provide a foundation in legal reasoning than will criminal justice, which is preparing future police and corrections officers. The other thing I would recommend is moot court or speech and debate.

Two Christian colleges I know of that have good law school admission records are George Fox in OR and Howard Payne in TX. Whitworth in WA might also be worth a look. For secular schools, look at Willamette and Lewis and Clark in OR Question re: Criminal Justice--is this seen as law school prep? In my understanding this is usually a standalone for people wanted to enter law enforcement or corrections on the basis of a BA. Most people I know who were successful in law school admissions either 1)majored in Political Science/Pre-Law or 2)majored in something like philosophy or science and took law related courses for a minor/elective and did very well on the LSAT