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Hi guys.

I'm trying to figure out what colleges I should apply to if I don't get into Georgetown EA. I absolutely adore Georgetown, but I know a bunch of other possibilities. If I'm not accepted EA, I *might* apply to Tufts ED II because I could be extremely happy there too.

My stats are:
GPA: Collectively: 97.5/100 unweighted
Junior Year: 100.2/100 weighted

Have taken pretty much the hardest courseload possible. Mostly honors/AP classes- only took AP US this year, though, b/c that's all my school and schedule would allow. Next year will be taking 6 AP courses.

SATS: 1500
(790 Verbal, 710 Math)

SAT II's: 760 US, 770 Writing, will take math and maybe French in October.

Rank: Around 8/400 at a public school (It's nothing special)

EC's: Extremely extremely involved in Student Government- Will be President next year for the second year (only happened once before), have been class president and student council secretary as well.

1 year JV, 3 years Varsity Soccer (captain on JV team) (I play summer soccer as well)

2 years JV, 2 years Varsity Lacrosse

Model UN member, won award

Youth court

Community student leader program

Probably over 1000 hours of community service

Tons of leadership conferences, have presented at some

As you can see, my main focus is leadership. I devote tons and tons of time to it.

Will work on essays and recs throughout the summer.

I'll be spending a month in France (leave next week!!!!) and then hopefully volunteering at the local chapter of the ACLU for the rest of the summer.

I'm very interested in International Relations and political science/government. I hope to go to Law School after college, so a strong poly-sci program or IR is important. I would like to be in or near a nice city (no middle-of-nowhere LAC's for me, please!) and at a small-medium sized school. (I like around 2-9,000 students, but I thought UVA was great and it's much bigger). I would appreciate any help, especially in terms of ideas for safeties. Thanks!

Lauren

By Jwtullis (Jwtullis) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 03:21 pm: Edit

With your accomplishments and stats, I'd say you have a good shot at getting into some really competitive schools, such as Duke, WashU, and some Ivy Leagues. The only problem with these schools is that it's very difficult to tell for sure if you'll get in, so for that reason many people pick several (I'd personally say no more than 5 or 6) really good schools that they're interested in and apply to them all.

I can tell you're not one of those people who would simply pick all the Ivy League schools just because of their prestige factor, but certainly some of them have great political science programs (I couldn't direct you to specifics, however) and fit your preferences for size and location.

Personally, I'll be going to RiceU in the fall. I think it would certainly fit your criteria, as it is in Houston, has a strong political science/IR program, has 2800 undergrads, and has several internship programs (one especially for leadership, where you intern in Washington). What's more, it, like many other good schools, has great placement rates for students going on into law and med schools. If nothing else, I think you should definitely check it out. It's about the same selectivity-wise as Georgetown, but I think you'd have a good shot with your credentials. It's also less concerned with the objective credentials, I believe, than other similarly-ranked schools, and it's considered the best value of most any prestigious private school.

I hope this information helps, and good luck.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Check JHU.

By Xtech (Xtech) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 04:04 pm: Edit

For International Relations/Studies the top schools you want to apply to are JHU, Georgetown, Tufts, and the Ivies. After evaluating my options and chances of getting in I applied ED to JHU, got in, and can't wait to start studying there this fall.

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 04:13 pm: Edit

Thanks, everyone! Your advice was really helpful- I'll definitely look into JHU, Rice, and maybe even a few Ivies (however I doubt I even the slightest chance!) I appreciate your taking the time to respond!

Lauren

By Jwtullis (Jwtullis) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 04:31 pm: Edit

Trust me, you have a chance at the Ivies. Despite the images that people on these forums often portray of the admissions at Ivy League schools, one doesn't have to be perfect to get in to them. Besides, your stats already put you above over half of the admitted students at pretty much any of the Ivies (in terms of SAT scores, anyway).

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 04:35 pm: Edit

Really? Wow, I would have never thought. You're right about these forums- after reading so many posts about people w/1600 SAT's and all 800 SAT II's getting rejected, I figured I had no shot in hell! Maybe I'll consider 1 or 2 just as a super, super-reach, then. Thanks!

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 09:42 pm: Edit

Bump

By Dzleprechaun (Dzleprechaun) on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 03:27 pm: Edit

If you're looking for an International Affairs major, the APSIA has a list of member institutions that you should look at. Some of these will be target schools for you (Gtown, JHU), others would make good safeties (American).

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 04:04 pm: Edit

Thank you!!

By Tasha (Tasha) on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:17 am: Edit

yeah ... i heard American University, Georgetown, Tufts, George Washington, John Hopkins, Harvard all have great programs in IR. I would try Harvard too for major networking contacts...

By Collegeparent (Collegeparent) on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 11:54 am: Edit

Take a look at the following IR/poly sci programs:

Princeton
Tufts
Johns Hopkins
Georgetown
Duke
Cornell
Colgate
Bowdoin
Williams
Amherst
Boston College
Rice
Northwestern
Stanford
Michigan
Davidson
Washington & Lee
Carleton
Virginia
Vanderbilt
George Washington
Oberlin
Yale
Penn

By Collegeparent (Collegeparent) on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 11:06 pm: Edit

also Middlebury

By Chidimma (Chidimma) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 09:33 am: Edit

what does bump mean?

By Cornellhopeful (Cornellhopeful) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 09:50 am: Edit

we use bump to push a thread back up to the top. You are "bumping" it back up.

You definitely should look into Penn.

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 09:59 am: Edit

Thank you all so, so much! You have no idea how helpful your suggestions are.

By Hstudent (Hstudent) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 11:48 am: Edit

apply to Harvard as well - you have a great shot and the IR programs in both Social Studies and Government cant be beat!

By Iska (Iska) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 11:57 pm: Edit

Laurenh87, you have a shot everywhere, HYPS not excluded. Listening to overachievers on this and other boards can spook you into lowering your sights. Put your best foot forward, sell yourself well, and no school is beyond reach. Take it from someone who was scared to death by these boards but got in everywhere.

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 12:10 am: Edit

Thanks, Iska and others. These boards definitely make it seem impossible to get into the upper, upper schools. The thing is, only about 10 people from my school have *ever* gone to HYPS, even though we've had many smart/accomplished people go through. Does that mean anything at all?

By Jwtullis (Jwtullis) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 12:17 am: Edit

Yes, it likely means that you're way more motivated/ambitious than most people at your school.

I wouldn't worry about your school's reputation in the eyes of the admissions committees. I think your stats will definitely speak for themselves, and nothing should really hold you back.

By Laurenh87 (Laurenh87) on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 04:31 pm: Edit

Any ideas about safety schools? You guys have inspired me to aim high, but what about some safer ones? Thanks!

By Fonzie (Fonzie) on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Wisconsin

By Copper45 (Copper45) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 11:39 pm: Edit

Emory is a good option too.

By Alejandro (Alejandro) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 07:10 pm: Edit

just out of curiosity, how is Tufts' economics department ranked/considered?