Chance/Match an International Relations / Poli Sci & Philosophy major from Mass; 33 ACT, 3.5 UW GPA (not 100% sure, our system is weird) [<$60k]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Guidelines

  • Please check back to answer questions.
  • Please do not share identifying information.
  • Please do not include your race.

Demographics

  • US Citizen/Domestic
  • State/Location of residency: Massachusetts
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public HS
  • Other special factors: Have a twin brother also applying? Idk if this counts

Cost Constraints / Budget
~$60,000 but not a huge worry/limit

Intended Major(s)
Depends on the school but mostly a double major of International Relations & Philosophy or Political Science & Philosophy

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: ~3.5 (not sure) (Edited by moderator)
  • Weighted HS GPA: 3.9/5 (school has serious GPA deflation; the top students have 4.3/4.4)
  • College GPA: N/A
  • Class Rank: School doesn’t rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 33 ACT

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: 9-11 Honors, 12 AP Lit
  • Math: 9-11 CP (Geo, Alg 2, Trig & Pre-Calc), 12 Honors Calc
  • Science: 9 CP Bio, 10 Honors Chem, 11 AP Bio & Honors Physics, 12 APES
  • History and social studies: 9-11 H (World History, US History I & II), 12 AP Gov & AP Microeconomics
  • Language other than English: 9-11 H Spanish, 12 AP Spanish
  • Visual or performing arts: Foundations of Art
  • Other academic courses: Business classes x2, Robotics H

College Coursework (Transfer Applicants)
Dual Enrollment Finance Class
Dual Enrollment Public Speaking

  • General education course work:
  • Major preparation course work:

Awards
Nothing super strong but →

  • DECA States Top test score (x2)
  • Mock Trial Team Top 8 & 16 in State
  • FRC State Award
  • HOSA State competitor
  • High Honors/Honor Roll (?)

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

  • Political Debate Club → Co-President, Northeast State Officer
  • Internsip → At my local state representatives office, this summer and will continue it
  • Robotics → Business Lead & Social Media Manager
  • Student Council Exec Board → plan pep rally, social media coordinator
  • mock trial → direct/cross attorney
  • science org → co-founder, manage communications, goal is to spread stem with kids in the area with tests, science fairs, and interactive activities
  • foreign exchange in spain
  • car detailing → co-founder and coo of a detailing business
  • senior center volunteer
  • deca

Essays/LORs/Other
(Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)

  • essays are good I think, can’t really judge it but I’ve been told its solid
  • LOR → English teacher (11,12) definitely positive
  • LOR → Physics (11), I had a close relationship with him, definitely good things
  • LOR → the rep I worked with, should be strong as we developed a good relationship

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

  • American Uni, EA
  • GWU, RD
  • UMass , EA
  • CWRU, EA
  • UConn, EA/Nov 1
  • UVM, EA
  • Cornell, RD
  • Drexel, EA
  • Syracuse (maybe)
  • U of SC, EA
  • William & Mary (maybe)
  • Wake Forest University, RD

If a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below; also, for colleges that admit by major or division, consider that in chance estimate.

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
  • Extremely Likely:
  • Likely:
  • Toss-up:
  • Lower Probability:
  • Low Probability:

If you have any other questions pls lmk! I’m also looking for more college suggestions so I’m open! I don’t really mind going across the country

2

I would suggest you add College of Charleston - which has a few Poli Sci tracks that would interest you. It’s a natural fit with some on your list. Pitt too as a reach but reasonable.

Maybe AU full pay. They are short enrollment. But that’s over budget.

UVM maybe but URI and UNH would be better bets.

Drexel is a yeah. But $$ wise - no.

I don’t see you getting in anywhere else.

Good luck.

1 Like
3

Have you considered the University of Richmond?

4

URichmond seems unlikely with a 3.2 GPA

1 Like
5

I concur. However, Richmond might offer an alternative reach idea in comparison to, say, Cornell.

1 Like
6

Guys I’m sorry I calculated my GPA wrong!
It’s a 3.9/5 and a 3.5/4.
would that change anything?

7

To make it easier its a A- overall

8

What universities do you think are safeties for both admissions and affordability?

I think that U.Mass Amherst might be a low reach with a 3.5 unweighted GPA. At least it is not a safety. U.Mass Lowell would be more likely for admissions. I am pretty sure that the U.Mass campuses do consider your major for admissions, which makes it a bit tougher for me to guess your chances (I am more familiar with computer science, which is generally a tougher admit for those schools that consider your major for admissions).

South Carolina or Southern California? South Carolina might be more likely for admissions.

I agree with taking a look at UNH.

9

I’ve updated your post

1 Like
10

3.5 is weighted or unweighted.

What is your unweighted gpa.

11

Yes South Carolina is the one I applied to.

Thanks about UNH! I’ve also been seriously considering UNH and URI

1 Like
12

3.5 is unweighted

13

ok - that’s a big difference from a 3.2.

3.5 and 33 - definitely add Pitt and Charleston. SUNY Bing too.

AU and GW are possible - but maybe not at $60K.

UMASS is a toss up as is UCONN.

UVM yes.

CWRU - highly unlikely. Cornell - not close.

Drexel - yes - but I don’t get it - and not sure it hits cost.

Syracuse - with interest - but won’t be $60K.

U of SC is a toss up but a U Del has the Biden school, might be the better choice and you’d get in I believe. Indiana is another - the Hamilton Lugar school is excellent.

No to W&M and no to Wake.

Good luck.

14

Yes - 3.5 is much better than 3.2! You have good rigor and ED and your ACT is great. I think you have several possible admits on your list but some will be above your budget. Here’s my best guesses.

Likely:
Drexel

Toss Up:
American
UMass
UConn
UVM
Syracuse
U of SC

Lower Probability
GWU
CWRU
William & Mary

Low Probability
Cornell
Wake Forest

1 Like
15

Seconding Pitt as a reasonable reach. Its philosophy department is very highly-regarded, and there’s IR within the poli sci department, plus there’s an interdisciplinary Politics and Philosophy major (within which you could choose an IR focus) that’s run by the Honors College, but you don’t have to be in the Honors College to choose the major.

Pitt’s admissions are rolling, and acceptance gets more difficult the longer you wait to apply, so apply ASAP for the best chance.

This program at URI might be of interest if you want to go into more depth on the foreign language aspect and do a year of study+internship abroad. https://web.uri.edu/politicalscience/academics/isd-program/ I imagine you could add the philosophy piece in.

U of Indiana is also particularly strong in IR, and the poli sci department offers a poli sci + philosophy option.

And if the Spanish-speaking world is your desired focus, maybe check out St Louis U, which has a campus in Madrid where you can spend your first two years or even the entire four years, depending on your major. Philosophy, Poli Sci, and International Studies are all offered in Madrid, and IR is offered as a 2+2 degree in Madrid and STL. Degrees and Programs SLU

Good luck!

1 Like
16

Thanks! I’ll def look into U Del
My brother is applying to Indiana so it’s also been on my roster, thanks so much

1 Like
17

Ooh ok thanks, I didn’t know that about Pitt! Same with St Luis, that helps a lot! Thanks so much

1 Like
18

D19 looked at these a few years ago. AU does not admit by major (unless they changed it)so a lot of interest and an early application could see OP in. IR /polisci are tough majors to get into at GWU and I’d have that a low reach. But neither are likely to make it under budget, as you say.

19

JMU? In budget and likely admit and they have a Washington DC semester. My D considered it. The main thing we didn’t like is how far it is from an airport.

20

Yes I have JMU and GMU as other near-DC options

1 Like