I didn’t consider this my counselor told me they rounded so I will have to talk to them to see what will happen. Thank you so much for the information!
You don’t need a school on your list for this. Mine went to College of Charleston, interned for our state and then a highly regarded think tank during a DC semester. Many colleges have DC semesters. She had 7 intern offers - so I’m not convinced it’s a brutal type environment.
If you watched the Jan 6 hearings, schools like Christopher Newport and Kent State were front and center.
Your list is great - and you’ll have a great in from it - but all those schools are great.
When we toured W&L, we met (just bumped into) their head of Washington program and he told us they were #2 for placing kids in DC per capita. He said #1 was Sewanee - perhaps a school you haven’t even heard of.
So you’ll be successful no matter where you go. You don’t need a name. You need grit and hustle.
Many schools have a DC Semester - UT has the Archer Center. Other kids attend American U for the semester. Obviously there are jobs in state and local government too.
Your list is fine but the lack of a language and the 32 (didn’t realize you were so young) could limit you - but it won’t at many. Note - elective classes may sound good but focus on four years (at least 3) of the core subjects - things like CS don’t matter in this sense.
But you’re going to be fine no matter what - and I’d save the OOS tuition given the great in state schools you have.
Good luck.
Ranked 2nd in your class with a 4.44 weighted and 27 dual credit hours at a 4.0 is genuinely impressive. For poli sci/public policy, your profile reads really well because the ECs line up perfectly with the intended major.
For the Ivies, I want to be honest. A 32 ACT is on the lower end for schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton where the 25th percentile is typically 34+. That does not mean you cannot get in, but your essays, recommendations, and the narrative around civic engagement and leadership need to do heavy lifting. The Statesman Award, SkillsUSA service, and dual credit coursework show commitment, but the Ivies will want to see something that makes you stand out nationally, not just locally.
Georgetown is probably your strongest target among the reaches. A 32 ACT is closer to their range, your interest in government/public policy is exactly what the SFS and the Government department attract, and the 27 college credit hours show academic maturity. The taekwondo angle could be interesting if you framed it as discipline/leadership in your app.
Some realistic targets that are excellent for poli sci and public policy that you should consider if you have not already:
- UT Austin (Government department is solid and you would get auto-admit as top 5% in Texas)
- American University in DC (their School of Public Affairs is top tier for policy, and they give good merit aid)
- William & Mary (strong government program, competitive but not impossible with your stats)
- UVA (the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is growing fast)
- GWU (DC location is a massive advantage for internships on the Hill)
Your biggest strength is the consistency of your profile. Everything points toward public service and civic leadership, which is what admissions officers at policy-focused schools love to see. Make sure your main essay brings something personal that the rest of the app does not show. Good luck with decisions.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.