College Choice: International Relations

saga008
Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:38:05 +0000

Hey! I’m a HS senior making my final choices for colleges to apply to. Unfortunately, I seem a bit… scattered.

SAT: 750 Reading, 760 Math, 770 Writing (2280 Comp)
ACT: 34 Composite (35 English, 33 Math, 33 Reading, 36 Science), 10 Writing
SAT IIs: 740 Literature, 740 US History, 700 Math Level 2
GPA: …Used to be 3.98, will likely graduate with a 3.8. The mid-year report will /not/ be fabulous. (Predicted: 3 As, 1 B, 1 C)
Essays: Great.
Recs: Should be good.
ECs: …not so fabulous. Student government at-large member, plus a whole lot of vocal music related stuff (inc. theater), and some volunteer work. Plus work experience.

I’d like to major in International Relations, with a focus either on natl. security issues, or the Middle East, or both.

Here are the schools I’ve been looking at:

Reach: Columbia/Sciences Po Double Degree Program, Georgetown, Princeton, Stanford, Yale

Fit: American, George Washington

Safety: U of Michigan

Am I right about these categories? Are there any other schools I should be looking at, particularly in the “fit” and “safety” categories?

My parents are willing to pay up to around $35,000/year for schooling. The rest will come through student loans. While this is fine for schools with fantastic programs, I’d rather not come out of a safety school with only an OK rep, with a whole ton of student loans.

Great study abroad programs are a major plus.