Junior from CA looking for help in putting together a college list

Will give you two different perspectives - one based on academics and one based on “fit”.

For your interests:
International relations: Georgetown School of Foreign Service
Jounalism: Northwestern University

For fit (this is coming as a parent of a non-binary child who has recently come out). Note these are still excellent schools and mentioning because fit is probably most important thing for my child:
Oberlin (not exactly urban or coastal though)
Vassar
NYU

Best of luck!