<p>Hi RoseBrigade,</p>
<p>I just want to throw in my own reassurances here, because I was actually in a spot similar to yours when I was applying. I want to join the foreign service too, and I nearly went straight into Seton Hall’s undergrad IR program before I chose Grinnell. I’m gonna major in poli sci now, but I only have to take 2 classes (including intro) that don’t have to do with international relations. I know there are several independent international relations majors right now, enough that there are actually plans in the works to establish an IR curriculum. They don’t know if it’ll be a major or a concentration yet, but it’ll probably be set up within the next year or two, at least by the time you have to declare. It’s in the initial stages now, with the student senate coordinating with the office of off-campus study.
And a quick tip: if you do come here, make sure you ask for a tutorial within the poli sci or econ department, because otherwise you’ll end up with a prof who has to spend a lot of time informing themselves before they can advise you, which can get tricky, and might make planning an inde major harder.
Hope to see you next year!</p>