@collegemom3717 Sorry, I meant that degree alone would not be the deciding factor. You are right that service is very important, as is leadership, teamwork, and speaking at least one foreign language (I’m fluent in 2 UN languages, and teaching myself a 3rd - I intend to eventually be at least intermediate in all 5).
My state school is not in any of the states you listed, and what’s more, I know several student at my state school, and they have repeatedly complained that they lack some of the main things that I am looking for. Compared to my friends in the Ivies and MIT, it really seems like night and day. I am still applying to my state school, and will do my best succeed regardless of where I end up, but I just see this school as missing some of the factors most important to me. Also, this is obviously true at every public school, but it’s almost exclusively people from my state. I am really hoping to attend a university with a sizable international population, and geographic diversity, because that really contributes to a person’s understanding and awareness of global issues.
I am aware that grades are a huge factor, but I am currently (according to my counselor and several others) taking a course load which simulates that of a college freshmen, while also working, and am not struggling with grades. I have a very bold personality(not necessarily 100% positive or negative, but most of the teachers I respect have been very open to it), so connecting with teachers has been pretty easy in the past. However I will definitely keep your advice in mind, and put in the work needed to stand out in large classes.
Of course many internships are unpaid, but I also plan on doing work-study, and many of my friends have gotten stipends from their (mostly highly ranked private) schools to do internships which were loosely public service related. I’m sure that funding for this exists in other schools as well, I’ve just only heard about this from people in those top schools.
I have no plans on going into debt, and especially not if it is six-figures. The Ivies and Georgetown are just pipe dreams (I’m applying because I’ve dreamt of going for so long, but I understand they don’t want people like me), and outside of those, my list has been edited since the original post to pretty much only include schools that give full tuition merit scholarships or public schools. I appreciate the financial concern, but my family comes from an incredibly impoverished background, and I will not be making any reckless decisions regarding future spending.
Of course, I understand that many of these jobs are not well paid, and that is why I am considering law school as an alternative to grad school, because I know that the UN needs lawyers as well, and I am interested in environmental law specifically.
I don’t know how much is miscommunication vs what I actually misunderstood, but I appreciate your feedback and will definitely take what you said into account.