Pls help with a college list! Decent ACT [33], low GPA [3.3] [MA resident, international relations]

Chance Me / Match Me
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There must be some research that demonstrates that the closer to the application season one gets, the more delusional one becomes. Fine, but why is my ChatGpt and Grok also delulu? :))

- MA resident, female

- Desired major: diplomacy/international relations

- 34 ACT super score (E-36, R-35, S-33, M-32)

- 33 ACT from a single test

- GPA from first two years: 2.98

- homeschooled junior year: all As, including DE science class.

- if combine two transcripts, cumulative unweighted for 3 years is 3.3. Weighted - 4.04

- HS recommends only 3 AP and/or honors per year. Student took more than that every year.

- HS profile states that most AP classes are available to seniors only

- AP scholar award after Junior year, but scores are not exemplary. 1 - 4 (AP Lit), 2 - 3.

- 3 APs taken during senior year (including calc), plus other honors classes.

- Speaks 4 languages. Global and State Seal of Biliteracy in one language, State Seal of bileteracy in another language. AP equivalent taken for a language that isn’t offered by College Board — highest grade.

- freshman year National Latin Exam - gold medal and perfect score certificate.

- major family circumstances affected grades sophomore year, and, ultimately lead to a homeschooled junior year.

- strong essay, not dwelling on extreme circumstances that lead to bad grades. Supplemental essay does address dip in grades.

- elite level athlete in a sport. Selected to represent USA internationally. Multiple national level medals. (for those not familiar with sports — this means years of sweat, tears, blood, travel, competitions, missed birthday parties).

- decided not to do sport in college, didn’t participate in the recruitment process.

- started a club, tutors, enough community service hours.

- doesn’t want a LAC

- wants a larger school

- Greek life not important

What’s the best that money can buy? In other words, what’s the best student has a real shot at? What are the targets? Safeties?

THANK YOU!

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You don’t mention budget in your post. Is your family’s budget unlimited?

So the lower grades pulling down GPA were mostly just sophomore year? Just asking because there are some schools that calculate GPA without using 9th grade.

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This is the best selling point - even if didn’t go through recruitment. But I’d assume they’d want you to play in the sport - if you’re amongst the best in the country.

Yes, you need a budget. You also didn’t share what part of the country you want and what you want to study - because some LACs offer things that other LACs don’t.

But you need to get out of the mindset of elite vs. non- when you say what’s the best they can get into.

Total edit - I read LAC - it says not LAC. so I’ve revised.

There will be many schools but budget and location matter. IR is very popular and often in politics.

My kid went to College of Charleston - technically a public LAC but 9K kids. Ole Miss is a relatively easy admit and the Croft school is renowned. Indiana is another strong school - International Studies would be in its fine Hamilton Lugar school

I see another suggested Korbel at U Denver - which made me go back and look at school type and realized I was wrong - when I read LAC.

Frankly, this list might be 100 long.

Once we find out about location preference and budget, there will be more ideas.

But I’m convinced you can do well from most schools if you have the passion/persistence. My kid at the unknown regional (Charleston) had 7 intern offers in DC and ended up at a prominent think tank - so I think when people say there’s few opportunities - perhaps in this climate it’s true but in general and it depends on what you want to do, I think at NGOs or other places - there is opportunity no matter where you come from…so I’m not sure “best” should matter vs “best” for you.

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I might be tempted to consider an application to U.Mass Lowell. They have international relations as a possible concentration offered through their political science program.

I would make a strong effort to continue your strong uptrend through senior year. Doing well junior year and continuing this through a strong senior year of high school is very likely to help you a lot one way or another.

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An international-level athlete could probably get admitted to the Ivy League, Stanford, Duke etc with those statistics. Too bad no sports, since you asked for the best that money can buy, and the student could have gone to one of “the best”.

What about American University? DC would seem to be a prime location for this student’s interests.

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Not sure how far you’re willing to go, or what your budget is, but I think American U, George Washington U, and University of Denver are all worth a look.

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Budget is not unlimited, but for the right school with a good ROI the parents will cover.

Yes, bad grades (2 Cs and B-s) are all from Sophomore year.

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What does this mean?

You need a figure?

$20K, $50K, $100K a year.

Does the where matter?

One can’t say - it’s not unlimited but parents will cover for the right school. Are loans needed? Do they qualify for need?

There’s no school “rank” here that puts them better at another - especially given the major.

So you need to provide detail vs. vagueness.

Right now the list could be 100+ schools - given with what you’ve said.

Are there other desires - sports (such as wanting to be a fan at big football games), weather type, religion, etc.

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Thank you for taking the time to write your response. Full disclosure — I am the parent.

The recruitment process is 99% over for her sport. She could have very well gone through the recruitment just to get into the school, but she says that it would be a dishonest way of doing it. I am trying to keep the thread to facts only, but, yes, I believe it’s a mistake not to utilize her sports standing.

As for geography - doesn’t want to be too close to home. UMass Amherst is a few hours away and probably the closest she would consider. Doesn’t want West Coast. She wants to be a diplomat or be in diplomacy. Washington area makes most sense for it, but like you demonstrated in your example — it’s not a necessity. Congrats to your child!

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Thank you! It’s probably too close to home. She wants to get away! :slight_smile:

So far so good with the grades. Trying hard.

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I agree, it is too bad! I am just a parent who “doesn’t understand” :).

In her sport, grades do matter for all except top 3. She isn’t top 3 in the country. So, in all fairness, IVYs would probably be a long shot anyway.

yes, American is on her radar. Biggest worry is that low gpa might preclude any chance for a holistic review of her application.

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Check out the University of Maryland. They’re right outside DC, have strong IR and public policy majors. They’re big but not huge (30k undergrads). Students can’t join Greek orgs until they earn at least 15 credits at the school, so there’s less emphasis on Greek life.

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Most schools have a DC Semester, either on their own (like mine did hers through U of South Carolina as all publics in South Carolina do. But her house on Capitol Hill was in a row of houses occupied by many schools. There’s a landlord that basically rents houses (lots of them) to colleges for their semester programs. Other colleges go through American U.

Being a diplomat might mean a federal government job. What language interests her - she’ll need one as an IR major (or maybe to test out). You have a seal in several but I’m wondering if one might work with the Language Flagship programs - that are government funded and might lead to this type of opportunity. I’m not sure Washington matters per se - given there are summers and other time frame and programs.

Others, of course, will disagree. I would suggest a dual major. In fact, it was at American U’s school of International Service where during a presentation, after hearing the curriculum, i flat out asked the presenter (who may have been the department head) that the education doesn’t seem to lead to a job and she acknowledged kids should double and that the degree on its own isn’t leading to great employment.

You do need a budget.

American is $80K. If you got in (unknown), the most you can hope for is $15K I’d say - can you afford $65K (I’m assuming no need). If not, no reason to apply.

Charleston I mentioned - the student would likely get in - tuition, room and board is likely $55K but more when you go off campus. It’s a city with a lot of international commerce - and the school brings in Diplomats - my daughter met several ambassadors from several countries through their Mroz Institute.

I noted Seton Hall’s School of Diplomacy, the Croft School at Ole Miss (lower cost), and Indiana U Hamilton Lugar School (high 50s).

You don’t want loans (at least big ones) and fortunately, the government has put in limits with the new Big Beautiful Bill. They’re still too high but…

I think the in-class to home school grades - tell a story that might (I don’t know) diminish the home school grades.

The other thing i think - like Charleston and Mroz, many schools have special programs that aren’t known just looking at the website - so you have to look deeper. A lot of schools have special organizations that might work for your student. So don’t just look at rank or has to be by DC.

AU is having financial issues so it might happen (but not cheap) if you are full pay. I’d think GW isn’t happening.

If you want to be in DC, George Mason could be a good choice - just outside or James Madison 90 miles away. Smaller would be Mary Washington - within reach of DC (about 55 miles). It’s more large LAC ish.

Syracuse is highly unlikely but Maxwell school is top rated. U Delaware is possible whereas a UMD isn’t going to happen (I don’t think - but would be a strong fit otherwise). Delaware isn’t too far from DC. It’s not assured but possible. U Pitt may be a slight reach but is good in many majors, and like Indiana, Kansas is a “worldly” school with a center for Global and International Studies. UMN is another. Another K would be U Kentucky - it’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and Global Commerce is well thought of. It’s only a graduate school but some may seep down to undergrad…would be worth a look. Nice school…nice city.

Really - need more info - because you can go in sooooo many directions - and yes, the budget matters. That’s what you need to zero in on now - you have a figure - it doesn’t change (or shouldn’t) based on a school name.

But I’m thinking given the language excellence, a flagship program might be the way to go for best employment opportunities.

These languages, if the student has an interest (it’s a 2nd focus in addition to the IR/IS major) - the languages are:

Arabic
Chinese
Korean
Persian
Portguguese
Russian

Does the student want to work in any of these. They come with some level of funding I believe (not saying a full scholarship) and from what I’ve read, would give you better access to government employment than even going to the highest ranked colleges.

Each language is tied to a school - for example, Arabic is aligned to U Arizona, Indiana, Ole Miss. Portuguese to Arizona and Georgia (high reach for this student but also great in IR).

Thanks

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I’ll suggest Indiana University. Their Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies is well regarded. Overall they have an 80% acceptance rate for out of state applicants, which is higher than their in state acceptance rate. So, they seem to like bringing in out of state students. Her ACT score is in their top quartile and they place importance on standardized test scores, right behind gpa and class rank. Her gpa is not strong, as you know, but with their high acceptance rate and strong ACT, I think that she stands a good chance of acceptance for the Lugar School.

IU is in Bloomington, IN, which shows up frequently on ratings of best college towns in the country. I know one student from New England who is a sophomore there in International Relations and is very happy with her decision.

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Syracuse has a great program. I have a cousin who is a freshman at Maxwell and had a rocky up-and-down GPA in high school due to health issues, ended with a 3.4 and a strong test score. It wasn’t her first choice and she seemed like she didn’t want to like it…but she’s very happy there.

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Guessing said person is full pay ?? SU loves the $$ but Maxwell is connected and SU recently opened a DC campus too.

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With the GPA where it is you should cast a wide net, and consider applying to a lot of schools. The languages make your daughter unique. Language programs are typically small and a school might be interested in supporting its major if your daughter considered a double major. Also, a language plus political science is a good option towards the international relations field. Towards that end I would suggest SUNY-Albany. Strong in government (state capital), driveable for you but far enough away, and low OOS population so they may be willing to look more at her strengths rather than her weaknesses. Good sized school without big Greek life.

She could also consider an overseas school. Go to Europe and live the languages, get direct experiences.

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Places that may be targets: University of Charleston, University of Denver, Ohio State, University of Minnesota, Syracuse (show interest early and often), American, George Washington.

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Small merit scholarship, actually! I don’t know what was going on there last year but I think they gave merit to a lot more people than usual. It’s still super expensive though.

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What I was thinking. Awesome school.