Hi! Here’s my list:
Stanford
Princeton
Columbia
Yale
JHU
UChicago
UPenn
Brown
Northwestern
UVA
USC
Swarthmore
Claremont McKenna College
Tufts
Boston U.
These are my top factors for this list:
(1) Program strength: I want to major in International Relations or Public Policy (depending on the university)
(2) Job opportunities/location: I want to be set up in the long term. For example, if I were to major in international relations, I wouldn’t want to be in a rural place in a state most people forget is a state.
(3) T20 Unis, T20 Colleges, U.S. Service academies: This is going to sound really dumb, but please don’t judge. My county considers students who get accepted into these schools as “super scholars.” I’ve had people and even teachers who have told me I will never succeed, etc. That’s why the majority of my Questbridge list (except for 4) falls under this category.
(4) LGBTQ+ Equality/Scene: I’m gay. Simple enough.
I mean there’s only so many QB schools. If that’s your favorites, then so be it.
You have many not top 20s whatever it means.
We don’t know your stats so we don’t know if you’ll get into any or if you might have easier (not easy) choices.
But if you like your list - then great.
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Oh okay, thank you so much! I think my academic stats are pretty good, especially my extracurriculars and awards (though, I am applying test-optional when I can).
The one school that, IMHO, is conspicuously missing from this list in Macalester, which hits all of your stated criteria (well-regarded for IR, in a major city, and very LGBT-friendly - both the school and the city) except for the “T20” one. I realize you have 15 schools already, so maybe you considered Mac and it just didn’t make the cut compared to the others. But if you haven’t looked closely at it, I would do so, and make sure there isn’t one school on your list that it beats in terms of fit.
Otherwise, it seems like a good list, and I wish you luck!
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Hi! Yes, Mac was on my list for a long time. I had Mac, Middlebury, and Hamilton before I believe. I switched them to Northwestern, Swarthmore, and Claremont McKenna!
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Although not as highly ranked as Swarthmore, Macalester is a stronger school when it comes to IR. AFAIK, Swarthmore doesn’t offer IR or public policy at all.
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Yes….and Hamilton is ranked extremely highly for IR. Wondering why Mac, Hamilton, and Midd were crossed off.
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Yes, I would definitely keep these 3 and have them replace USC, Swarthmore and? Bu?
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In the end there’s many wonderful QB schools. More than OP can pick. But as a TO applicant, they might look at schools and their TO acceptance levels. Denison or Oberlin might be a fit here. Stanford - requiring a test.
OP is worried about urban. If that’s what they want, great. But you still need chances to get in and their reason of if not urban, it’s forgotten isn’t real world.
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If this is the case, Hamilton and Middlebury should 100% be on this students list.
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Then I retract. but Mac still seems like a fit.
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But nobody wonders if New York State is a state, or Vermont?
Certainly not anyone who’s anyone in IR.
So I assume it was a joke by OP.
Sure Hamilton and Middlebury are rural but they offset this socially by offering lots of things to do on campus and professionally by the strength of their network.
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Hi! Thank you so much for your help. I didn’t realize Stanford was not TO? I coulr have sworn they were, unless they changed something recently…
Stanford recently announced SAT/ACT requirement for students applying in fall 2025 for fall 2026 frosh entry. Note that it will remain test optional for students applying in fall 2024 for fall 2025 frosh entry. “The university is reinstating the test requirement in a manner that will allow all students enough lead time to plan and prepare for testing.”
Wow. Thank you.
Edit: Oh wait nevermind, it doesn’t apply to me. Thank GOD
Stanford test requirement doesn’t apply to you but both Yale and Brown are test required for 2025 HS grads. Have you taken any tests, or have any scheduled?
Yale is technically test flexible, students can sub AP or IB test scores for SAT/ACT:
https://admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing
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Yes and no. Schools want it. That’s why so many have reinstated.
Personally I wouldn’t apply TO there. But it’s up to you.
I believe Yale is Test Flexible so I can submit AP scores I believe.
100% I agree. I just want to be in the position where even with subpar test results, I can still feel somewhat confident in my app.