<p>How good are SUNY Brockport, CUNY Hunter, and UMass Boston? I’m asking about these ones because as far as I know they’re the only ones in the SUNY, CUNY and UMass systems which offer a major in International Relations.</p>
<p>UMass-Boston has limited academic resources (and no dormitories). State funding for the UMass system is abyssmal, particularly for UMass-Boston. You need to scrutinize this school carefully in your chosen field.</p>
<p>In Boston the absence of dorms isn’t an issue, I’ve got family in Boston.
How is UMass-Boston academically overall?</p>
<p>By the way these are my stats:</p>
<p>I am currently a junior attending an American International school. I have spanish nationality, although “biologically” I’m half italian as well. I studied in a french “lycee” from 6th to 9th grade (ignoring primary school), and I’ve been studying in an American system since 10th grade. Overall, I speak fluently spanish, italian, french, and english. If you haven’t guessed already, I’m ethnically “white”. I was born in Paris, but I have lived in France, Spain, Russia, and now Pakistan (I don’t know if colleges will be interested in me being truly “international”).</p>
<p>School records:
My 9th grade record was messed up, as I was in a french system (completely different from the US system), and I switched schools as I moved to Pakistan, so I’m ignoring it.</p>
<p>10th grade: I got an overall A- average (3.7 GPA), and I was VERY VERY involved with the school’s bands and music programs, and travelled to India with the band. I was also in the Swimming team, and we travelled to Karachi (a city in southern Pakistan) for a competition. I also participated in many fundraising activities and concerts for the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake. I took one AP course, AP French, and I got a 5 in the exam (duh, no surprise there).</p>
<p>11th grade: Averaging the 3 quarters so far I have a B+ average (3.3 GPA), (hoping to bring it up a little on the 4th quarter). I have also been involved with the school’s music programs, although not as much as in 10th grade. I participated in an Model UN conference in Doha, Qatar, and even got an award (out of like 1000 participants, maybe even more, I got the “best by-the-book” award). I’m taking two AP courses, AP Euro and AP World (predicting scores of 5 on both), and two additional AP exams, AP Spanish and AP Italian (if I don’t get a 5 on both of these I swear I’ll kill myself).
I got a 169 on my PSAT, but hoping for a 1900-2000 on my SAT (taking it now in May, and taking it again in senior year).</p>
<p>In 12th grade I’m planning to travel again for Model UN to Doha. As for AP courses, I’m planning to take the courses for AP English Language, AP Econ (Micro and Macro), AP Statistics, and self-study AP Comp. Gov’t & Pol. By the end of 12th grade I will have taken 10 AP exams, and obtained an AP International Diploma.</p>
<p>Major: International Relations</p>
<p>Should I even be looking at these three schools?</p>
<p>Your background is certainly interesting. Is there a reason why you are only looking at state schools? What state are you a resident of? What can you afford? If you get strong SAT scores, you should probably look higher than the schools that you listed. If money is a big factor, and if you need to live with relatives, these choices may be OK. You may have a shot at honors at some of these places. Would you be interested in going to private schools if you could obtain merit aid?</p>
<p>The reasons I am looking at these school are mostly financial. I can’t afford going to a private school in the US (we are certainly not poor, but my father can’t afford 40,000$+ a year) unless I get some kind of scholarship or merit-aid.</p>
<p>If you’re restricted to state schools in Massachusetts, besides UM-Amherst campus, look at UM-Darmouth and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. I would also visit Worcester State College because the Worcester Consortium (cross-registration) program can be a tremendous advantage to an undergraduate. Also, across the state border in New York, SUNY Plattsburgh actively solicits applications from Massachusetts residents and the school offers a tuition discount I believe. SUNY Plattsburgh reportedly has various and worthwhile study abroad programs, so its overall international affairs program may be worth investigating. Actually, SUNY Plattsburgh does have a very substantive Canadian studies programs. Makes sense since Montreal, Quebec is a short drive away. You can’t get more international than Montreal.</p>
<p>Thanks for your post LakeWashington, but none of those schools you said has a program in International Relations, which is what I want to major in. I might begin to look at Canadian universities more seriously: they’re all public (therefore cheaper), prestigious, and offer a good education.</p>
<p>International relations is a very esoteric major at the undergrad level. You can do just as well with geography, area studies (eg: East Asian studies), or political science.</p>
<p>dude you are guaranteed admission at hunter</p>
<p>UMass Boston may have a major in international relations, but it is not a very well recognized school. It is primary a commuter school with barely a regional reputation. If you want a Massachusetts public university, try UMass Amherst, which is the flagship campus. It is a nationally recognized university.</p>
<p>Beyond that, you are thinking too literally. International relations is one of the subfields within most political science majors. In fact, many schools will offer a political science major with a concentration or certificate within international relations. You do not need a major in international relations to study that field or work in it. Political science at many schools will offer the exact same academic experiences and professional opportunities.</p>