I’ll just add, if you chose a school you can’t afford, than your list needs to include schools not difficult to get into as well. IR and Philosophy can likely be done anywhere and some schools have a combo major (via Poli Sci) where you can focus on IR things in the Poli Sci bent. For example and not a price point example, Pitt has a Politics and Philosophy degree and you can add a global certificate through the Univ Center for International Studies.
If it’s I can’t afford GW but would only leave for Northwestern, then the affordability question couldn’t hold weight.
And I agree with @blossom on an actual meeting. It’s much easier to stay then leave if possible, if they can help you define that road. But if you need to leave, then you need to leave - but not only if it’s one school. Whether it’s community college, your state school or another private, especially given the career outcomes of that major, affordability trumps GW’s third party ranking - don’t forget, a true rank doesn’t exist. When you look at people in governmental type and NGO roles, they come from all over. DC doesn’t have close to a monopoly.
Good luck.