Hey everybody! I’m currently a highschool senior, and I’m well into working on my Common App and supplementals. I’m looking to major in international relations, but for colleges that don’t offer that program I’m applying for polisci. I’ve been getting myself pretty nervous that I’m being overly ambitious with my college list. I know my academics are on target for most of these schools, but my main concern comes from the fact that my EC’s don’t really line up with my intended majors. If anybody would have the time to chance me it would be greatly appreciated!
Myself: White male from New York. Parents are in upper middle income range (no hooks that I know of). No legacy to any school I’m applying to (parents both attended local state college).
My School: Competitive public high school in NYC. Ranked in top 50 nationally, and top 3 in state.
Academics:
GPA (on a 100 scale): W: 103.89 UW:??
Context: My school won’t tell us our unweighted GPA, but the lowest grade I’ve ever received was a 92 in one semester of Geometry Freshman Year. After freshman year we switched to letter grades and the lowest I’ve got was an A.
Class Rank: N/A
Honors Classes (all classes at school are honors): Geometry H, English 9 H, Chemistry H, Russian 1 H, Algebra 2 H, English 10 H, Physics H, Advanced Russian 2 H, PreCalculus 11 H
AP Classes: World History (5), US History (5), English Lang (5), Bio (5)
Dual Enrollment Classes: Russian 2 (with SUNY Albany)
Senior Schedule: AP Psychology, AP English Lit, AP US Gov, AP Calc BC, Russian for Business H
Scores:
SAT: 1550, 20 on Essay
ACT: N/A
Subject Tests: US History (800), World History (790), Math 2 (760)
EC’s:
Founder and President of a TEDx club. Hosted school’s first ever TEDx talk focused on Mental Health and Wellness (2ish hours weekly)
Manager of Stage Crew for school productions. Participated in every show since freshman year. Became Junior Manager of Spring Musical my Junior Year. Currently manager of Fall Musical, will be manager of Spring Musical (10 hours weekly, over 650 hours total)
Event Coordinator for Freshman Outreach program, serving about 350 students yearly
Head Bailiff for Mock Trial (small, non competitive)
Russian Olympiada (came in second regionally in a Russian speaking contest 2 years in a row. Currently a semifinalist competing to represent America at the International competition in Moscow)
National medalist for Russian essay writing contest (2x bronze, 1x silver)
Model UN (not heavily involved, normal club member)
Key Club (not heavily involved)
Volunteer at a rec center for special needs teens (4 years, every weekend from October to May, 5 hrs a weekend)
Summer Camp Counselor (360 hours a summer for 3 summers)
My List:
Safety:
SUNY Binghamton (EA)
SUNY Geneseo (RD)
University of Pittsburgh (Early honors deadline)
Fordham University (RD)
Drexel University (RD)
Target:
American University (RD)
GWU (RD)
Northeastern (RD)
University of Richmond (RD)
For Georgetown, you mean SFS yes? I would put them as a high match for you. Ditto Vandy. Fwiw, to me ‘match’ doesn’t mean ‘likely’, just that you are a solid match for what they look for and the numbers are not against you
Show AU some love if you mean it- they don’t like knowing that they are not high acheiver’s first choice. Fwiw, between GW & AU, imo GW is better for in-term internships (but- not great housing. fact of in-town life).
I have a soft spot for theatre techies, and think that stage managers in particular often don’t realize just how transferable those skills are: managing very disparate groups of people, who effectively speak different languages, and typically have conflicting agendas, through a project with a drop-dead hard deadline (aka opening night) can only be done successfully with good project management, realpolitik, and human dynamic skills. Comparatively speaking, herding cats is a walk in the park!
Maybe take a look at Johns Hopkins…they have a quiet but strong profile in your area of interest. I think you chance well because of the numbers and the Russian wild card.
You list is solid, you have the reach/match/safeties categories pretty accurate. I know a few people with your profile who were accepted into all the matches. However as we know predicting chances for your reach schools is pretty challenging these days. If Princeton is you clear cut first choice, then of course SCEA there. If you’re open between your reaches, consider Georgetown EA. Good luck!
“…but my main concern comes from the fact that my EC’s don’t really line up with my intended majors…” I think that it is more important for an applicant to demonstrate that through his ECs, that he has made a positive difference to his community or school, than to have perfect alignment between ECs and intended major. In your case, I think that you have contributed positively to a broad sector (school at large, summer campers, teenagers with special needs).
Perhaps in your all important essays, tell the AOs some of these EC achievements. I am not advocating for a list, but do include a few short specific examples on what you have learned from these ECs and how they have benefited YOU as well.
Also good luck with your Russian competition to represent America in Moscow. Your accomplishments in Russian undoubtedly augment your preparation for political science and international relations (at Woody Woo ) Just wondering if years of learning Russian have influenced your views on Russia and beyond.
Hey everyone! I know that when I was looking at Chance Me’s throughout my college search process, I’d always wished the person updated with their actual results. I ended up being accepted to SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Geneseo, UPitt, Drexel, Fordham LC, URichmond, GWU, American, Northeastern and Georgetown. I was waitlisted at Yale and Vanderbilt, and I was rejected from UPenn and Princeton. Good luck to all future applicants!
@SJ2727 Thank you! Right now, I’m torn between American and Northeastern. Both are pretty much the same cost (which is more or less affordable for me), so I’m just trying to decide where I see myself (much harder without being able to revisit either campus!) Honestly, I would’ve loved Georgetown, but it’s way too expensive to justify the difference between the SFS and other DC international relations schools in my eyes.
) Just wondering if years of learning Russian have influenced your views on Russia and beyond.