Hi everyone! I have yet to compile a final list, but I’m currently looking at Northwestern (ED), Columbia (ED), UChicago (EA), Georgetown (EA), Johns Hopkins (ED), University of Edinburgh (RD), and University of St. Andrews (RD).
I am extremely passionate about International Relations and my entire application will reflect that interest through the courses I have taken, extracurriculars, and test scores. I am 100% certain I want to do a double major in International Studies/Relations and either Econ or French. I really want a reputable IR program, and I really want to be able to dive right into IR and not spend a lot of time on core curriculum. I also like schools with easy access to travel, good study abroad opportunities, and that are located in cities. If there are any schools I didn’t include on this list that would fit what I’m looking for, please tell me. I really want to make the right decision about college not solely based on rankings. Other notes: money is not an issue, I’m white, I’m a girl, I’m Californian.
Scores:
ACT: 33 (will retake)
SAT II- USH: 760; French: 700 (will retake); Math II: 610 (will retake, but I’m really bad at math)
APs: Euro: 5; USH: 5; Environmental Science: 4; Human Geography: 5; French: 5
GPA:
4.09 weighted and maybe a 3.7 UW. GPA is the part that worries me the most as I go to an extremely competitive college prep school. However, I took on a really difficult course load and my junior year GPA was a 4.4, meaning there was a strong upward trend.
I have only gotten A/A- in humanities courses (Spanish, English, French, History), but have only gotten B+/B in math
Letters of Rec:
Should be good
Extracurriculars:
Mock Trial: 10-12 (captain 11/12)- three individual awards, one team award
Model UN: 10-12- 4 individual awards
Foreign Language Magazine: 10-12 (Editor-in-Chief 12)
Business Club: 10-12 (Leadership positions all 3 years including President 11/12)
Human Rights Club: 11/12 (President 12)
Environmental Club: 10/12
Student Ambassadors (basically students working in Admissions): 9-12 (co-chair 12)
Charity Council: 9
Swim Team: 9/10 (quit due to injury)
Outside of School:
French-English translation internship (this is a large time commitment so should help a lot)- 11-12
I run a growing travel blog
Awards:
9th and 13th place in the Grand Concours national French test 10th & 11th grade
National French Honor Society
Silver Awards in National Spanish Test 10th and 11th grade
Honor Roll 9/10/11
One post I wrote for my blog got republished in a Palm Springs magazine
Featured Post on site I do translations for
4 Mock Trial Awards
4 MUN Awards
Summers:
Post-sophomore year: traveled + took Chinese and Italian courses + kept up with blog and translations
Post-junior year: traveled + translations and blog + living in France
Essay:
I witnessed the terrorist attack in Nice and, although I don’t want to, will be writing about that. Especially because I am already devoted to IR, this will serve as a semi-sob story and will boost my application immensely. However, I’m still having trouble with feeling guilty over using this as an essay topic and have not started yet.
Biggest concerns:
GPA and being bad at math