Chances for getting into Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown U

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>Hello! I'm a high school junior who will be applying to colleges next year. I have a very strong interest in foreign service, politics, and foreign languages. If you please, could you guys give me a reality check as to whether I have even the slightest chance of being accepted to the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown? Thanks :)</p>

<p>Background:
1) White male
2) I go to a school in rural western North Carolina. My school has about 1200-1300 students.
3) My area is very poor and has a high unemployment rate.
4) My parents have been divorced since I was 5.
5) I live with my mother, and our income is very low.</p>

<p>Stats:
1) Class Rank: 1 (or 2) of 400</p>

<p>2) GPA: 4.625 (weighted) 4.0 (unweighted)</p>

<p>3) SAT I: 630 Math 610 CR 650 Writing (My weak point)</p>

<p>4) SAT II: Math I, Spanish, Biology - pending (I took them last Saturday)</p>

<p>5) By the end of senior year, I will have taken 7 AP classes, and my school only offers 12.
- Junior year: Calculus AB, Spanish, Biology (no scores yet, but I feel confident)
- Senior year: US Gov/Politics, US History, Statistics, Environmental Science</p>

<p>6) All of my classes for Junior and Senior year are either honors or AP.</p>

<p>EC:
1) Participated in an international exchange program, in which I went to Germany and Denmark for 10 days to study at their school learn about their culture/language while staying with a host family.</p>

<p>2) Will attend a RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) camp next week. It is a leadership training program set up by Rotary International.</p>

<p>3) Participated in a Community Interpretation Training session for English-Spanish/Spanish-English interpretation. I can speak advanced Spanish.</p>

<p>4) Volunteered with the local Democratic Party.</p>

<p>5) Served as a NC House Page.</p>

<p>6) Volunteer at my local public library (I hope to attain at least 75 hours before summer ends)</p>

<p>7) Work experience as a cashier at a local grocery store for the past year (10-15 hours/week)</p>

<p>8) Cross Country running team (I'm not that great, but I do my best haha)</p>

<p>9) Participated in the 2011 Moody's Mega Math Challenge.</p>

<p>10) Participated in the 2010 NC High School Mathematics Contest.</p>

<p>11) Went on a mission trip to Baltimore in 2010 in order to provide help to the local impoverished community and to start a new church.</p>

<p>Clubs/Organizations:
1) Interact Club (President) - This is a student service organization sponsored by Rotary International.</p>

<p>2) Student Council (Ranking member, most likely VP for next year)</p>

<p>3) NHS (will run for a position next year)</p>

<p>4) Friends for Animals Club - We raise money for local animal shelters in need and promote the welfare of all animals.</p>

<p>If you read all of this, thank you so much. I would love for you guys to give me some feedback as to whether this is just a pipe dream! Thanks again :)</p>

2

<p>Senior Courses:</p>

<p>1) Adv. US History —> 1) AP US History
2) AP Gov/Politics 2) UNC-G iSchool course (honors)
3) AP Environmental 3) Adv. Physics
4) AP Stat 4) Adv. Brit Lit</p>

3

<p>bump bump bump!</p>

4

<p>Spanish 700
Math I 650
Biology 680</p>

5

<p>not to be a dick
but your SAT I’s are really holding you back.
besides that SFS is alot about essays too
they have very specific essays about modern international issues
they want to know youre dedicated to an education in foreign service
plus you have to nail the interview</p>

<p>being top 3 in your class really helps
georgetown has a weak spot for valedictorians, salutorians, and 3rd
they are one of the few if any schools that actually keeps and publishes stats
on how many valedictorians, salutorians they accept</p>

6

<p>Well to be fair, my essays were terrible, my interview was like 5 minutes because I came late and had lost my keys, and I wasn’t even top 10% let alone top 3 in my class–– but I still got in (going to Duke though). That being said, I had totally SFS extracurrics (debate captain, MUN pres, etc etc), but there’s really no formula. If you show interest in foreign affairs through what you did in high school, you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>So, at OP, you’ll have a decent shot regardless. Don’t get freaked out by all these doomsday posts, haha.</p>

7

<p>to clarify i didnt say he needed to be top 3
I was complimenting the fact that he was in the top 3 of his class
which helps him tremendously</p>

<p>quite far from your deragotory ‘doomsday post’ lable</p>

8

<p>SAT1 CR score should be higher. Practice, practice, practice and retake in October. Your current score will not DQ you, but it will not help you. You have an interesting story, get that CR score up 40 or 50 points.</p>

9

<p>I’m definitely retaking the SAT in October. I made a 1710 the first time I took it in 10th grade.
And exactly one year later I raised it to 1890 (I couldn’t believe it when I saw it!). I feel confident that I can raise it a little bit more.</p>

<p>We don’t have Model UN or Debate at my school. Nobody in my town is interested in things of that nature, and it’s reflected in our school system. I’m strongly considering starting a club, but I haven’t pinned one down just yet.</p>

10

<p>Also, how do you guys feel about my chances for other schools? – such as GW or American in DC, or UNC-Chapel Hill (which is in-state for me)</p>

11

<p>American you will get it relatively easily
I know a bunch of my friend, with lower stats than you, also got good merit money & finacial aid there
although it might be a tad more competetive for their undergraduate international studies program (I dont know what exactly they call it)</p>

12

<p>Hello! I’m a high school sophomore who will be applying to colleges next year. I have an extremely strong interest in international volunteering, politics, and all (current and dead) languages. If you please, could you guys give me a reality check as to whether I have even the slightest chance of being accepted to the Advanced Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown? Thanks</p>

<p>Background:

  1. Asian male
  2. I go to a school in rural western South Carolina. My school has about 1201-1301 students and approximately 3 teachers.
  3. No one in my area has ever had a job (101% unemployment rate.)
  4. My parents have been dead since I was 5.
  5. I live in an orphanage and we have no income.</p>

<p>Statistics:

  1. Class Rank: 1 (definitely not 2) of 401</p>

<p>2) GPA: 4.625(unweighted)</p>

<p>3) SAT I: 631 Math 611 CR 651 Writing (I have no weaknesses)</p>

<p>4) SAT II: Math II, Advanced Spanish, Super Biology - pending (I took them last Friday)</p>

<p>5) By the end of junior year, I will have taken 8 AP classes, and my school only offers 7.

  • Junior year: Calculus AB, Spanish, Biology, Psychology (I did perfectly)
  • Senior year: US Gov/Politics, US History, Statistics, Environmental Science</p>

<p>6) All of my classes for Junior and Senior year are AP.</p>

<p>EC:

  1. Participated in an international exchange program, in which I went to Botswana and Cambodia for 11 days to study at their school (huts) and learn about their culture/language while living alone.</p>

<p>2) Will attend a RLA (Rotary Leadership Awards) boot camp tomorrow. It is a leadership program set up by Rotary Supernational.</p>

<p>3) Participated in a Nationwide Interpretation Training session for English-Spanish/Spanish-English interpretation. I can speak advanced Spanish and Dutch.</p>

<p>4) Volunteered with the national Democratic and Republican Parties.</p>

<p>5) Served as a SC Senate Page.</p>

<p>6) Volunteer at the Library of Congress (I hope to attain at least 76 hours before summer ends)</p>

<p>7) Work experience as a manager at a local grocery store for the past year (11-16 hours/week)</p>

<p>8) Cross Country running team (15 minute 6k)</p>

<p>9) Participated in the 2010 and 2011 Moody’s ULTRA Math Challenges.</p>

<p>10) Won the 2010 NC High School Mathematics Contest.</p>

<p>11) Went on a mission trip to South Africa in 2009 in order to end Apartheid. Succeeded.</p>

<p>Clubs/Organizations:

  1. National Interact Club (Founder) - This is a nationwide service organization sponsored by me. </p>

<p>2) Student Council (Vice president, will most likely be president next year)</p>

<p>3) NHS (founding member)</p>

<p>4) Super Friends for Animals Club - We raise more money for national animal shelters in need and promote the welfare of all animals.</p>

13

<p>I’m a junior in high school in Northern Virginia (roughly 15 minutes away from Georgetown) and am hoping to be admitted to SFS. I have a 4.05 GPA with honors and AP classes (have maintained either an A- or A in all of my classes). I am currently in Spanish 4 but will be taking AP next year. So far my SAT scores are 700 in Critical Reading 720 Writing and 600 Math. I also spent the beginning trimester of my junior year studying abroad in Southern Spain. I’ve been involved in student government all 3 years of high school and will continue to be involved next year. I’m basketball manager, head of a few clubs, am a co-chair on prom committee, and am an active member of my school’s leadership community. I would say my proficiency in Spanish is above conversational but not quite fluent (yet!). I have two close family friends who went to SFS (one of whom still does interviews, and one who worked as ambassador for numerous countries such as Japan, Germany, and Greece, has received numerous awards for his work in foreign service and has written numerous books) who I am hoping will be able to help me with the admissions process. Next year I will be in model U.N. at my school, as well. Is there anything else I should be doing? Also, what are my probable chances of getting in?
Thanks!</p>

14

<p>I was wondering about my chances.
Im currently a senior in Pennsylvania applying for the Foreign Service School. And I am not that great of a test taker but did well in my college class and high school coursework. Also I know that not everyone is accepted from the Middle 50% and some with my scores do.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.851
Weighted GPA: 4.371
Ranked 8th of 415 in graduating class</p>

<p>SAT I: 1750
Critical Reading: 570
Math: 610
Writing: 570</p>

<p>ACT: 25
English: 24
Math: 28
Reading: 24
Science: 24</p>

<p>SAT II US History: 650 (as a sophomore)
Math II: 600
SAT II World History: 690</p>

<p>AP Scores
US Government: 4
U.S. History: 5</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities
-Library Club
-SADD
-National Honors Society
-Student Government Student Body Secretary
-Varsity Cross Country (4 years)
-Varsity Swimming (3 years)
-Varsity Track and Field (2 years)
-Varsity Tennis (2 years)
-Volunteer at a Historical Preservation Group
-Work as a Caddie at a Country Club</p>

<p>Uniqueness
-Fluent in English and Hungarian
-Took two foreign languages for four years
-Took all the social studies AP credits offered at my school
-Took the most rigorous course load in my class
-Got a 4.0 in my Latin American History class at a college.
-Jumped into an AP class half way through the year at the request of the instructor when my college course ended and am doing well</p>

15

<p>koopanyj, your scores are the weakest point but college admission these days are unpredictable so dont lose hope</p>