<p>Hey everyone. I'm looking at potential grad schools to attend in the next year or so. Just posting here to get feedback on whether I'm being realistic or pipe dreaming.</p>
<p>Schools I'm looking at (in order of how likely I think I am to get in)(edit: haven't taken the GRE yet):</p>
<ol>
<li>University of St. Andrews Institute for Iranian Studies (may not require GRE)</li>
<li>Georgetown University (SFS)</li>
<li>University of Oxford (MPhil IR)(doesn't require GRE)</li>
<li>Harvard Kennedy School</li>
</ol>
<p>Qualifications:</p>
<p>•Undergrad Major: Political Science
•Ending undergrad GPA: 3.37 (roughly 3.4)
•Ending undergrad major GPA: 3.8
•Professional Experience:
a. Board Member and Executive Director at national 750,000 member startup nonprofit
b. A bunch of state- and federal-level government internships (2 senior Democratic leadership Senate offices, Conn. state treasurer's policy office, Conn. state attorney general's office, Conn. state senator's office, same state senator's political campaign)
c. Graduate-level research fellowship with national Capitol Hill NGO</p>
<p>•Publications:
a. Co-authored foreign policy position paper on US-Iran relations at aforementioned Capitol Hill NGO</p>
<p>•Leadership:
a. Obama Campaign Fellow in Spring 2012
b. Founder and director of national youth vote campaign for Obama Campaign in 2011
c. Founder and president of 2 simultaneous candidate-specific youth vote campaigns in Connecticut
d. 3 years of College Democrats positions (founder and president of school chapter, Secretary of state chapter)
e. Obama Campaign volunteer in 2008</p>
<p>•Other Academic Qualifications:
a. Dartmouth Tuck Business Bridge Program (July-August 2013)
b. Georgetown Summer School (Summer 2012)
c. American University Washington Semester in Foreign Policy (Spring 2009)
d. Seeking publication of my senior thesis on constructivist motivational underpinnings of Iran's nuclear program</p>
<p>So, what do you guys think? Am I crazy to even be looking at schools like Harvard and Oxford or are they more likely than I'm currently wondering? Looking forward to seeing your responses!</p>