Help With International Relations Application List

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi ccers! I am struggling as I narrow down my list of schools to apply to. I'm a senior and am certain that I will be working in the foreign service after university. I don't think I'll go into policy right after my undergrad and am interested in continuing my education with grad school. I mention this because I'll be applying to American University as my safety and have heard that it is more for those that want to immediately enter a career in policy. I'm applying EA to Stanford and am a west-coast girl living in Texas, but I would't mind going to the east if the school was worthwhile. I've got my safety, dream school and a few more reaches, but I'm looking for schools in between. My list is tragically lengthy right now and I have not included my other upper-level reach schools. Those I'll edit down on my own. Please offer reasons to knock schools off of or keep schools on the list. I don't want to apply to more than 4 of the schools there (not including Stanford and American) and financial aid is an issue.</p>

<ol>
<li> STANFORD
Pomona, U Penn, U of Chicago, Northwestern, Amherst, UC Berkeley/San Diego, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Oberlin, Johns Hopkins, George Washington
10.AMERICAN</li>
</ol>

<p>Other things to consider-- I would like to be at a progressive campus and love the arts. Even if I don't study theatre or music, I think I'd be happier if I was surrounded by them and given the option to pursue them as hobbies. I am not interested in going to a very religious school, which is why Georgetown did not make the list. I'm not looking for any more safeties, dream, or reach schools, I just want to narrow down the mid-range schools.</p>

2

<p>I will say that while Georgetown is a Jesuit school, I would hardly describe the student body as “very religious.” Certainly if you don’t like the campus environment and don’t think you’d be happy there don’t apply, but I wouldn’t write it off without actually visiting, as it is very good for what you want to study.</p>

<p>I would definitely keep Hopkins and GW for IR, both are well regarded. Obviously GW is in DC, and it tends to attract people who are very interested in government and international relations, so you’ll find a lot of people who are very passionate about the things you’re passionate about. </p>

<p>Middlebury is great for language study; if you’re interested in a specific area of the globe, it could be a good place to learn the relevant languages.</p>

<p>U Chicago is a great school but it attracts a pretty specific type of person who really thrives there. It’s definitely one worth visiting before you commit. Personally, I loved it on paper, thought I would totally fit in, and hated it in person. I also know someone who ended up going there who was the opposite: expected to hate it given everything he had heard about it, but visited when he was in Chicago and loved it. They also gave me a terrible financial aid package compared to other schools, for what its worth. </p>

<p>If you like the west coast I’d keep one option other than Stanford on the list, but I don’t know enough about the ones you listed to recommend one over the others.</p>

3

<p>^ What Green99 said. Georgetown is not very religious at all. I’m hardly what you’d call observant (not even Christian) and felt right at home there. Definitely keep JHU and GW, and visit UChicago.</p>

<p>What I’ll add is that Pomona seems like a good fit, so I’d pick that over UCB or UCSD in terms of West Coast schools. Also, you could consider Tufts.</p>

4

<p>I would add Occidental.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, green99…maybe I’m more progressive than I let on. I’m about as liberal as they get. GT is a great school I’m sure, but is not an option. I heard that 50% of the students are Catholic, and even if that is grossly overestimated I could not go to a school where even a third of the population can claim to be from the same religion and sect. Thanks for the insight on the other schools. I’m not sure about Chicago, the university or the town, but I guess I’ll have to apply now and visit later. I think it’s a good sign that I love their essay prompts. (;</p>

<p>Tuscan, may I ask why Pomona > the UCs? Thanks.</p>

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<p>Sorry**thsfan. Didn’t catch that my iPad autofixed.</p>

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<p>Since you’re not a California resident and financial aid is important, you can remove the UC schools. There is little aid for OOS students, so they’ll be unaffordable.</p>

<p>Take a look at Macalester as a match.</p>

8

<p>If you are going to consider the Claremont Colleges for international relations, most knowledgeable people will recommend Claremont McKenna. If you major in international relations, you will probably want to take many of your courses there.</p>

9

<p>The reason I said Pomona over the UCs is because of the advantages of the Claremont Consortium. The ability to interact with students and take classes at four other great LACs is something you won’t find almost anywhere else.</p>

<p>In terms of Pomona vs CMC, I think it comes down to what you prefer in a school. Pomona is more broad-based, more of a “classical” liberal arts curriculum. CMC is more focused on politics, economics and IR, and is also more pre-professional, with great internship programs. If you are completely set on IR and think the narrower internship-based curriculum at CMC will benefit you, then I’d recommend that.</p>

10

<p>Hi there! I’m pretty much in the same boat – I’m a Texas male but my family is from the west coast, and if I had to choose a major at this very second, it’d be IR. I’m also pretty liberal as well, and I’m not considering Georgetown for the exact reasons you’ve mentioned. And on top of all that, I’m submitting an arts supplement for music/theater, and I want to be around a very creative and diverse environment as well, so I’d say that we are remarkably similar! </p>

<p>Personally, I’m applying to Pomona, Amherst, and Claremont McKenna as my top three choices, so for obvious reasons I’d suggest them to you as well. I’ve heard great things about Wesleyan and Middlebury’s programs as well, but I haven’t decided if I’ll apply there… I also second what jkiwmom said about Occidental. They have a unique major called Diplomacy and World Affairs, as well as internship programs with the UN and in DC, and I think that program is considered one of their (if not the single) strongest; and if you’ve got the stats to be competitive at Stanford EA, it’ll probably be a safety for you. Good luck in your search!</p>

11

<p>I prefer the level of intellectualism at Pomona to that at CMC (just something I’ve noticed throughout threads talking about Claremont schools). My safety, American U, probably has better IR than McKenna though, so I won’t be applying there. My main point of contention concerning American is that I know I want to continue studying IR in grad school. American looks pre-professional…which is not what I’m looking for…I think. I researched Occidental’s IR program and it also looks less impressive in comparison to American’s. Right now I think Amherst, U Penn, the UCs (because of financial aid), and Oberlin (love it but not too strong in IR) are out. Good luck to you as well ace! Maybe I’ll see you at Pomona or Midd OR Wes. I’m nearly positive I’m applying to those three.</p>

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<p>Most of the IR programs at the more elite colleges will provide a good education and also avenues to succeed. Which college you attend however will matter a lot to your general happiness. You have selected a list of colleges, figure out what exactly attracted you to these colleges and you can extrapolate a list of important features that can help select the best college” fit” for you. </p>

<p>Visit your top choices and talk to the students and the teachers. These will be the people you will share the next four years of your life. I think fitting into a college is as important as what the college offers in terms of education.</p>

<p>All the Claremont colleges will provide a good education. I would not worry about whether CMC is a better choice for IR. CMC might specialize in your field of interest but this does not mean that Pomona doesn’t have a great IR program as well. If the fit is best at Pomona then you will be happier with your college experience. Rest assured nothing Pomona does is second rate.</p>

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<p>@cat, you’d thrive at gw. just sayin’</p>

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<p>I would guess that American has a fine IR program, but I wonder how the poster, curiouscat, is able to assert the comparative advantage of American’s IR over CMC. I am not familiar with IR at American, but I am pretty sure the schools are different in a number of areas, particularly the selection criteria of the schools and the admission profiles of the respective student bodies.</p>

<p>Pomona has a very good IR program, but it is not equal to CMC. All you need to do is check the course catalogs for both schools and you will see the breadth and depth of courses are far greater at CMC for IR. Most IR majors take their courses in history, politics, government and economics. In these areas, CMC has a wider selection and a more diverse set of courses. However, the one of the great advantages of the consortium is that students can take courses at the other 5 colleges, including Claremont Graduate School.</p>

15

<p>“Pomona is more broad-based”</p>

<p>“I prefer the level of intellectualism at Pomona to that at CMC”</p>

<p>I know some posters like to assert the above, but I think if you are able to experience what CMC has to offer, you might reach a different conclusion. My kid has taken a number of courses at Pomona and has gotten to know many Pomona students, and drawing on his experiences, he would take issue with these tired canards. Pomona is a great school, but people, who are not really familiar with the consortium, don’t really understand the differences between the schools, even though they think do.</p>

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<p>P57, for a man who is on the Pomona board a lot and always touting how you should not compare schools to the detriment of the others, you seem to do this a lot whenever you take offense of someone else’s opinion. Go ahead and promote your school but follow your own advice. Otherwise what you teach by your actions will reflect poorly on CMC.
You have scolded the OP for their opinion, right or wrong, what you have managed to do is exactly the opposite of what you wanted to do. Educate don’t lecture.</p>

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<p>Artrell, I don’t think I scolded the OP; in fact, as you suggested, all I was doing was trying to educate her about some of her assumptions regarding the Claremont Colleges. The OP was comparing the schools and, as you know if you read my posts, I don’t have problems with this if it comes from some kind of experience with the schools.
As for being on the Pomona board a lot, don’t you think you are exaggerating. I have probably posted there twice in the last year on two different threads. Hardly a lot.</p>

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<p>LOL, I will let your posts speak for themselves!</p>

19

<p>Okay guys, let’s not fight. Thank you both for your input (artrell and parent).
My main reason to favor American over CMC is location. You can’t beat DC. Another factor is ranking, but that’s not at all something I like to rely on. As far as CMC versus Pomona, I’ve based my view of each of the schools on not one opinion, but the opinions of many ccers. And I’m okay with that. Parent, you said you’d like to educate me on the differences between the two schools. Please do. I’d like to hear the other side of the debate.</p>

<p>thsfan, I hear you. While I plan on being very focused on international studies, I want to be surrounded by students of all different backgrounds, more interested in learning about how diplomacy works than getting a job in the foreign service. It’s not that I don’t want a job working for the state dept(if I believed the two were mutually exclusive, I wouldn’t even both studying IR), but when I hear of a school labeled “pre-professional,” I worry that I’ll be surrounded by students that see education as only a means to an end. It’s silly sounding and maybe cliche, but I like to learn. And THAT is why I see Pomona as a better overall experience than CMC. I definitely also like CMC though. I’m unsure. Maybe I’ve completely misinterpreted what it means to be pre-professional. I hope so!</p>

<p>I’m still freaking out over my list. It’s still long. ): I’ll be okay though.</p>

<p>GWalum, I would love to hear more. I know that GW has a great program, but what is the student body like? Thanks!</p>

20

<p>Considering that both schools are very difficult to get into (admission rates are around 13% for each), I would recommend you apply to both. No matter what any ccers tell you (including me), you need to visit the campus to see if you like the feel of the school. If you get into one or both of the schools, since you will be visiting anyway, you will have an opportunity to decide then.</p>

<p>I do think people are sometimes confused by the pre-professional designation and think CMC is more like a vocational school than a liberal arts school. I can assure you this is not so. At CMC , it is true the career office is very diligent helping students get great internships in their area of study during their summer breaks. There is an emphasis on helping students make the transition from college to a career. There are also wonderful research opportunities on campus, of which many students take advantage. </p>

<p>The school offers pre-professional majors and minors like accounting and finance, but many students also major in many of the traditional liberal arts subjects, like literature, philosophy, religious studies, science, psychology, etc. The reason why I think you would like CMC is because the school is particularly strong in international relations, economics, government and history, and you will have the opportunity to study with many like-minded students under some excellent professors. The school has the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies and a number of other govt-related research institutes, where you will have the opportunity to engage in graduate-level research. Finally, we have the Athenaeum, a dedicated dining room and reception area where students and faculty gather 4 nights a week to intellectually engage with distinguished speakers from academia, government, business and the arts. In the last couple of years, people such as Bill Clinton, Antonin Scalia, Salman Rushdie,Thomas Friedman, Anderson Cooper, Desmond Tutu, Maureen Dowd, Henry Kravis, Michael Eisner, Bono, Ehud Barak, Gore Vidal, James Fallows, Mitt Romney and countless others have visited the Ath.</p>

<p>If you are interested in learning and studying your field in an intellectually stimulating environment, I don’t think you will be disappointed with CMC.</p>