<p>Hello, everyone. I've been researching colleges very heavily all summer, and I have come up with a list of schools that seem interesting to me. However, the list seems a little reach-heavy. I was hoping for some opinion on where else I should be looking. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>1990 SAT (1330 M/CR)
29 ACT
3.8 UW, 4.2 W GPA with hardest courseload
Near top 10% of a very small (<100) very competitive class
Solid ECs
Great Recs (assumed)
I will be retaking both the SAT and ACT this fall. SAT should improve, and ACT should improve greatly (wasn't aware of the science section's directions).</p>
<p>My plans are to major in IR, Political Science, or economics and go into law or graduate school. These plans are only tentative. I still have a small interest in pre-med and would like to be enriched in a great education wherever I go.</p>
<p>Colleges:
Georgetown- visited in the spring and absolutely loved the campus and atmosphere.<br>
Cornell- visited this summer and enjoyed everything about it and Ithaca. I am concerned with the idea of it being a pressure cooker.
Lehigh
Johns Hopkins
Michigan
Penn State</p>
<p>I do not know if Georgetown would be too high of a reach for me. I began looking into ED at Cornell, but I have concerns with not being able to compare financial aid packages. Also, are there any other colleges in the northeast (PA, OH, NY especially) that I should look into? Any and all insight would prove to be highly beneficial. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I'd pick out more safeties. I think your assessment was correct in saying that your list was reach-heavy. You are a borderline applicant for schools like georgetown, cornell, JHU, and Michigan. Michigan is the best poli sci school, but your list is pretty varied so i'm not sure what you're looking for in a school. If you're into politics I might consider adding a place like American University. Might want to add more publics for financial reasons.</p>
<p>Case Western in Cleveland accepts a large percentage.
Ohio State as some pretty good facilities and scholarships for a public school, but it is rather large.</p>
<p>Ohio State is very large. they are highly thought of for their education programs and school of medicine. They are well known too, for thugs as athletes. They have a high name recognition in the U.S., and that's a help too, for the resume. Don't think some of the big name schools are better, just because they have well known names. The best school is the one you can be happy at, be challenged and fulfilled there, and lead to a fulfilling career. One doesn't have to pick "the ivy's" as an example, to get that.</p>
<p>I've done my research and found a few places that seem interesting. However, I was looking for some opinions. What are some other colleges that I should be looking at for IR?</p>
<p>Ohio State is a big school but I would reccomend it to anyone looking for a good education. Their Education program has always been good. Ohio State has a huge number of alumni out there, so when applying for a job (esp. in Ohio, I don't know if you're from Ohio or planning to work in Ohio) you could have a slight advantage if you went to the same college/unversity as your potential employer did. (This has actually worked, my cousin's a Purdue grad, when applying for his job, found out his would be boss was a fellow Purdue grad. He got the job because of the Purdue connection. and that this in the engineering field I'm referring to!) and even the potential employer isn't OSU, but a school similar to OSU, odds are they still know the value of an Ohio State education.</p>
<p>How about Northeastern? They've really been showing their stuff lately and they have that great co-op program. A University in the city with a campus.</p>
<p>Any places closer to my location? Also, maybe more a rural/smalltown would be more direct. However, I do like the idea of being close to a city, but not downtown/urban (aka Georgetown). Any schools that fit the bill?</p>
<p>NYU, Brandeis and BC would all be slight reaches, if not reaches altogether, for someone with a sub 2000 and not in the top 10%. Every one of the schools on your list is a reach with the exception of PSU. For IR, look at American and GW, you could get into both of them.</p>
<p>and almost nobody applies to brandeis and BC, one is 60% jewish, the other about the same catholic- not that it should matter, im just making sure the OP knows about this</p>