<p>Reading these forums is scarey - so many amazing kids with amazing resumes! Bright futures everywhere. Congrats! </p>
<p>My son is a senior at a very competitive Catholic high school in Milwaukee. He gets good grades - about a 3.65/4.0 - and has a rigorous class schedule with AP and honors courses. His school does not rank. </p>
<p>S works quite a bit (about 20 hours/wk during the school year and 55+/week this summer to pay for a portion of his high school tuition), so he isn't actively involved in many school activities, except as the leader of one year-round technology club and a member of NHS. He has completed many service hours beyond the school requirements.</p>
<p>He got a 34 composite on his ACT. He got 5s on the AP U.S. and European History exams and 4 on AP Biology. Probably a National Merit Commended student.</p>
<p>So, as a good student but not a star, my S is in a quandry about which schools to look at because finances are a real concern (the high middle-income dilemma) and it doesn't look like he will be in line for many scholarships or significant financial aid. He hasn't decided on a major, but leans toward international studies/relations. </p>
<p>UW-Madison is probably a match, but does anyone have suggestions for where else a student like mine interested in IR should look? (I've read through the IR discussions, but most of the schools mentioned in those debates are probably out of reach).</p>
<p>**I believe University of South Carolina has been
the unanimous #1 for their International Business
relations program for several years running now.
It's basically the only elite program at their school.
I'm sure your son will be able to get into there.</p>
<p>Now, if you're looking for a more wholistic approach,
Georgetown is a viable place (that ACT can get him
there.) I'd also consider Berkeley, as though it is
just a state school, if your son is looking at an
International focus, Berkeley is really well known abroad
(even moreso than Yale by many people).**</p>
<p>My older son had the same interest in IR/GS and very similar stats. In addition to being accepted at Wisconsin he was accepted to American in DC; your son should have no problem with doing so too if he wants a University experience. (He didn't receive any merit aid from American, however.) </p>
<p>Didn't matter because he decided he really wanted to go the LAC route anyway. He chose a good midwestern LAC known for its overseas study program that gave him a nice merit scholarship that took the edge off the cost. He just finished his freshman year and loves it. In his freshman year he took an African studies class from a native African professor. He took a Chinese studies class from a native Chinese professor. He took a European studies class from a Professor who had just been a prestigious visiting Professor in Germany. They were all terrific. He can't wait for his junior year term abroad. My point is that there are LACs that won't get bandied about here as having "IR" programs that in fact have much more depth and talent and classes and connections in these areas than you might think. And you might find that many of them (especially in the midwest) would find your son a very attractive candidate and possibly worthy of some significant merit aid.</p>
<p>(Also, if your son is willing to stay home for college he might want to look at Marquette, which I assume must have some programs in that area and for which he would be a very strong candidate for merit aid.)</p>
<p>MilwDad, if you don't mind me asking, where does your son go to school? Which liberal arts colleges did he explore?</p>
<p>My son has a strong desire to go to school 'away from home', so Marquette (about 15 blocks from his high school) is not very appealing to him. His high school guidance counselor also suggested that he look at LACs, preferably in the midwest or west (something about his personality....)</p>
<p>School starts tomorrow and we're on the way to senior 'college night' this evening. I realize that we are probably way behind in this process. So much for using the summer for college visits. </p>