<p>I'm a rising senior and prospective international studies/relations major. I have a list of schools but I would be really grateful if someone would just look it over for me and make any suggestions about any changes you think should be made to it. Its rather top-heavy, but my mom is willing to pay the application fees to give me more chances if you all think this is still a good list.</p>
<p>Quick info:</p>
<p>I'm a true middle class Irish-Catholic Female from working-middle class suburban CT. I go to a very small, pretty new public magnet school which only offers 1 AP (World History OR Chemistry, can't take both due to scheduling) for juniors. I took US History online outside of school and self-studied Euro and got 5s on all 3 tests. 3.8 gpa, 31 ACT (not sending SATs...i HATE that test), and 3rd in my class of 85. My ECs are the highlight of my app, the biggest three being the organization I co-founded and am co-president of to stop modern slavery/human trafficking, my multiple experiences traveling abroad visiting sister schools, and coaching/being a unified partner in Special Olympics (will have about 500 hours through all 4 years of high school).</p>
<p>Anyway, here's my list:</p>
<p>American University
Boston University
Emory University
George Mason University (Safety)
George Washington University
Georgetown University (My absolute DREAM school!!!!)
Middlebury College
Macalester College
Seton Hall University (Safety)
University of Chicago
University of Virginia
Wellesley College</p>
<p>You're Irish and not applying to Notre Dame? Why are you applying to BU? I would replace BU with Tufts, which has an excellent IR department (on par with Georgetown). Otherwise, your list looks very reasonable to me. If you re interested in Political Science, you could add Michigan-Ann Arbor as a match.</p>
<p>yea middlebury is really the only rural school I'm looking at. at first the idea of rural vermont just killed me but its international studies program and language schools were a real draw and something about the campus and the environment just keeps it on my list. </p>
<p>Tufts has been off and on because I think it still could be a reach but its just in boston so i might visit before I make up my mind. </p>
<p>BU is still on because its one of my few schools thats a definite match in addition to the fact that I like the campus and have met a few of the professors in the IR department. </p>
<p>I looked at Johns Hopkins, but I'd rather not apply there for undergrad and just wait to apply to SAIS for grad school.</p>
<p>I still have to visit UVA to really get a feel for the school and the surroundings but I'm doing that in early August.</p>
<p>Like others have said, I believe your list is not top-heavy. I think you could do with a few more reaches. All of the ones mentioned above are good recomendations. I can't stress enough the importance of visiting campuses, this really can be a deciding factor. If at all possible I'd also recomend staying over-night with a student to get a better feel for the school. I go to Wellesley if you have any specific questions you can PM me.</p>