<p>Hello, everyone. I'm very interested in Government/Political Science and International Relations (perhaps even business), and I am truly at a loss when it comes to schools to apply to. I've visited Georgetown and Cornell and loved them both. Georgetown would probably be my number one choice, but I'm afraid that if I don't apply ED to Cornell, I won't get in. Also, with Georgetown's admissions being even more tough, I don't know whether to apply there EA or RD because the EA acceptee's stats are better than those of the RD's. Needless to say, I need some help and guidance.</p>
<p>Stats:
4.2+ GPA (close to or in top 10%)
1990 SATs, 1330 CR+M (will take again after summer class)
29 ACT (also retaking)
Great ECs
Excellent Recs and Essays</p>
<p>Looking for in a college:
Great IR or Government program
Located in the northeast
Work hard/play hard attitude
Not an urban atmosphere (no NYU-like "campus")</p>
<p>Don't apply ED to Cornell unless it is your first choice. I had the same problem, I was going to apply ED to Cornell over my first choice, Princeton, which is obviously much more difficult. I chose not to however, and it all worked out for me!</p>
<p>The best way to come out of the admissions process is with no regrets. While I can't really advise you based on stats (I don't know Georgetown at all), I'd say go with your gut and hope for the best. </p>
<p>Thanks for the comments. I really do need some help with specific colleges to investigate, especially since it's summer now, and visiting is much more easy than during the school year. I also forgot to add that I'm a rising senior (somewhat obvious), and I've been taking the hardest courseload available throughout high school.</p>
<p>Dude DC is a pretty urban area, so if you don't want an urban area its gonna be hard to find a good IR school for you because all the good ones are in major urban areas. You said you like Georgetown though so, I'm guessing you like DC. Anyways, if you want a shot at Georgetown you need to get your ACT or SAT up. 1990 won't cut it, but you will probably do better after your summer class. So yea, keep up the good grades and get one of those test scores up.</p>
<p>Go Cornell. I went ED and it was an amazing relief to get in early. We definitely epitomize the "work hard, play hard" mantra here. I can vouch for that.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight. Mercury: how is the student body and the social life at Cornell? I just got back from Ithaca where I toured the campus and loved it. I did not have the chance to talk to many students, however. Also, is there a sufficient amount of fun to be had on campus, or can it become dull? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I didn't mean to turn this into a Cornell info session, but I would like to get some answers and information on those questions. Also, any more ideas on colleges for me to investigate?</p>
<p>Tufts is a good option for you, and I'm not just saying that, best IR in the country, alongside G-Town. For IR, specifically, you want to look at Tufts, G-Town, Columbia, Johns Hopkins and American really...but Columbia is a definite reach unless SAT's are pulled up.</p>
<p>Duffman (or anyone else for that matter), what attracted you to Tufts? Also, if I'm extremely interested in IR, would you suggest that I visit Tufts even though it's about an 8 hour drive from where I live? I have yet to visit JHU, but I will be visiting there this summer along with Michigan and...any other suggestions? Thanks for the great responses already!</p>
<p>There were a lot of things that attracted me to Tufts. One was obviously a very strong IR program due to the Fletcher school, the oldest IR grad school in the country. The location, right outside of boston (15min T ride), yet, Tufts has a beautiful campus and still maintains a campus life and college experience completely, unlike places like GW, BU, and NYU that are directly in the middle of the city. Another thing was the people, when I went there, everyone was very nice and every thing I have ever read or any person I have ever talked to who goes there or went there "sells" the school with a big smile, despite their having no requirement to do so, they just do, because they all love it there. The other thing was size and therefore professor interaction. With roughly <5,000 undergrads, Tufts is the smallest research university in the country, yet, not quite as small as an LAC, so it's the perfect balance in my opinion, allowing for close interaction with professors who still do research, but have much more time for students due to the size and structure of the University. The school has a lot of pride, despite their lacking in sports, although they're consistently top 3 in the country in Sailing, hehe, and pretty good at Men's b-ball and women's softball, even if they are DIII. I just feel as though it has a charm to it, and it's the perfect balance of a great, very personal education with the resources of a large university and a major city. I suggest visiting, it's worth the drive. :)</p>
<p>George Washington is in DC, gets students great internships, and has one of the top government, poli sci, and IR programs. Their business program is strong as well, but not at the level of the aforementioned programs.</p>
<p>You said you don't want an urban campus. GW does have a Mount Vernon campus, which is a more traditional college campus. It's about 7 minutes from the main campus. You can live there, though most of your classes are going to be at the main campus.</p>
<p>Your stats are average for GW. GU and Cornell are both reaches, especially GU, but you have a shot at Cornell if you go ED.</p>
<p>If you do decide to apply to GW, you're in if you apply ED. If you apply RD, you'll probably need to interview.</p>
<p>There's tons to do at Cornell. Every week I get an email with a huge list of things on-campus for the week, and there's at least 5 frat parties every weekend, and of course you will make plans of your own with your friends to go to the malls, movies, bowling (right on campus), out, wherever...</p>
<p>I'm hoping for an SAT score closer to 1400 after studying this summer. Do you think that will improve enough for Georgetown? What about Johns Hopkins and Tufts? Any tips or comments on those IR programs or just the universities in general?</p>