<p>I'm a high school junior and I want to study international relations in college. Basically I'm asking which out of my schools should I put as reach-target-safety based on my stats.
(n.b. I am at this point defining this only by competitiveness, NOT by cost)</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted, and will keep that)
(class rank is ridiculous and weighted, but I'm 14 I believe)
SAT: 720(math) - 800(reading) - 770(writing) - 2290 composite
750 SAT2 Latin, 750 SAT2 Literature
have taken honors/AP whenever available, AP world last year, APUSH+APLA11+AP calc ab this year, probably 4 AP's next year
ECs: in competitive jazz band, president of Latin club, do a lot of volunteering including tutoring music to low-income kids, take French and Arabic outside of school, previously had a small dog-walking business in my neighborhood for 3 yrs.
Awards: 1- in solo and ensemble, various JCL awards from convention, student of the semester
I was a semifinalist for the YES abroad program (only 90 in the US), and was selected as a finalist for NSLI-Y for Arabic summer (I'm going to Oman for free!)</p>
<p>agh I hate bragging about myself... just want to give a lot of info</p>
<p>So how I have my potential schools arranged at the moment is:
REACH
Middlebury
Georgetown
Tufts
University of Chicago (or Columbia or Stanford, but probably uchicago)</p>
<p>TARGET
Boston University
American University
College of William and Mary</p>
<p>SAFETY
University of British Columbia
(Syracuse or USC?)</p>
<p>Obviously I am in need of safety schools. So my questions are:
1. Can any of these be downgraded? Or should any be upgraded?
2. Can you suggest any safety schools with at least decent IR programs?</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I can't believe that people actually read these and respond, I am very grateful for any advice :)</p>
<p>I would put your reaches as high matches, with the exception of tufts, which is probably a match. I am not too familiar with Middlebury, so idk what to say about that one. good luck!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Your reaches, except for UChicago, seem more like high matches like the last poster said. Boston U. is a safety for you. American U. is also a safety. You honestly are a good candidate for the Ivy Schools and its peer Non-Ivy schools (UChicago, etc.)!</p></li>
<li><p>Apply to your state or flagship school as a safety school. Definitely apply to George Washington U., which is very strong in IR, and it’s a safety for you. Johns Hopkins is a reach, which you should add to your list. Its most popular major is IR and the program is very, very strong. (Forget the “it’s only known for sciences and medicine” bs)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I like your being humble though; there aren’t many like you on this website. =)</p>
<p>Agree with the GW and Hopkins recommendations. And take a look at NYU-Dubai: [NYU</a> Abu Dhabi University & College in UAE, New York University](<a href=“http://nyuad.nyu.edu/]NYU”>http://nyuad.nyu.edu/) and Brandeis as possible safeties/low matches.</p>
<p>thanks everyone! It’s very encouraging to hear that these are more matches than reaches. I’m flattered that someone thinks I could get into Ivies but at the moment Georgetown is my absolute dream so I think I’ll stick with that. I also very much appreciate your suggestions! </p>
<p>I have considered GW and Johns Hopkins very seriously, but they have not made it onto my “definitely applying” list because of more personal things… GW because it doesn’t really have a campus (correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it a lot like NYU?) and Johns Hopkins because of location. they are in the mix though and I’m aware of their outstanding ir programs :)</p>
<p>I have another question - should I be considering Columbia? no IR major…</p>
<p>Many people put BU in the same category as GW and NYU as not having a true campus (and I think it would be a safety for you). You might consider Fordham in NY (my S is there for full disclosure) which is similarly ranked to BU and has a beautiful Rose Hill campus in the Bronx with easy access to Manhattan. You seem to be targeting schools with nice campuses in or near major cities. Fordham often gives merit aid to students above its averages so it may be worth looking at.</p>
<p>Middlebury- IDK much about them
Georgetown- Dream School? Are you in the position to do ED/EA
Tufts- Write good essays and VISIT. If they think you’re not 100% interested they won’t take you
University of Chicago (or Columbia or Stanford, but probably uchicago). Write good essays, they REALLY value the essay.
Columbia is nearly impossible for everyone, as is Stanford. </p>
<p>TARGET
Boston University- In
American University- Looks good.
College of William and Mary- Often tricky out of state, but absolutely excellent in IR. And a FANTASTIC school </p>
<p>SAFETY
University of British Columbia- IDK anything about this
(Syracuse or USC?). Syracuse is good. Big rara school, expensive. Assuming USC is south carolina?</p>
<p>Your are certainly underestimating yourself.
And if USC is SoCal then it’s not a safety by any mean.
I would say
REACH
Georgetown
University of Chicago (or Columbia or Stanford, but probably uchicago)
Middlebury(between reach and match)</p>
<p>TARGET
USC(if it’s socal)
Tufts
College of William and Mary</p>
<p>SAFETY
Boston University
American University
University of British Columbia
Syracuse</p>
<p>abnk599’s looks like the most accurate assessment.
Middlebury (with its < 20% admit rate) has become a “reach” for nearly everyone.</p>
<p>I can understand why a prospective IR major might be considering most of these schools. However, Chicago, Middlebury, and USC (either SoCal OR South Carolina) are quite different from each other in size, setting, and atmosphere. Do you think you’re the kind of person who could adapt equally well to any of them?</p>
<p>Tufts had an acceptance rate of 21% this year–I think that’s a reach for anyone (two years ago, Tufts and U of Chicago actually had the same acceptance rate).</p>
<p>But you are on the right track. And you have a good shot at any of these schools. It comes down to the essays at a certain point.</p>
<p>Don’t be too flattered by posts here. Keep in mind many of the posters need to think they are matches for you so that they can think they have a prayer with lower stats.</p>
<p>I agree that you’re underestimating. My D had stats very similar to yours, studied Arabic and was interested in International Relations. Her top target school was Georgetown with GW as a safety, but she also got in at Harvard and Yale and ultimately chose Harvard. BTW, she also was offered a scholarship funded by Sultan Kaboos of Oman for Arabic study at Georgetown. I’d have to think that your travel there would put you in a good position for it as well.</p>
<p>^ I’d agree that even more selective schools (such as Harvard or Yale) are within reach for the OP. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Georgetown, Chicago and Middlebury don’t belong in the Reach category. It just means that virtually no potentially interesting schools are out of reach. </p>
<p>But what kinds of schools really interest you (other than schools with strong IR programs and the optimal US News ranking)? If Middlebury is your ideal environment, you might not be as happy at Harvard (or Chicago, or BU).</p>
<p>Statistically the OP is a match for all his “reach” schools but that’s not the same as saying he has a good chance of getting in. Schools like Chicago and Georgetown are reaches because of their low admittance rates.</p>
<p>My assessment of your list based on your stats and the admit rates at these schools:</p>
<p>High Reach</p>
<p>Georgetown
Tufts
Chicago</p>
<p>Low Reach</p>
<p>Middlebury
William & Mary if you’re OOS
USC if it’s SoCalifornia - admit rate down to 18%</p>