<p>After much debate and anguish I think i have finally completed my list. Its at 11 schools and i may change or eliminate but this is my list thus far. Information you should know about my list is I want to major in International Relations but i cant get ino the top tier schools like Georgetown, John Hopkins, etc. Im hispanic from a low socioeconomic background in CA from a private school. So my schools are for IR but not top tier. My safeties are Cal States: San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego. If those are the only schools i can get into are the cal states im changing my major cause an IR degree from a cal state is worthless. My match schools are hopefully Depaul, University of Washington, University of Toronto, Univeristy of San Francisco<strong>. My reaches are American, Seattle University</strong>, UC Davis, and UC Irvine*<em>. The schools denoted with *</em> dont specifically have International relations but have international studies. Does anyone know like the difference. I know good schools for IR that arent that difficult to get into are George Mason but ive eliminated it. Im considering University of the Pacific but i dont know. Any criticism or add-ons or advice.. anything welcome.</p>
<p>International Relations deals mainly with governmental functions--like being an ambassador or working in the state department establishing good working relationships between governments, while International Studies deals with understanding the people and society and also with the private sector establishing marketing of products from one country to a different one, and understanding cultural norms of the different areas.</p>
<p>As far as your list, I think you have a pretty good group of schools for your major--although I notice that they tend to be west coast and east coast primarily. (Only DePaul and maybe Univ of Toronto could be considered in the middle of the continent). Since the schools on the coast tend to do more of the international stuff, I'd say you have the right places. The only other school that's big on international courses is Brigham Young--and it is cheap--but you'd have to figure whether or not you'd fit in with its 85% Mormon student population.</p>