<p>Hi guys! I'm currently a junior in high school and beginning my college search. I'm very very interested in international politics (more specifically, the politics of nuclear weapons, but that's getting way too specialized), so naturally Middlebury interests me. I'm from California so I'd like to have an East Coast (preferably New England) college experience. I've got a few other schools in mind, but I feel that most of the schools on my current list are reaches. What schools make good safeties for people interested in Middlebury and the like?</p>
<p>Many prospective Middlebury students also apply to Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Both Midd and Colby are small NESCAC liberal arts colleges located in isolated corners of northern New England. Both schools are noted for their international focus; a very high percentage (more than 2/3) of Colby students participate in study-abroad programs. </p>
<p>It wouldn't be realistic to call Colby a "safety", because it is a highly rated and selective LAC. But it is slightly less selective than Middlebury.</p>
<p>Schools similar to Middlebury that are not as competitive:</p>
<p>Hamilton
Colgate
Colby
Bates
Conn College
Union
Skidmore</p>
<p>Of these, I would only call Union and Skidmore true safeties.</p>
<p>A good safety would be Dickinson in PA. It is absolutely terrific in International Studies, has moved up in selectivity, but much easier to get into than Colby, Colgate or Bates.</p>
<p>Wheaton College in Massachusetts is my safety. It has decent study abroad programs in Spain, England, Japan, Denmark, among many others. I'm not sure about its strength in terms of international politics, though. </p>
<p>I don't see Colby as a safety but it would definitely be another school to consider. It has excellent off-campus study programs on Colby-sponsered campuses in Spain, France, and Russia.</p>
<p>DC is good for IR stuff too. I'm not considering DC colleges because I live here, but from what I've heard, American University has a really good IR program. Also look into GW (though I don't really know how good they are in IR). Neither school is liberal arts, but neither is huge either. Plus, in DC there are lots of great outside opportunities for people interested in the world. This summer I worked in a small IR focused nonprofit at the Watergate and there was a middle eastern embassy (I want to say Saudi Arabia) across the street. Not an uncommon sight for us DC folk.</p>
<p>Consider Hobart.</p>
<p>what about that william and mary or w/e?</p>
<p>I am pretty sure w&m has a really good IR program. I know they offer a lot of Area Studies majors, which I take to be a good sign. I am applying there in-state and I love it. For a public university it is very small and has quite a LAC feel to it. Plus, Williamsburg is a great place for a history buff such as myself and it is very gorgeous there all year round, that is if you don't mind people walking around in tri-corner hats and playing the fife and drum! (the students there seemed like it didn't bother them much...) I have a family friend who teaches there and from what he has said, it seems like a great academic community with a lot of teacher attention. you can't beat that! I would check their stats online, though. I think that W&M is pretty competitive for out-of-staters and it would probably not be the best safety unless your stats are really good. ask a counselor or other adult to see what they think
Anyway, good luck.</p>
<p>Consider St. Lawrence University, Canton NY. It is part way between Lake Placid and Ottawa Canada. A beautiful campus in the Adirondacks. It has a strong program with Canadian studies with opportunities to work in the Canadian Parliment. They also have very strong study abroad programs.</p>