<p>I am a dual US citizen of African-American orientation who was born in and lives in Australia. I go to a tiny steiner (waldorf) school (there are 11 people in my grade) which offers the IB diploma program. I am currently studying the IB diploma</p>
<p>French Ab Initio- SL (only option offered)
Maths- SL
Environmental Systems and Societies-SL
Literature-HL
Chemistry-HL
History-HL</p>
<p>we don't have class rank or GPA, and we are graded on the IB scale 1-7. My average in our exams so far (final exams and graduation are in November this year) is a 6.
Haven't taken SAT yet, but I think I can probably manage around a 2100. I'm going to take the ACT as well as my cousin said its better for people who are more language/writing orientated. I'm going to take Chemistry, French and Literature Subject tests, I don't know what I'll score but in My IB course I'm getting 7's for french and 6's for HL chemistry and literature.</p>
<p>My schools doesn't have any extra curricular activities except for my music (I take singing lessons and have been in senior choir) but I've founded the french club (I'm president) the UNICEF UNited Club (also president), which has raised almost 3,000 already (through one initiative) and helped to found the school council. Outside of school I'm a dancer (National CHampion with my pom squad), did gymnastics for many years, coached gymnastics, have done some volunteer work through school and my Church Youth Group. I am also part of Young UN Women Australia and have represented my school at a couple of leadership conferences. I've also been involved in theatre, lead roles in productions and choreographed the senior school musical. I also love creative writing and I went on French Exchange to Paris for 3 months.</p>
<p>I want to study international relations and would also like to continue pursuing dance (minor or co-curricular) in college.</p>
<p>My first choice is Georgetown, I'm also applying to American and George Washington in D,C. I also think I might apply to Barnard and Sarah Lawrence. </p>
<p>I'm wondering what you think my chances are for admission to these schools? And Also what some good safety schools (good in international relations and strong financial aid programs/scholarship opportunities) might be. THANKS FOR REPLIES THEY ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED (my guidance counselor doesn't know much about US admissions haha</p>
<p>I live/work overseas & have friends that work at the U.N. and embassies of different countries. To do foreign service work, the U.N. & the diplomatic corps are looking to recruit staff who can do something practical besides “int’l relations” (i.e. economists, engineers, doctors, finance types, teachers). You would be a more competitive candidate for the foreign service if you combined the IR degree with some other marketable major.</p>
<p>I am interested in the political side of things so I may double with political science, but a large amount of IR is political science anyway. Its the political side of the UN I’m interested in. I have actually looked at the UN recruitment page and the most common reuirement for jobs was ‘master in international relations’</p>
<p>there’s lots of economics in IR too. but I’m not going to do a whole degree in something I have no interest in, since IR is a combination of politics, history and economics, I would think graduates with that degree would have much better all around knowledge</p>
<p>By “overseas”. I mean the working in multiple different countries, not just outside the U.S.</p>
<p>If you check out the requirements for a U.N. career as a professional doing foreign service, you will need prior job experience in something practical. A double major in PolySci & IR may not get you the 1st job you will need to get you the work experience to qualify for a U.N. professional job.</p>
<p>I’ve had conversations about this w a U.N. regional chief, because I was asking for info for my son, about how to pursue a U.N. career. The U.N. expects it’s expatriate professional staff to be competent in something else besides “the political side.”</p>
<p>well I’m not going to take a course I have no interest in-finance or economics for instance, and not take my chance at university to delve into something I’m passionate about just to get a 1 up on my career, just like I don’t think about taking high school courses just for college, and that mentality has helped me do well. I’m not really sure why you would encourage someone to study something they are not interested in…and if for some reason you are so concerned economics is a sizable part of IR</p>
<p>I also find it hard to believe that only people with financial expertise are of any value to the UN. this thread is actually about good IR safety schools btw</p>
<p>I never said you had to major in finance or economics. I only said if you want to work internationally professionally for the U.N., you will need experience in something else. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the U.N. hires lots of local staff that never work outside their country. Unless you have some skill/expertise on your CV to justify the extraordinary cost of sending you overseas to work, the U.N. will just hire a local person to do the job. A double major in IR and Dance probably will not get you in a diplomatic posting.</p>
<p>Here is a listing of U.N. job vacancies; there are no jobs for dancers
<a href=“UN Careers”>UN Careers;
<p>You need to keep in mind what is your ultimate goal, to make a list of safety IR schools or to work abroad as a diplomat. Do you just want people to tell you what you want to hear?</p>
<p>I’m not doing dance for a career in the UN obviously, I am doing dance because I love it and its one of my passions. I’m not really sure what you mean by “what’s your ultimate goal, to make a safety list of IR schools or to work as a diplomat?” My goal with this thread is to find safety IR schools because I’ll be applying to colleges soon and want to narrow down my list. This thread isn’t about ultimate goals, its about assistance with something I need to do.</p>
<p>As for the OP’s questions about admission chances, “safety schools” (or “match” schools), etc. …</p>
<p>I think you have a shot at Georgetown, although of course their School of Foreign Service is a reach for most applicants. Georgetown’s overall median (for all its “schools”) is 640-740CR, 650-750M. The SFS medians presumably are higher. However, your background is unusual and interesting enough that it might compensate for slightly below average test scores.</p>
<p>I’d say Barnard is a lower reach, and that the other 3 (AU, GW, SLC) are all “match” schools (for admission if not generous aid).</p>
<p>Foreign Policy magazine ranks IR programs (undergraduate, Masters, and PhD programs). Have a look at their rankings for more ideas about reach and “match” schools. GU, Columbia, GW and AU are all among their 2012 top 10 undergraduate programs. ([Inside</a> the Ivory Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_the_Ivory_Tower]Inside”>Inside the Ivory Tower - Wikipedia))</p>
<p>Of the schools that have make the FP top 20 in recent years, I would not consider any of them “safety” schools for you. Most are very selective. The public universities that are somewhat less selective (like UCSD) can’t be counted on for generous financial aid to out-of-state applicants. But with your qualifications, one of them (like UCSD, the University of Maryland or the University of Pittsburgh) might come through. </p>
<p>A private school that might make a good safety (or lower match) is the University of Denver. On average, Denver only covers about 82% of determined need, but you might be a strong enough applicant that you’d get more. Denver is off the beaten East Coast / West Coast paths; you’d probably stand out in the applicant pool; the area has a nice quality of life. You might prefer it to a large state school like Pitt or Maryland. <a href=“Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver”>Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver;
<p>I am just reporting what my friends in senior level positions in the U.N., U.S. Embassy, NGO’s, and other foreign embassies have explained to me. With critical skills & experience, you get priority for foreign service.</p>
<p>thanks so much tk21769! that’s really helpful. Yes I would much rather a smaller school so I’ll look into UD, my brother actually just got home from the US and spent like a month in Denver and visited the university, so I’ll ask him about it</p>