School Possibilities. Major Help please...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I'm looking around for colleges, but as I put my list together, it seems like all I can find are reaches and safeties. I'm sure others have this problem too, but it seems like everything I find is either impossible to get into or a clear safety school. I'm interested in international relations, so the schools I have in my list are based on that.</p>

<p>Here's what I've got so far:</p>

<p>Georgetown University
Tufts University
Middlebury College
Claremont McKenna College
University of Chicago
Reed College
Macalester College
American University (S)
UW-Madison (In State S)</p>

<p>And this is the type of school I am looking for:</p>

<p>Under 7000 students (either LAC or smaller U)
Urban vs. Rural doesn't matter
Very strong IR program, or at least very strong PoliSci program
Preferably outside of the midwest (either coast is fine)
Self-Contained campus (nothing with streets running all through it)</p>

<p>And before someone suggests it, I didn't like George Washington or Boston U.</p>

<p>Here are the stats I have going for me:</p>

<p>School Type: Pretty competitive public in Wisconsin, but most grads go to UW-Madison</p>

<p>GPA: 3.85 UW, well over 4.0 weighted
Rank: Like 13% (Yeah I know, but our school is full of slackers who take easy classes and get A+s...Will colleges realize this?)
SAT: 2210 (740 Critical Reading, 720 Math, 750 Writing)
SAT IIs: Taking US History, World History, Literature (expecting around 750 each)
Taken most rigorous courseload possible</p>

<p>ECs:
Eagle Scout
Summer Internship with Wisconsin Democratic Party
FBLA (9-12)
DECA(11-12) Only years offered
FBLA advanced to Nationals for marketing
DECA advanced to Nationals for automotive services marketing
Around 300 hrs community service, most with Boy Scouts</p>

<p>So yeah, any recommendations would be fabulous, especially for MATCHES!!!</p>

2

<p>you certainly have at least a reasonable chance at all of the ones you listed, as you probably suspected.</p>

<p>your stats place you in the ballpark. your extracurriculars are scarce, somewhat quirky, and ultimately a weakspot in my quite probably mistaken opinion.</p>

<p>i'd say middlebury, georgetown, and chi are low reaches, others are probable admits. good luck</p>

3

<p>bigp9998-</p>

<p>wow I'm WI DECA and FBLA too. I went to nationals for DECA in Business services. Congrats to you.</p>

<p>I think if any college realizes how strong DECA and FBLA are, they will be impressed. Also, internships are a great way to go.</p>

4

<p>connecticut college, colgate, bates, wesleyan</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys. And speaking of ECs, I just listed a few since most apps only have room for maybe five or so. There are definitely other things that I've done, I just threw out what I remembered at the time. How much do you think the 13% or so rank hurts me?</p>

6

<p>Anyone else know of any possibilities?</p>

7

<p>Bumpppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp</p>

8

<p>A couple of more suggestions....</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you're a fan of Reed, I suggest you also look at Vassar College, Wesleyan University, and Swarthmore College.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're a fan of Middlebury, look at Amherst College, Bates College, and Connecticut College.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You could also try Haverford College, Bowdoin College, Hamilton College, Davidson College, and Williams College as a few more LACs to look at.</p>

9

<p>your first five schools are reaches, but reasonable ones. You'll probably get into a few of them!</p>

10

<p>Thanks a lot. At this point, it's looking like I should apply to all five reaches in the hope that I will get into at least one or two of them. If not, Reed, Macalester, or American would be just fine, hopefully American with some decent merit $$. Any other suggestions?</p>