second tier schools like Tufts, Middlebury, and Macalester for International Studies

<p>I have fallen in love with these three, but need some schools that are less of a reach because I'm afraid of applying to all these top schools and not getting into any. I also like Lewis and Clark and Brandeis (not as much). Can you help me find some easier schools to get into but I will love just as much?</p>

<p>I want to go into International Studies, learn a lot of languages, study abroad a lot, and go to a school where people have a genuine interest in making a difference (cheesy I know :D) (I want to work for a global nonprofit one day). I also want a diverse student body (I'm a white female btw), to have quick access to a city but not be directly in it (like Tufts is 2O min from Boston), not be larger than 5k students, and be able to have fun and fit with the students.</p>

<p>here are some stats for reference:
SAT: 2020 (after taking twice) 610CR, 700M, 710W
SAT II's: just took, scores not in yet
GPA: went from 3.25 freshman year to 3.8 senior year
school does not rank
From Arizona charter school
8 AP exams with mostly 4s and 5s</p>

<p>extracurriculars:
-Junior roller derby
-badminton (only person under 55 on my team haha but I love it)
-intern at refugee resettlement agency (this is my big thing; I've been working there for 2 years, love it, and is what made me want to go into International Studies. I'm also doing my senior research project and thesis with them. I've just been really involved in the refugee community where I live)
-a couple of clubs with a focus on humanitarian aid and global awareness
-various volunteer work
-camp counselor
-Calculus TA</p>

<p>Any suggestions? All opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!</p>

<p>Check out American University. It’s just inside the DC city limits but the immediately surrounding area seems more suburban than urban. Nearby bus and Metro (subway) stops provide easy access to downtown. It’s a bit over your size limit at ~6K undergrads (plus ~4K graduate/law students).</p>

<p>What about a women’s college like Bryn Mawr, Smith or Mt. Holyoke? </p>

<p>Colorado College is just a tad less selective than Macalester, and much closer to Arizona than any of these schools. It offers a major in “International Political Economy”. Since it operates on a one-course-at-a-time “block plan”, you can study abroad for a year, a semester, or as little as 3.5 weeks. Racial/ethnic diversity is not its strong suit, though.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestion tk21769. I’ve been eyeing American University actually, just never focused in on it. I’m not as much of a fan of Colorado College or women’s colleges, but I’ll definitely look into American more.</p>

<p>Yup, American. Probably also George Mason for more of a safety. George Washington is probably slightly below Middlebury, but not by that much.</p>

<p>I think I still like American a lot more than George Mason. Do you think I even have a shot at Tufts? What about Macalester?</p>

<p>Is your GPA weighted or unweighted? Tufts and Middlebury are very competitive, less so for Macalester. Judging by a quick look at their stats, I think you have a good chance at Macalester. That being said, you need to get your critical reading up (especially because your major is not math-related). I think you should aim for at least 700, which you could probably get in December if you studied vocab (Direct Hits is great, I didn’t miss any vocab on my SAT and I studied that) and read magazines (Newsweek, the New Yorker is okay, but a little esoteric for my taste). With a 2100, or preferably a 2200, you have a decent shot at Tufts and Middlebury as well.</p>

<p>GPA is unweighted. I know my CR is really low, but the sad thing is that I already brought it up from a 510 :frowning: I’m really bad at Critical Reading. and I’m signed up to redo the SAT IIs in December so I can’t retake the SAT. I heard some schools take the Jan SAT and I emailed Tufts about that, but haven’t gotten a response yet. I will probably take it again in Jan and send it in anyways, just in case. I appreciate your CR tips though.</p>

<p>Keep Lewis and Clark on your list. Pitzer is also a possibility–very much social action oriented.</p>

<p>I never really considered Pitzer, but it sounds pretty nice, especially with the consortium deal. Any other ideas, anyone?</p>

<p>Might look at Holy Cross rated 29th by US News in LAC category. HC(don’t have to be religious) has good diversity and very nice campus.</p>

<p>U Denver has ~5500 undergrads and a superb IS program. It would be a match/safe match with your stats.</p>

<p>[Josef Korbel School of International Studies](<a href=“Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver”>Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver)</p>

<p>Other matches:</p>

<p>Clark
[Academic</a> Departments & Programs ~ Clark University](<a href=“http://www.clarku.edu/departments.cfm]Academic”>http://www.clarku.edu/departments.cfm)</p>

<p>Fordham
[Programs</a> at Fordham](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/cgi-bin/majors.cgi?I,J,K]Programs”>http://www.fordham.edu/cgi-bin/majors.cgi?I,J,K)</p>

<p>Occidental
[Occidental</a> College :: Majors & Departments](<a href=“http://www.oxy.edu/x2000.xml]Occidental”>http://www.oxy.edu/x2000.xml)</p>

<p>Seattle U
[Seattle</a> University - College of Arts and Sciences - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/degrees/]Seattle”>http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/degrees/)</p>

<p>Trinity U
[Trinity</a> University](<a href=“Trinity University - San Antonio, Texas”>Trinity University - San Antonio, Texas)</p>

<p>U Richmond
[Majors</a>, Minors, Concentrations - School of Arts & Sciences - University of Richmond](<a href=“http://as.richmond.edu/majors/index.html]Majors”>http://as.richmond.edu/majors/index.html)</p>

<p>Willamette
[About:</a> Academics: Majors, minors and special programs | Willamette University](<a href=“http://www.willamette.edu/about/academics/majors.html]About:”>http://www.willamette.edu/about/academics/majors.html)</p>

<p>Kalamazoo and Goucher are well-known for their focus on international education, but I’m not sure how good their international studies programs are. Goucher does have the advantage of cross-registration with Hopkins.</p>

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<p>Hopkins is one of the top schools in the country for IS, along with Georgetown, Tufts and a few others. So that could be a big advantage. Goucher is in suburban Towson, a few miles from the Baltimore city line.</p>

<p>Warbler, I’d recommend Willamette before sending anyone to Seattle University. SU has been content to ‘run in place’ acdemically for years. Good teacher education department and the law school gets high marks, but I can’t think of any other distinction.</p>

<p>I’m with you OP on this. I’m looking for the same type of school. The options listed above look good.</p>

<p>What about Tulane in New Orleans? Another suggestion is Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA just 20 minutes from Harrisburg. Also the previously mentioned University of Denver is a great suggestion.</p>

<p>Take a practice test for the ACT (on their site) and sign up for the December ACT. The deadline for that is November 11th. Schools will look at either your SAT or ACT, depending on which score is higher and, while there is a conversion chart between the SAT and ACT, they are two different tests, so you may do significantly better on one of them.</p>

<p>I personally found that, on the ACT, you have to be able to absorb the information faster, but the passages are easier. I’ve only taken one practice ACT, and I got a 35 on reading and a 34 on English on that one, but I got a 760 CR on my SAT after a lot of practice… So, to summarize, take a practice ACT and see how you do; it’s free and it can’t hurt you.</p>