<p>It's getting towards the end of my junior year and, at the moment, I'm pretty sure I want to major in International Relations. I've been looking at schools and I've found some I'm really interested in - U Chicago, Tufts, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, etc. However, I'm not sure whether or not I should be aiming for schools like those, or if I should be shooting a little bit lower. Any suggestions of good matches or safeties would be appreciated. :)</p>
<p>Junior.
White, female, living in Florida.
GPA: 3.9 UW, 4.8 W
Class Rank: 7 of 560
ACT: 32, will be at least a 34 once I retake.
SAT: 2010 (650 CR) (580 M) (780 CW)
AP's: By the time I graduate, I'll have taken AP US History, AP Microeconomics, AP English Lit., AP English Lang., AP Govt., AP Macroeconomics, AP Physics, and AP Biology.
EC's: Fencing (3 years), choir (3 years), running (4 years).</p>
<p>No leadership positions, no real awards other than District-level soloist ratings and slots in the FVA All-State Choir. I'll be getting a job this summer, and I'll also be completing some community service, as well. Essays and reccommendations should be excellent.</p>
<p>You can never shoot too high. I wanted to be an international relations major, but my stats weren't that great (or, well, I thought so). So, I applied to good schools but no real "reaches". Well, I got into all of my schools and now wonder if I could've shot higher. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with shooting high, just make sure you have safeties/matches. </p>
<p>I agree with BreRocks on this one; apply to where you most want to go. You've got good stats which definitely give you a good chance of getting into one or more of the schools you've listed. As for some suggestions for good fit and likely schools, it would help if you could provide me with some sort of information about what your looking for in a school. Let me know: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>What areas of the country you'd like to be in (if you have particular states or cities in mind, include that as well): West, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, Northwest, and/or International. </p></li>
<li><p>What size of an undergraduate student body you prefer: very small (<1000), small (1000-3000), medium (3000-7000), medium-large (7000-10000), large (10000-15000), and/or very large (15000+).</p></li>
<li><p>What sort of environment you're looking for: urban, suburban, and/or rural.</p></li>
<li><p>If there's a specific major you're looking for or program (ex: pre-law, pre-med, business, engineering). Do you want more of a liberal arts sort of feel or more of a science/math focus? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I'll be sure to get back to you with my suggestions!</p>
<p>That is such an important thing to remember, yet so easy to forget - espeically if you hang around this forum for too long. If you can look at a program and honestly say you would thrive there and truly enjoy learning in that environment, then you owe it to yourself to apply.</p>
<p>When I applied for undergrad, I was rejected from my matches, and got into my huge reach. And then when I applied to grad schools I got into two huge reaches. It really makes me wonder where I might have ended up, had I aimed even higher. Not that I'm complaining, I've been accepted to excellent schools and programs. But apparently I underestimate myself, and the people who I (mistakenly) used to surround myself with underestimated me too.</p>
<p>You're not shooting too high, but, as the other posters have said, you do need some lower schools to balance out your list. </p>
<p>Off the top of my head, George Washington University might be a good one to look into. </p>
<p>Some advice: Stick with your ACT and bury your SAT score, because the low math would really hurt you. Definitely try to get good AP scores this year--another feather in your cap never hurts admission. See if you can't garner some leadership postitions next year, but don't kill yourself. It is fine to try to expand your involvement, but think carefully about whether you truly think that you could do something significant community service-wise, or whether your time would be better spent further cultivating the activities that you have already sunk much of your time in. You may win some more awards by the time your application goes out next year, but even if you don't, be careful not to sell yourself short--even if it doesn't seem that impressive to you, list it anyway (unless it's Who's Who or some sort of scam like that).</p>
<p>To all of you who have responded so far, thanks!!! I really appreciate the advice/support.</p>
<p>littleathiest: As far as location goes, I'd prefer the Northeast, but I'm just looking to be in or somewhere close to a large city, something like Chicago or Boston. Undergrad student body should be medium to large. Urban environment, or suburban if there's something urban nearby, would be best. I'm planning on majoring in International Relations.</p>
<p>advantagious: Yeah, the low SAT is killing me - do colleges automatically get your SAT scores, or can you withhold them when you apply and only send in the ACTs?</p>
<p>Unless your SAT score is on your transcript, colleges need never see it. However, if any of your schools requires SAT II's, you are out of luck--you will have to send in your SAT record. That probably won't happen, although I don't know for sure about the policies of the schools that you applied to. </p>
<p>Bottomline, if the ACT fulfills the college's testing requirement, you can and should only send that in (only send in your highest score, at that).</p>
<p>Hey, thanks for getting back to me... here's some colleges (I'd say these are "good fits" and "likelys") to check out. The seven I've listed here all have a major in international relations. </p>
<ol>
<li>American University in Washington DC (5,900 students)</li>
<li>George Washington University in Washington DC (11,000 students)</li>
<li>Fordham University in Bronx, NY (8,400 students)</li>
<li>Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA (4,600 students)... this might be too rural; it's 1 hr 15 min from Philadelphia</li>
<li>Northeastern University in Boston, MA (14,700 students)</li>
<li>St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA (4,000 students)</li>
<li>Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY (10,700 students)... it's upstate NY but my friend, who applied to all city colleges, really liked and applied to this one.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you'd like a list of more options that don't necessarily offer an international relations major, let me know. Also, if anyone else has suggestions those would definitely be helpful because this is by know means a complete list of options. Hope that helped a bit!</p>
<p>Apply anywhere you think you may want to go - your stats are solid. Your ECs are a little skimpy but I honestly have come to believe that they don't matter much outside of the top 10-15. I've known kids (well 2) that put down ZERO extra-curricular activities and have been accepted to schools in the 20-25 range. My ECs list was skimpy as well (like yours) and I was accepted to a school ranked in the low thirties... Take my anecdotal evidence for what you will.</p>
<p>littleathiest i was wondering if you could help me!</p>
<p>i was thinking along the lines of pre-med but now i think i'm leaning toward IR's.</p>
<p>stats:
female
fl resident
4.67w
4.0uw
i'll have 5+ ap once i graduate, taking the most ap and dual enrolled classes my school offers, no less than a 3 on the 3 i've taken so far, mostly 4s
sat:
750 cr 780 math 750 writing</p>
<p>ecs:
4 year varsity tennis and captain sr year
4 year varsity swim, captain sr year
nhs-3 years
beta-3 years
anchor-4 years
key-4 years
fca-4 years
very involved in youth group-mission trips
student government rep.
part time lifeguarding two summers
100+ hours tutoring
200+ hours volunteering for hospice</p>
<p>what i'm looking for
-lots of fin aid (might want grad school later)
-strong science program (hopefully? not a total requirement) in case i want to switch back to pre-med
-lots of involvement in athletics (not necessarily watching "the big game", but lots of IMs or good facilities/pool/outdoor activities)
-not too cutthroat
-more suburban or urban than rural (but you can include all)
-small-ish in size, or at least close interaction w/ profs
-on-campus housing</p>
<p>schools i was looking at:
pomona
colorado college
fsu (safety)
lehigh</p>
<p>i know that's a lot but if you could help i would SO appreciate it!</p>