<p>OK, so I'm a junior from Wisconsin looking at colleges right now for international relations. I developed a list that is below and am interested in your thoughts about the completeness of the list and how I could either add to it or cut it down. What I have is a decent mix of reaches, matches, and safeties, so I won't bore you with stats. Basically, i'm interested in either a LAC or small university (yeah, I know UW-Madison is far from small but its in state). In the current order of my preference:</p>
<p>Middlebury College (International Studies or International Politics & Economies)
Claremont McKenna College (International Relations)
Georgetown University (International Relations)
Tufts University (International Relations)
American University (International Studies)
Reed College (Political Science)
University of the Pacific (International Relations & Global Studies)
Macalester College (International Studies)
Lewis & Clark College (International Affairs)
UW-Madison (International Studies)
UW-Whitewater (International Studies)</p>
<p>Umm, there really isn't a good LAC in Wisconsin. Beloit, well, sucks (IMO, not to offend anyone who goes there). plus the city is terrible. As far as GW and BU, too big and no actual campus (I want a coherent campus, not a jumble of buildings that they call a campus). Thanks for the advice, though, keep it coming.</p>
<p>Well if you give stats we can be helpful because there's a huge difference between IR at Tufts and at UOP. There is probably a better safety for you that will position you better if you have a fighting chance at Tufts.</p>
<p>Reed, Georgetown, and Tufts share a lot of overlapping students with University of Chicago. Not to mention that I'm terribly biased, but if you're interested in the feels of those three schools, the chance that you'll like Chicago is very high :-)</p>
<p>Our poly sci and international studies departments are extremely popular. Some of the best professors, as far as teaching goes, are in those departments.</p>
<p>I can't respond exactly for the OP, but campus can have a huge effect on the atmosphere of a school as well as the stuff that goes on there. A commuter campus is not likely to have a lot of CLORG involvement. There tends to be much less (if really anything) going on on weekends, little feeling of community, etc. Campuses spread throughout big cities tend to have a lot more going on IN the city than ON campus--nightclubs instead of student parties, restaurants instead of dining halls, apartments instead of dorms, and so forth. Residential campuses often have more on-campus social events/options and a greater feeling of community. Campus can also be a matter of convenience for people who live far away, don't want to live off-campus, won't have access to a car, etc., while the opposite set-up might appeal to someone who gets bored easily, is a non-traditional student, lives in the area and wants to live at home...whatever.</p>
<p>Just major, oversimplified generalizations...but I personally think it's one of the first questions that prospective students should think about. Right up there with big/small, close/far, etc.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Why exactly does a campus matter?"</p>
<p>I can't respond exactly for the OP, but campus can have a huge effect on the atmosphere of a school as well as the stuff that goes on there. A commuter campus is not likely to have a lot of CLORG involvement. There tends to be much less (if really anything) going on on weekends, little feeling of community, etc. Campuses spread throughout big cities tend to have a lot more going on IN the city than ON campus--nightclubs instead of student parties, restaurants instead of dining halls, apartments instead of dorms, and so forth. Residential campuses often have more on-campus social events/options and a greater feeling of community. Campus can also be a matter of convenience for people who live far away, don't want to live off-campus, won't have access to a car, etc., while the opposite set-up might appeal to someone who gets bored easily, is a non-traditional student, lives in the area and wants to live at home...whatever.</p>
<p>Just major, oversimplified generalizations...but I personally think it's one of the first questions that prospective students should think about. Right up there with big/small, close/far, etc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I dont think i'll have to worry about that at BU.</p>
<p>Yeah, GWU would be a good school to add if you are interested in IR/IS. It's comparable to American (if not better). You might also want to add Johns Hopkins, whose IR/IS program is comparable to those at Gtown and Tufts (in fact, these three are probably the best in the country).</p>
<p>You do need to give us stats so we know if you can even get into schools like Gtown, Tufts, Claremont, etc.</p>
<p>Middlebury College (International Studies or International Politics & Economies)
Claremont McKenna College (International Relations)
Georgetown University (International Relations)
Tufts University (International Relations)
American University (International Studies)
Reed College (Political Science)
Macalester College (International Studies)
UW-Madison (International Studies)</p>
<p>Along with those I took out, I would replace either Tufts or American with University of Chicago. Such an amazing school, the support here for it is testimony.</p>
<p>I think this a more managable this application wise.
If IR is really your passion, I would focus on G-town (Jesuit represent) and American. Personally, I don't like Middlebury, CMC, or Tufts, but it might fit you. Stats and what you would like to do in the future would help.</p>
<p>Smoke: If the OP's interest is international relations, cutting out Tufts is absolutely ridiculous. I'm glad you like your school (UChic), and the OP may very well feel like considering it, but cutting out one of the top schools for that field of study is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses so far. Student 615 hit it right on the head involving the campus feel. It's just what I'm looking for; he/she did a much better job explaining it than I could have. I'll give you my stats, just to give you a decent idea of what I'm looking at.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.9 UW, idk weighted but well above 4.0
Taking most difficult courseload at school w/ 6 total APs (2 of them online)
SAT: 2100
School: Very competitive public school in Wisconsin
Essays and recs will be very good
ECs: Internship this summer with Wisconsin Democratic Party
Advanced to Nationals for both FBLA and DECA
250 community service hours
around 20 hours/week of work at job
national honor society
other various meaningless awards
golf, swimming</p>
<p>As you can see, I'm not the best student around but it's decent. I obviously have enough reach schools so it is the matches and safeties that I am concerned with. Since I don't want to stay in Wisconsin, I am looking for places out of state that accept more students that I can add to my list. That's why I had U of the Pacific and Lewis& Clark on there. Any others with a better shot of getting in would be excellent. Thanks a lot guys, keep the resonses coming.</p>
<p>You're almost sure to get into Madison if you apply on 9/15, so you don't really need other safeties unless you don't want to go there. And if you wouldn't go there under any circumstances, don't apply. You should consider applying to Chicago EA.</p>
<p>Taking into account the thoughts of others, it looks like I had a decent list. Here's a new one with just a few changes:</p>
<p>Middlebury College (International Studies or International Politics & Economies)
Claremont McKenna College (International Relations)
Georgetown University (International Relations)
Tufts University (International Relations)
American University (International Studies)
Reed College (Political Science)
University of Chicago (International Studies)
University of the Pacific (International Relations & Global Studies)
Macalester College (International Studies)
UW-Madison (International Studies)</p>
<p>Any other thoughts are of course welcomed and appreciated.</p>