What colleges should I apply to if I want to major in International Studies?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm interested in going to a school that will offer an in-depth program in International Studies that offers opportunities left and right. Mostly, I've been reading reviews and looking at colleges/universities in my state and have been shocked about how awful the schools programs are. So if you know of any schools that offer a good International Studies programs that I have a chance of getting into with these scores (will list) please let me know. It's pretty difficult finding a school with a good program that will accept me with my scores and the ones that will...well, that's a different story.</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 24
SAT Reasoning: 1560
Unweighted: 3.13
Weighted: 4.81</p>

2

<p>American University. They are also SAT optional.</p>

3

<p>If you like small schools, take a look at Arcadia in Glenside, PA. Many study abroad opportunities and merit.</p>

4

<p>One of the coolest schools on the planet is Pitzer College. Here is the link: [Pitzer</a> College | A Los Angeles-Area Liberal Arts College](<a href=“http://www.pitzer.edu/]Pitzer”>http://www.pitzer.edu/)</p>

<p>77% of the students study abroad and they have an extensive international studies program. Here is the link for this too: [Pitzer</a> College - Office of Study Abroad and International Programs](<a href=“http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/ilcenter/study_abroad/index.asp]Pitzer”>http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/ilcenter/study_abroad/index.asp)</p>

<p>This school has the distinction of being part of the prestigious Claremont Consortium of colleges with Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Scripps and Calremont McKenna. Here is more info on that: [Academics</a> Pitzer College](<a href=“http://www.pitzer.edu/about/claremont_colleges.asp]Academics”>http://www.pitzer.edu/about/claremont_colleges.asp)</p>

<p>Your grades should be OK for Pitzer. The average GPA was 3.88 in 2011. Here is what the school is all about:</p>

<p>"Pitzer College produces engaged, socially responsible citizens of the world through an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary liberal arts education emphasizing social justice, intercultural understanding and environmental sensitivity. "</p>

<p>Oh yeah! Pitzer is also SAT/ACT optional: <a href=“http://www.pitzer.edu/offices/public_relations/press_releases/03-04/2003_02_07_SAT.asp[/url]”>http://www.pitzer.edu/offices/public_relations/press_releases/03-04/2003_02_07_SAT.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Harvard, Columbia, Yale, George Washington, American, and NYU are the top tiers. Theres a list sonewhere on the forum that ranks them.</p>

<p>Depending on where you live, some small schools have really strong ties with foreign schools and offer study abroad programs. Most everyone on the West Coast offers programs in Asia and South America- I’m pretty sure the East Coast has strong ties to Europe.</p>

<p>Just look at the schools near you, and see if they offer IR or IS as a major- and then see how many submajors they offer. The more, the stronger the program.</p>

6

<p>If you have excellent grades, Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service is the top-rated program in the US. If is easily the best in Washington and is probably only challenged by Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School. Note however that you cannot apply directly to the Woodrow Wilson School.</p>

7

<p>kc, for a career in international relations, where you do your graduate studies matters a great deal. The same programs – Georgetown, Tufts, JHU, Princeton, Harvard – are prevalent. But where you do undergraduate matters far less. You can achieve the same end by a wide variety of means.</p>

<p>The first step is to get into an academically rigorous school that is a good FIT for you personally. So take a step back and make a list includine reach/match/safety that suits your social and academic goals and that you can afford. Put the emphasis on IR to the side for a moment. I’ll get to that.</p>

<p>I’m a little unclear on your grades and scores. Is 1560 your total SATI CR & Math? If yes, that’s good. How did you get from 3.13 unweighted to 4.81 weighted GPA? Do you mean you’re getting a balance of A’s and B’s, in honors or AP/IB classes? If yes, that’s also not so bad.</p>

<p>Not all colleges/universities offer a major or concentration in International Relations or International Studies, but most have political science, political economics or at the very least history with an international bent. </p>

<p>Be a little more open minded about the title of the major. Graduate schools won’t care as long as you take other steps to build your IR resume.</p>

<p>These include: 1. Internships, internships, internships! Again, it’s great to be in DC but not necessary. Most (all?) academically rigorous colleges are linked in to NGOs and govermental agencies. 2. Foreign travel and language study 3. Study abroad 4. Participation in multicultural or political ECs.</p>