<p>I would appreciate any help you guys can give me. I will graduate in December, a semester late and here are my stats.</p>
<p>Major: Political Science
GPA: 4.0
University: Tennessee Technological University
Ranked 33rd in US News Universities-Master's (South): Top Schools
I was regrettably not in the honors program because of my ACT score.</p>
<p>GRE: not taken yet shooting for a least 600 verbal and 650-700 Quantitative. I have been studying for about two weeks now and I have about half the 300 work hit list memorized and the math is coming back to me. </p>
<p>In the fall I will be interning with congressman Bart Gordon's office in the town my college is located. I will also be writing a research paper in a one on one class with my professor. I am in a fraternity so I am not one of the 4.0/no social skills students. I just yesterday e-mailed a professor of mine who is a top 30 expert on the middle east about possibly being an assistant to him in some manner in the fall and spring but I am not sure if he will agree. Also my adviser has told me she will help me get published before I start grad school. A year or so ago she got one of her students published in the Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties, so probably something along those lines. </p>
<p>I want to attend a well ranked private university's phd program and specialize in International Relations. I am currently wishing for any Ivy League school or Vanderbilt. Are my goals for the GRE too low for these schools? What GRE score should I shoot for? If I do not do as well as I hoped on the GRE what kind of schools should I shoot for? Am I wasting my time because I attended a unknown public university? </p>
<p>An answer to any of these questions would be of great help. Thank you.</p>