Hello. Thanks in advance, this forum has been very helpful in the recent months. My main question here is what schools are within reach, Its hard for me to gauge because of my GPA / Transfer GPA from AA degree.
I am Currently a Junior but will be applying for schools towards the end of august.
Program/Institution: This is what I need help with, which schools are within reach? AU SIS? GWU elliot? JHU SAIS? NYU Global affairs? Georgetown Security Studies, sipa, tufts? maxwell?
I really don't know where I should be "aiming". I prefer school in D.C area > NYC > Southern California.
Interests: Security Studies, Foreign policy, International Relations, MPP
Undergrad Institution: University Wisconsin, River Falls. Undergraduate Major: International Studies
****Undergraduate GPA: Major GPA 4.0, Institution GPA 3.93 -- I got an A.A degree from community college and GPA was 3.0.
GRE: Practice GRE - 160v 150q. Enrolled in GRE prep course through McNair Program, taking in two months, expecting a good bump.
Age: 26
Years of Work Experience: Lots of work experience, but none really related to IR / International studies.
Undergraduate Activities: McNair Scholar, 2 undergrad independent research projects, 1 presentation at conference at Berkeley, Honors program member
Languages: 2 years of college level Spanish at time of graduation, plus 1 semester study abroad in Mexico.
LORs: 1 from my Research Mentor / Professor at undergrad, and another professor in Pol. Sci. department.
Concerns: GPA?? Im not sure how schools will look at my GPA, so I'm not sure what programs are even in reach. I have heard conflicting opinions. Apply to schools assuming they will accept the 4.0/3.93 others have said, expect them to treat it as a cumm gpa, which is closer to 3.3?
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!