energeticoatmeal

Hi all, I am currently working through the application process and would love some advice about how to strengthen my application / advice on how it looks right now as is. I appreciate all of your help in advance! PROFILE: Type of Undergrad Institution: Honors program at medium-sized, private top 100 university Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science, Spanish Undergrad GPA: 4.0 GRE: 161 V / 158 Q (I think I should probably retake, but curious what others' thoughts are) Any Special Courses: Calculus I, Calculus II, Advanced Statistics, Methods Writing Sample: I'm planning to use a term research paper that I wrote for an Economic Development senior seminar. Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters from three undergrad professors who have chaired my undergraduate thesis + I've worked for one of them as an RA. Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis, presented independent research at MPSA conference, worked as an RA to edit a book chapter for one of my undergrad profs Subfield/Research Interests: International Relations (Security Studies) With all of that being said, I'm planning to apply to top 10 schools - Princeton, Harvard, etc. - even though I know this may be a bit of a stretch (especially this year) as well as other top 25 institutions. I'm curious if you all have thoughts about what schools are realistic, how to improve my application, etc. Thank you all so much!