Students who strive to pursue International Relations as a major in college tend to be very well-informed about global issues, passionate about following global goings-on, and engaged in their community at home. They care a lot, and know a lot, but simply caring and knowing doesn’t get you into a dream school. That’s where we can help.
Now, the core issue here for juniors interested in majoring in international relations is that most high schools do not give you a lot of ways in which to emphasize your interest through your coursework. International relations electives are rare, and so it really is up to what you do outside of the classroom to make it clear to your dream schools that you are truly confident about an international relations degree. Top IR colleges like Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and of course the entire Ivy League — as much for access to future international and political leaders as for the high caliber of coursework — want to be confident that you know what you are getting into with an international relations path, and that you’ve already been doing the work to engage with the field.
In this post, we are going to give you the tools and information you need to do just this. Through the right extracurriculars, you will be able to create a strong application that matches experience to enthusiasm. Below, we’ve outlined the key activities you must be doing to get into a dream school as a prospective international relations major.
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Below, we’ve created four crucial ‘buckets’ of activities that address the most important things top international relations colleges are looking for in applicants. We cover all bases here: leadership, scholarship, and service. There are, of course, many ways to check these boxes, but these are the activities that we have seen work time and again.
MODEL UN (or similar)
The first is the most obvious. You absolutely need to be part of a Model UN club, or a similar program that engages students in global affairs in a hands-on and collaborative way. We love that Model UN also has a lot of room for winning awards and recognitions, as well as for leadership roles.
As a junior involved with Model UN, you need to already hold a leadership role, or be aiming for one senior year. If this isn’t something that is already likely given your experience and commitment to the club, schedule a meeting with the current club leadership. Don’t ask them how you can get their job. Instead, ask what you can do to further their vision for the club and work towards accomplishing their goals. By helping them, you are furthering the whole organization and strengthening your position for a leadership role next year.
RESEARCH
The biggest differentiating factor between two potential international relations majors with identical grades and scores is independent study. Pursuing things on your own that push your understanding of international relations shows curiosity, passion, and diligence.
Pick a specific international relations issue or concept to zoom in on, and then you want to find somewhere that you might want to publish your work. We love this list of , and selecting an ideal spot for publication is a great way to frame your research and writing project by pointing you in a clear direction.
When picking a topic, build on your existing strengths. Maybe you specialize in something for Model UN, or perhaps you’re curious about an issue and want to explore it more. And when picking a publication, you need to take timeline into account. Many publications have a many months-long wait time for a decision after submission, and many others only accept submissions during certain windows of time during the year. And, of course, you are a junior, so you don’t have a massive amount of time. It’s time to get going.
SERVICE
It is super important that you are taking part in long-term local volunteering to support an under-served community close to where you live. Yes, your interest is international, but your service shouldn’t be. We recommend working with a food pantry, community center, or youth programs organization that caters to immigrants or refugees. This shows an interest in international issues, but also a commitment to your home community. It balances a global perspective with a passion for local community.
Aim to work with an organization through your junior year, and into your senior year, spending at least 2 hours per week, ideally in-person. Fully online or remote volunteering experiences may be great for you, but they don’t serve our purpose as college admissions counselors. If you aren’t getting your hands dirty, it’s not doing much for you. If you are committed, focused, and working in-person, it’s a massive tool in your admissions toolbelt.
COURSEWORK
High school students typically have limited access to international relations-focused coursework that goes beyond standard history courses and maybe a political science elective. This means that to underline your interest you have to think outside of the box.
We encourage our students to take an additional course or two focused on international relations. We encourage our students to either take an in-person course through a local college or university, or to take an online course also through a college or university. As a junior, you are eligible to take a true college course at many schools. Gone are the days of dumbed down mini-courses aimed towards lowerclassmen. Instead, focus on a course or two that is truly at a collegiate level. Your classmates should primarily be college students, and this means you’ll most likely be taking any additional courses during the summer.
Getting into a dream school requires a concerted strategy, planning, and action far before the end of junior year. The college application process truly is a marathon, not a sprint to be rushed through during senior fall. Instead of trying to pack all of the work into not enough time, you need to be making moves now to check the boxes your dream schools are looking for.
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