hmmmm, maybe I wasn't clear in my original post. My major now is Poly Sci, I want to go to UCLA (or somewhere else) for a Masters in Public Policy. Law school would be a glaring NO. I don't know exactly what I want to do, but hopefully something in international relations. I might repatriate and work with Eritrean gov
UC-Irvine has an archive I'd like access to.
Per what you want to do and where you want to go? You need to know what type of professors are at the colleges you're applying to, because you're going to need to decide a direction for your research pretty much from the moment you start. So make sure you know WHAT you want to do with your time there as much as WHERE you want to go.
Per your app? A great essay will do wonders, I and others can't emphasize that enough. Research experience is good, hell, great to have, but you have good experience already. Also, since I'm an English student, I took the subject GRE, which did a lot for me. You might not have that option, since you're a Poli Sci major, but it's something to think about.
Idk exactly what I want to do yet but I want to go to UCLA, Cal, GW, or NYU. There is no subject test for me to take so that's not really an option. I think I can write a good essay but idk, I keep hearing so many different things. Like some days essay can be the most important, or some days GRE scores can be the most important, or some days gpa might be the most important.