So I've had a bit of a bumpy academic career. Out of high school I went to Williams College, didn't much like it and left in the middle of my fourth semester. I ended up transferring to Monmouth University, a significantly less "prestigious" university but one that was a better fit. My grades while at Williams were merely OK. I think I had around a 3.1. At Monmouth my GPA is 3.62 with an upwards trajectory (3.8 last semester). I recently took the GRE's and scored a 770 Verbal, 750 Quantitative, with a currently unknown AW (I'm anticipating a 6). I expect to have strong recs and a solid personal statement. My work experience has largely been menial; i'e, working low-level jobs to pay for college, though I've spent a few years writing (unpaid) for a relatively prominent political website.

No internships- transferring in the middle of my sophomore wreaked havoc on those opportunities. I'm also an under-represented minority.

I'm hoping to go to some sort of Public Policy or Government Masters program (I was a history/poli sci major). I know enough about this process to suspect that I'm a plausible candidate for almost any program, but I have a problem: since the deadline for 2010 applications has lapsed at most top schools like Princeton and Harvard, I'll have to wait until 2011, presumably, to apply. Ideally, I'd rather not do this, but I'm willing to if necessary. Here's my question: is my profile strong enough to justify holding off a year, and waiting to apply to, say, the Kennedy School of Government or the Woodrow Wilson school of Public and International Affairs? Or should I just send in applications to places like Georgetown, where the deadlines for the upcoming fall semester don't seem to have passed? Basically, I want to know if I'm a fairly sure bet at these schools for both acceptance and aid. If not, I'm inclined to bite the bullet and start elsewhere this year.

Thanks in advance (sorry for the length!)

If I was in your situation, I would go ahead and apply to the schools that have late due dates.

However, waiting a year would increase your chances of getting in and provide you with better financial aid. You could use the time off to get an internship. You're grades and GRE scores are good enough, so all you need to work on is your experience.

Not sure if this is helpful, but that's my advice.