<p>I am going to be majoring in IR and minoring in either East Asian or French studies. I know Emory has a better name, ranking, and curriculum (supposedly), but looking at IR and the internship opportunities in DC, does that really make a difference? I love that Emory has a big campus just the overall feel, but I feel that Ill connect with a more liberal and politically active student body. In your opinion how do the two schools compare?</p>
<p>I think you’ve already done a pretty accurate job comparing the two universities. I don’t really have a lot to add. I have a daughter who’s in the School of International Service at American, and she loves AU. But she doesn’t also go to Emory, so that doesn’t really offer much basis for comparison.</p>
<p>If you’re looking at a school holistically, then yes, Emory is better in brand name and recognition. However, American University’s SIS, as a school and program, for the study of international relations is by far much better than Emory’s. I don’t feel the need to provide you with any supplementary evidence on that one. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t let American’s liberal leanings push you to coming here. Most college campuses across the country are. However, AU is very politically minded and if you enjoy that kind of thing, yeah you might like it here. I’m pretty sure Emory has much more students and a big campus… so keep that in mind. </p>
<p>The questions you should ask yourself are:</p>
<p>Do you want a small school, less students versus big school, more students? Do you want a better brand name, weaker IR program versus less recognized brand name, widely recognized IR program? </p>
<p>And yes, there are tons of internships in DC (especially for IR/poli sci students) compared to Atlanta. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to intern in Atlanta… but you’ll likely want to apply for DC internships somewhere along your undergraduate career.</p>
<p>According to the US News American U has 7299 undergrads while Emory has about 6,800 UG on its main campus (I subtracted the number enrolled at Oxford College).</p>
<p>How sure are you that you will end up majoring in IR? If you are very sure then consider that AU’s IR program is ranked #10 in the nation, .[The</a> Top Ten International Relations Undergraduate Programs | Foreign Policy](<a href=“http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_undergraduate_programs?page=0,0]The”>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_undergraduate_programs?page=0,0) . A large percentage of faculty practice in their fields. Well known experts speak on campus regularly. There is a very significant international student population. AU has a exceptional study abroad program. Schedules are designed to allow multiple internships beginning freshman year. The DC location offers almost limitless exposure to the best and brightest minds in all aspects of IR. But then again, Emory has football :-).</p>
<p>I’ve had sons go to both schools.</p>
<p>S1 went to Emory and double majored in Middle Eastern/Near East Studies and Linguistics. </p>
<p>S3 just graduated from American with a degree in international business/marketing.</p>
<p>They are very different schools with different strengths, weaknesses and approaches.</p>
<p>My experience with students from both schools is that each student body is very bright, very ambitious and very articulate. AU’s “stats” may be a bit lower, but from meeting a lot of students, my impression is that the students are equally bright but that the students at AU maybe just “got serious” a little bit later, in other words, didn’t get straight A’s in 9th or 10th grade. The “stats” don’t at all define where these students are going to end up.</p>
<p>If I had to compare them, Emory is more “bookish” and AU more “experiential” although there is plenty of each aspect at both schools. I think it is mostly due to the environment of each school–Emory students do intern, but more in the summers rather than year round; and during-the-school-year internships are much more rare even for upper classes; at AU, the students also put a lot into their classwork, but from the beginning are always seeking internships in their emerging areas of interest, and their professors are quite helpful in helping them make these connections.</p>
<p>For example, one of my son’s friends was in an economics UC with him freshman year, which was taught by a World Bank executive. The next year they got the professor to sponsor an LLC (I think that is what they are called) focusing on microlending. Son’s friend graduated in June, and is working for the World Bank. My son ended up developing an interest in behavioral economics, and a professor helped him choose courses to pursue his interest as there is no undergrad degree in this area at AU.</p>
<p>As far as “outcomes” I feel that both of my sons’ friend groups ended up where they were meant to be. All ended up with good jobs or graduate admissions.</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with either school. You need to just figure out what kind of college experience you are looking for.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>pushydad–if Emory has football (other than the "real football "(read : soccer), that would be news to me.</p>
<p>My H has a fine collection of tshirts from Emory, AU and University of Denver (where S2 went for undergrad; he recently received his MPP from American), all of which brag about their “undefeated” football teams.</p>
<p>Also–for the OP-- University of Denver also has a fine international relations program, and an incredible study abroad program (check out Cherrington Scholars program).</p>
<p>@boysx3, you are right. No football at Emory. I should have checked before trying to be snarky.</p>
<p>Hi pushydad–if I had known how to do a smiley icon, I would have used one–I wasn’t trying to be snarky to you either, just factual.</p>
<p>People always laugh that my sons chose basically the same school but in different cities–mid-sized student body, in a large city, with a real campus, a significant Jewish population–and no football.</p>