<p>I have narrowed my list down to these two schools. I really love both but the financial aid is considerably better at Swat (300 a year contribution to 6,000). However, money is not so much of an issue as quality of academics. I plan to major in Political Science with a concentration in Middle Eastern Affairs and maybe also major in either music or English. So what are the pros and cons of the Poli program at Amherst? ANY input is appreciated!</p>
<p>Poli Sci at Swarthmore better. This is concensus as per discussion with recent alumna.</p>
<p>They’re both great schools. Amherst is a little more preppy, Swarthmore is a little more hippie, but no doubt you’d get a great and intense education either place. Might as well follow the money.</p>
<p>again, I find the disparity in award money rather baffling considering how much hype both schools put into their comparative wealth. Swat obviously wants the OP more and I’m making a wild guess that it has something to do with her interest in Middle East Studies.</p>
<p>Apparently, need-blind is a term of art that applies only to whether a person will be admitted regardless of circumstances, not how much a given school is willing sweeten the pot once the process is over.</p>
<p>Amherst is among the most socioeconomically diverse of the elite liberal arts colleges. It just so happens that our preppies are comfortable with whom they are and don’t feel the need to pretend to be “hippies.” =)</p>
<p>With regards to Middle Eastern studies, I recall InterestedDad trashing Amherst over and over again for not having Arabic on campus and extolling Swarthmore’s program.</p>
<p>English is indisputably better at Amherst, but since you’re primarily interested in PoliSci + Middle Eastern Studies, I would recommend Swat. I’m keeping in mind the price tag, by the way.</p>
<p>If you’re really interested and have some time to do a little research, take a look at Amherst’s PoliSci Department Course Page:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/political_science[/url]”>https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/political_science</a></p>
<p>You can read course descriptions, professor bios, learn about certificate and collaboration programs unique to Amherst and the Five College Consortium, etc.</p>
<p>Unless you’re certain that you’re going to go into those fields, I recommend keeping in mind Amherst’s Open Curriculum, which would allow you to immerse yourself thoroughly, without pressure, in all four of the fields you’ve mentioned.</p>
<p>In terms of name recognition in the Government field, who takes the prize between the two? I was talking recently to someone from the State Department and they said that in IR/Poli Sci, where you go is important.</p>
<p>Er, that person may have meant Georgetown SFS or Princeton Woody Woo.</p>
<p>If you’ll be depending solely on your B.A., Amherst takes the cake because it has always enjoyed a spot at the pinnacle of the WASP establishment.</p>
<h2>Er, that person may have meant Georgetown SFS or Princeton Woody Woo</h2>
<p>Yeah I thought so too.</p>
<p>I do wonder, however, about two schools who technically offer no merit money and meets full demonstrated need have two such different takes on the definition of “need.” The beauty of private school is they can do what they want, but my question becomes do they do what they say they do?</p>