<p>I need opinions.
I’m choosing between Amherst and Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service for an International Relations major, probably with an economics bent.
Irrespective of where I get my undergrad I’ll probably be going to grad school, if that affects your advice.
Basing my choice on job prospects, quality of education, and campus atmosphere.</p>
<p>Amherst does not have an IR major. There is certification through the 5-College Consortium, however. I love Amherst, and so does my D, but if I reallywanted IR, and had the choice, I would take Georgetown.</p>
<p>Georgetown offers the more traditional college experience along with an athletic culture that also fosters school spirit.</p>
<p>Amherst is an athletic institution as well, but our students are all so different: they come from all sorts of educational, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds, and everyone has a story to tell. It’s certainly a student body with an intellectual bent.</p>
<p>At Georgetown, you have DC and all its cultural distractions within reach. At Amherst, you would have to find or make your fun. Considering how often there are musical and cultural performances, esteemed lecturers, and campus parties, it’s not as difficult as it might seem.</p>
<p>If you have any doubts whatsoever, any reservations about pursuing an academic career in International Relations, you should choose Amherst. SFS is first rate unparalleled for IR, but Amherst offers you complete academic freedom as to what you would like to explore. If you aren’t passionate and certain about IR, you’ll be able to discover your passion and grow personally at Amherst.</p>
<p>Amherst has law, medical, and business school placement that rivals that of HYPS. Georgetown has great success as well, but not nearly to the extent that Amherst does.</p>
<p>Don’t know any academics who would say that Georgetown beats Amherst, even in international relations. Georgetown is a great school, but doesn’t rival Amherst in any area.</p>
<p>The latest issue of Foreign Policy Magazine ranked undergraduate programs in IR (including those schools that don’t have IR programs, but prepare students for IR careers.) They polled more than 1,700 academics. Georgetown was fourth of fifth. (The other two DC universities - American and GW - were also ranked.) Amherst didn’t make the top 20.</p>
<p>One probable reason for that is obvious - the very small number of language offerings at Amherst. If you are serious about an IR career, you need a minimum of two languages. Amherst has languages, but not that many, and not with the same breadth or depth.</p>
<p>Still, I think Amherst is the better school - just not for IR.</p>
<p>I’ve seen that Foreign Policy Magazine ranking. In truth, SFS isn’t fourth, it’s first. No Ivy League elitism can take away that distinction.</p>
<p>Amherst has departments in Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.
Many current students lament our lack of Italian, and I personally know a number of students who are pursuing studies in Arabic at Mount Holyoke College.</p>
<p>Although our Political Science department is very strong, I cannot in good conscience recommend Amherst specifically for intensely passionate about IR and a future career in IR…</p>
<p>After reading these posts, dietcoke, I believe regardless of any IS ranking, Amherst is the better option. You can major in poli sci, government, or econ and go into IS in grad school. If you go to SFS you’re like a Wharton kid trying to go to a graduate business school. You’ve already tailored your education so much that you lack options. At Amherst you will have more options than SFS, and you cannot deny that. You will have more fun, and you’ll be at the best liberal arts school. You can’t beat that education. So, alex, or rather–dietcoke, it’s Amherst '13!</p>
<p>I’ll bet Georgetown is better for IR. But I have to agree–Amherst is a far better and more impressive school overall than Georgetown. It’s on a whole different level. If you can figure out what classes an IR major takes at Georgetown, you may be able to get the same qualifications and take the same kind of classes at Amherst, or within the five college system. I would guess that getting a good IR career would have a lot to do with the “wow” factor of where you went to school. Amherst definitely has more of that “wow” factor than Georgetown.</p>
<h2>Amherst definitely has more of that “wow” factor than Georgetown. </h2>
<p>I’m not too sure about that. Though personally I would choose Amherst and I believe that Amherst offers the better undergraduate experience, Georgetown seems to be the brand name in IR circles, and would more likely to impress people outside U.S…</p>
<p>[Edmund</a> A. Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_A._Walsh_School_of_Foreign_Service]Edmund”>Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Only one word comes to mind-wow!</p>
<p>Three current Heads of State, a past recent US President, a faculty of former cabinet officers. This place is the epicenter of planet earth for international politics. Wow!</p>
<p>Also, how does a school with the kind of limited course catalog of a 1200 student liberal arts school have more opportunites than a school within a larger university with numerous five-year masters programs and early-admit top notch professional schools?</p>
<p>Also how does a 32 course curriculum compare with a 40 course curriculum in terms of broadening your academic background?</p>
<p>Let’s not get nasty here.</p>
<p>Quality over quantity, please.</p>
<p>Amherst '13!!!</p>
<p>HOYA SAXA. How can you say that Gtown SFS has less of a “wow” factor compared to Amherst? Many, many students accepted to SFS turn down H and/or Y and/or P to come to DC.</p>
<p>My daughter faced this identical decision over a year ago --and, with the same interest and passion for IR. She also thought she would likely go to grad school – and, for primarily that reason, chose Amherst for arguably the finest undergraduate education in the nation rather than the highly regarded pre-professional experience at G-Town SFS. The access to professors at Amherst is unparalleled. And, while a smaller institution may not give the breadth of course offerings, nearly every class since her very first semester has had fewer than 20 students. (Some with fewer than 10.) Additionally, since there are no general ed. requirements, she has complete control over course choices – and won’t spend the first 2-3 years of college (or in the case of SFS, basically all 4 years) meeting prescribed requirements. She can design her own major, take courses at other fine colleges (in fact, scheduled for a class at Smith in the fall,) has been invited to breakfast, lunch, dinner, lectures with professors and as a freshman, asked to work on research with a prominent faculty member. Admittedly, Amherst is not DC (and that can be a bit of a bummer, particularly in an election year, but she goes to Boston occasionally – i.e., yesterday – and traveled with friends for weekends in NYC by bus.) However, Amherst is the quintessential college town. Freshman Quad is fabulous – she says it’s what college is supposed to feel like. Plus, winter session in DC is always an option. In short, she figures she’ll get the “pre-professional” experience in Grad School – and maybe that will mean G-Town – but, for the college years, she chose a fine (perhaps the finest) undergraduate college experience – and, has no regrets.</p>