<p>I am a transfer student who is a political science major was accepted at both American University in Washington DC and also UCSD. I was told UCSD has a better program, and it is also cheaper. But AU is in Washington DC and I feel like there is potential there for a job after graduation. However, AU has yet responded to my financial aid request. Is it worth incurring a hefty amount of debt for my BA or should I go to UCSD for my undergraduate degree and try back east for my graduate degree?</p>
<p>Our son is a senior at AU, majoring in political science. Location can’t be beat, that’s for sure … you have all that DC offers right in your backyard. But depending on who’s paying and what they can afford, it’s a tough call. UCSD is a really good school. If you have in-state tuition it might be hard to pass up. And if you think you’ll end up working in CA after graduation, do you think your job prospects would be better with a degree from a top notch in-state school? Then again, AU has some terrific merit scholarships, and if you got one the price to attend could be competitive with UCSD. If you’re considering grad school, that could also factor in in a number of ways. One thing to consider, if you end up at UCSD, is that AU has a “Semester in DC” program (analogous to study abroad) that could give you a taste of DC while paying in-state tuition and getting your degree from UCSD. Good luck making your decision!</p>