<p>You can, I checked. Thanks.</p>
<p>Hi, I'm a first year student at Wellesley College and I'm looking into transferring. Which schools w/ good political science programs can I expect to be a shoe-in at? Thanks.</p>
<p>Can anybody tell me how the poli sci departments are set up at some schools? Like if they allow you to major in poli sci but with a certain concentration in say, economics, law, international relations, communications, etc. Some schools I'm interested in are...West Virginia, Point Park, Baldwin Wallace, Georgetown, Temple, America. Thanks!</p>
<p>i always thought georgetown was the place to go to understand the political world. Its really really selective though. GW and AU are great too, the student bodies are really politically active as well i hear.</p>
<p>Students can double major in Journalism and Poli-Sci at Northwestern, but it seems like a very difficult thing to accomplish. I would suggest majoring in journalism, and having a minor in Poli-Sci instead. There is really no reason to major in both journalism and Poli-Sci; most of what a student needs to know about the field can be learned by taking a few classes, enough to get a minor.</p>
<p>What about University of Pennsylvania? Any good?</p>
<p>My sister double majored Econ/Poli-sci at Columbia for undergraduate. I was considering it before too... until she told me that undergrad Poly-sci in general is COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY BS and a grand waste of time. The stuff they teach you is mostly history oriented and doesn't really actually teach you anything beyond common sense. Granted- I guess if you're looking to apply to some graduate poly-sci program, having an undergrad degree under your belt is probably helpful. But if you really expect to learn anything useful... you got another thing coming =P</p>
<p>Well I think Penn's PSCI is good (certainly much better than it was a decade ago) though I am of course hopelessly biased.</p>
<p>I can also say that PSCI is and has been one of the few departments with which the School of Arts & Sciences has set the institutional goal (and accordant budget increases) of pushing into the uber-top-tier (other similarly-targeted departments include History, Econ)</p>
<p>I know their regional political scientists are particularly good (i.e. politics of South Asia, politics of East Asia), but don't know enough about other psci fields.</p>
<p>penn people would usually focus on doing something interdisciplinary...liberally mixing a PSCI major/minor with wharton, econ, philosophy, history, sociology, a regional study, comm, etc.</p>
<p>well If you're from Ga i would suggest looking at Georgia State. Though the idea of going to a public instituion maybe be off putting at first GSU as a fairly good poli sci program</p>
<p>Penn seems good to me. Stanford tried to poach one of our professors (amyx) so thats probably a good sign. A lot of Penn people go into the interbational security field (be it think tanks, government, military etc. Others combine it with Wharton classes to go into international business. IR I know you can either major in psci with a concentration in IR or do a more intense major in the IR program</p>
<p>I’d say there was a major miss with regards to some great regional schools as well!!! Emory? Washington in St. Louis? Come on, those are some of the best political science departments around! The fact is the best answer to this goes to: Undetermined The BEST way to know is to look up the faculty at the school, and research their accomplishments/ credentials. Northeastern U in Boston wasn’t mentioned once, and our faculty have credentials that rival that of any department in the country! Plus connections that stretch even further! If there was one thing I would recommend for the Undergrad political track, it would be to either go: Ivy league (obviously), Washington, or major politically/ legally active city (D.C/ NY/ Boston/Chicago/San Francisco/Philly…etc.). One thing you’ll be thankful for later are all the opportunities/ internships you will have/ be considered for. </p>
<p>P.S: Definitely take into consideration the quality/ ranking of a schools graduate program, as faculty may operate at both levels.</p>
<p>I have been researching University of Washington (Seattle) for a while for my PoliSci Bachelor. It looks pretty good. I have audited some of the courses and the professors are awesome, and some students have gone on to get their Master and/or PhD at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. It might be a good stepping stone.</p>
<p>Ohio State’s political science department is ranked 13th in the country by US News & World Report, with the American politics section fifth, international politics 12th and political methodology 10th. The London School of Economics ranked it as the fourth best political science department in the world. Foreign Policy Magazine recently ranked it as the 15th best Ph.D. program in the world for the study of international relations while noting Professor Alexander Wendt as the third most influential scholar of international relations in the world.</p>
<p>I live in Minnesota have a 3.86 GPA and I am going for the I.B diploma. Is the university of MN a good choice for political sci?</p>
<p>–
Thanks,
The Nifty Nerd</p>
<p>shouldn’t schools in DC be great for poli sci?</p>
<p>Bowdoin College has a very well respected Government/Political Science department.</p>
<p>"I live in Minnesota have a 3.86 GPA and I am going for the I.B diploma. Is the university of MN a good choice for political sci?</p>
<p>–
Thanks,
The Nifty Nerd"</p>
<p>Yes, it is a good choice. I’m a political science major there actually. But anyway, it’s ranked number 17 by USNews.</p>
<p>Spark: You are referring to the GRADUATE school rankings; USNWR does not rank undergrad Poli Sci depts. </p>
<p>OP, I think the lists Alexander provided are pretty accurate (but, as he stated, not exclusive). I’m a PS major with very similar stats as you, who looked at schools all over the country. I’d be happy to assist you- feel free to send me a PM!</p>
<p>Best of luck,
TD</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/886941-best-college-future-politician.html#post1064375181[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/886941-best-college-future-politician.html#post1064375181</a></p>
<p>Most of the schools mentioned are great choices but I think you’re asking the wrong questions. If you want to be a politician you’re either going to have to know somebody already or you’re going to have to meet somebody. If you or your parents have connections, then use them to get into the school where you can take the most advantage of it. Maybe that’s the Alma Mater of the connection in question or it’s where their kid went. Whichever school will show that person that you’re their kind of people is where you want to go. If you don’t have a connection into the political world then you’re gonna have to make one and that will only happen with hard work. In that case the best schools would be in capital cities so you can volunteer with the local political parties or in cities that headquarter your favorite non-profits so you can volunteer there.
Now I can tell that academics are definitely significant for you, but if you take this advice you’ll end up at a great school anyway. And if you’re still craving for more, then go to Harvard for grad school.</p>