<p>which college has the better political science/international relations dept? Boston or Vanderbilt</p>
<p>any recommendation or input would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>Personally, if I was admitted to both schools, I’d pick Vanderbilt in a heartbeat. </p>
<p>In visiting the campus and sitting in on a few classes, it had the feel of a medium to large state university, expenses of an elite private university without the prestige or academic reputation to match, and according to most students/alums I’ve talked with…the FA situation frankly…sucks for working-class/poor students. </p>
<p>On the other hand, Vandy has the feel of a smaller private university with an elite reputation to match. It also has generous FA for those who need it according to friends and colleagues who attended.</p>
<p>Seriously? This isn’t even a question. Unless you meant Boston College, but even then I would give the nod to Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>This seems like an odd choice. BU is an atypical kind of urban college experience that tends to appeal to students who are more (or at least as) oriented to city life than campus life. Vanderbilt is technically in a major city, but you’d have to exit the campus and go a couple miles to get there. It’s a green, elite, collegiate setting with a highly campus-oriented culture. I’d think that the typical prospective college student would choose Vandy, though BU has the added attraction of the nation’s top college town.</p>
<p>All 3 answers so far have answered the OP’s title rather than the question, which was: “which college has the better political science/international relations dept?”</p>
<p>Anecdata only, but a friend’s D is at Vanderbilt, has studied abroad in Chile, Denmark and South Africa, and has had tremendous opportunities in the international field and for summer internships in DC.</p>
<p>Oh, her freshman year, she was sitting in a poli sci class and the professor said, “I’d like to have a friend of mine join in via phone and listen in to our discussion about X (some foreign policy issue). You can ask him questions.” Bill Clinton was on the phone.</p>
<p>The above answers also answer which department is better. Vanderbilt obviously is much better than BU. Hands down, no questions asked.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I thought my answer was quite clear…especially the part about BU having the expenses of an elite private university without the prestige/academic reputation to match. </p>
<p>Frankly, the students who went to BU from my high school tended to be rich C-level students who couldn’t get into NYU/CAS back when it was much easier to get in whereas the kids heading off to Vanderbilt tended to be in the top quarter of my graduating class at least. </p>
<p>Also, most Boston locals I’ve met regarded BU undergrad mostly as a party school and a haven for well-off mediocre high school kids who weren’t very serious about academics. An impression which was confirmed during my visits to the campus/surrounding areas, observing the students, and sitting in on a couple of classes. </p>
<p>In short, Vanderbilt…not only for the superior academics, but also far better FA from what I’ve heard from HS classmates and colleagues who went there. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in IR and want to stay in Boston, I’m surprised the OP has not listed Tufts which has been well-known for its IR program.</p>
<p>^ Agreed. Even if you wanted to stay in Boston, the OP could still attend BC, Tufts or Northeastern (which are much more similar in atmosphere and academic prestige to Vandy than BU) over BU’s pretty unremarkable IR program. </p>
<p>I think all of the posts above really point out the answer to the OP’s question. That answer: Vandy is better, program specific and otherwise.</p>