<p>Both are way better than Hofstra, so I’d advise transferring and I think you’ll be fine with either one. From a student life perspective these schools are very different. UMCP has a traditional college town with a huge campus and lots of things to do. The surrounding area isn’t all that densely populated and isn’t that densely populated and lies within teh school’s sphere of influence. There are great athletics and you’ll have a big selection of parties. </p>
<p>GW’s campus is a compact collection of buildings in downtown Washington D.C. that the school has absorbed over time. I imagine many of their dorms are hotels they took over. Many of the academic department buildings were originally residential rowhouses. On the upside, the GW campus puts you well within walking distance of the Smithsonian museums and a lot of important organizations. In my opinion being in the location has some practical advantages when it comes to professional development. At either GW or UMCP you’ll be able to get summer internships at think tanks / NGOs / government / etc, but only at GW will you be close enough to take internships during the school year. In my opinion that could be a real advantage since there will be far fewer people competing with you for fall/spring part time internships. </p>
<p>Historically UMCP is more highly regarded, but GW is definitely building a name in political science.</p>