<p>Should a conservative who majors in political science stay away from schools that lean to the left? I was wondering about this. Would it be difficult to find people that share views with me at a liberal school or school with a liberal student body i.e.- American University? I am asking because if the answer is yes, then my school choices are narrowed. It is hard to find a school that doesn't have leftist professors or a liberal student body. Thoughts please.</p>
<p>There are lots of top schools where I feel a conservative can still thrive and be happy. Even though many schools lean left, many conservative just avoid schools that are radically left (that don’t allow for differing opinions). I think a conservative could find their niche at the following:</p>
<p>Top LACs: Amherst, Bowdoin, Bucknell, Claremont McKenna, Colgate, Davidson, Hamilton, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Middlebury, Richmond, Trinity, Washington and Lee, Williams</p>
<p>Top Universities: Princeton, Dartmouth, UPenn, Duke, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, USC, University of Virginia, Boston College, Lehigh, Pepperdine, UT-Austin</p>
<p>I think for anyone studying politics its best to go for a moderate environment. That way, you’ll be exposed to a plethora of new views in the classroom. You might gain new views on some things, and cause others to look at some things differently. so yes staying away from radical leftist institutions is probably good, but personally if you are a conservative maybe stay away from somewhere like Washington and Lee where you might still meet a pretty politically homegeneous group of people</p>
<p>I agree it is good to have political diversity in a political science program, but I read student reviews of different schools and it seems like conservatives would not be tolerated at their school. Is this true or is it just the radical universities?</p>
<p>On or off college campuses, the noisiest people about politics tend to be the most intolerant of other political views, so it can easily appear that they drown out others.</p>
<p>The politics of the political science faculty may or may not be similar to the politics of students overall at the school. Also, political science involves analyzing and understanding how political parties, institutions, movements, and other entities act, succeed, or fail, regardless of whether or not you personally agree with their goals.</p>
<p>Bob Jones, Liberty, College of the Ozarks</p>
<p>If you are still the same mindset as when you entered college, then you didnt learn anything. You shouldnt be looking for a school that tells you what you want to hear. You want a school that challenges you.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>swish14, that is the message that many kids at berkeley, oberlin and brown need to hear. sadly they will just be feed more of the same stuff they already believe from professors who have hidden out on a college campus since the vietnam war started.</p>
<p>It is hard to find a school that doesn’t have leftist professors or a liberal student body</p>
<p>It is hard to find schools that don’t have leftist profs unless you go to a bible college or something.</p>
<p>however, if you want a more moderate student body, then look for that. At least that way the prof isn’t just singing to the choir and you’ll have some “classroom support” when you express a view that is counter to the prof’s. </p>
<p>Swish: What you say is true, but would you have said that to a liberal student? It seems that these kind of messages are only thrown at conservative students, while liberal students aren’t expected to have an altered mindset after finishing undergrad. hmmmm.</p>
<p>My son is majoring in Political science at a school that is very left-leaning, but with fairly apathetic students. So he gets his share of leftist preaching in classes, but is able to spar with the profs without any of the extremist intimidation attempts we sadly hear about.</p>
<p>I’d look at the faculty profiles to see what kinds of things the Poli Sci profs have published. That will give you a good indication of what they’re like. Also, pointedly ask any admissions person about political partisanship in the faculty.</p>
<p>
True, but you also want a school where you can be open about your views. A balance is needed.</p>
<p>ilikepolitics-- In my opinion, you should not stay away from left-leaning schools. I would ask admissions officers or faculty about whether professors are very partisan, but you should go to a school with diverse students and a strong political science program where you will learn all different theories and ideas, not a right or left leaning one.</p>
<p>"…that is the message that many kids at berkeley, oberlin and brown need to hear. sadly they will just be feed more of the same stuff they already believe from professors who have hidden out on a college campus since the vietnam war started. "</p>
<p>The belief that universities typically indoctrinate students to be lefties is nonsense.</p>
<p>Anyway, I live in the SF Bay Area, and see Berkeley professors being interviewed all the time. They come off as very professional and even-handed. Like students everywhere else, students who go to Berkeley are more interested in getting jobs after they graduate than political activism.</p>
<p>Political science is a major where it’s highly unlikely you’ll find professors who only treat liberal ideas with respect. The professors are used to working with arguments from all political views and have students and alumni with all points of view. They place students in internships with politicians and think tanks and lobbying firms and interest groups with all points of view.</p>
<p>Where are liberal professors who aren’t as even-handed? Try the English department.</p>
<p>OP-since you are from Michigan, how about Hillsdale College?</p>
<p>Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Davidson, Bowdoin.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a generally conservative college</p>
<p>In theory, college is there to teach you critical thinking. If you only want affirmation of what you already “know” then why bother going? Maybe it’s just me, but a good, well-reasoned argument, where both sides score points, is a heck of a lot more interesting than listening to a bunch of parrots, regardless of their persuasion.</p>
<p>In the best class I had in college (back in the Dark Ages - light was just being invented), for the mid-term you had to argue in favor of an issue you were a passionate supporter of. For the final you had to argue the negative side of the same issue. That was fun.</p>
<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE</p>
<p>Political comments, except those directly related to college, are NOT allowed on CC. I have had to edit and delete several posts. Any more political posts will result in the closing of the thread.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>I missed the fact that you are in Michigan.</p>
<p>I totally agree with ConfusedmominMA. Hillsdale is a fantastic college that gives students the most complete and authoritative education in the Constitution. Check out their website. A great institution.</p>