<p><strong>This is cross-posted to the other schools to get some diversity of views</strong></p>
<p>S wishes to study Arabic to proficiency, take a year abroad in an Arabic speaking country, and study in context of international relations. No specific objective, these are his passions rather than a career orientation. Assume we can pay tuition/room/board but nothing else - no extra summer programs, no wads of cash for extra fun, no graduate school. We live in New England. S has visited all three schools before applying and cannot go back to visit because he is an exchange student out of the country until June. He has been accepted to all three schools (plus several others, but including those would complicate things - of the full-pay, no FA acceptances, these are his most likely choices). </p>
<p>All three have great merit - Middlebury for its great language reputation and student-oriented focus, Georgetown SFS for its SFS program, and Duke because of its great reputation, Arabic program and strong financial condition and alumni network. </p>
<p>What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>I want to do international relations and got into both Gtown and Duke. I’m choosing Duke because of the atmosphere and because its political science program is actually better than Georgetown’s. Moreover, it is more respected in many parts of the country. THey are both great schools though!</p>
<p>Just consider that if you are at Georgetown and interested in political science you are at the doorstep of every major policy think tank in America from AEI to Brookings to CSIS to Heritage to Carnegie etc. as well as Congress. Are you studying poly sci to actually do something with it or to just know something more about it? There are a lot of places that can help with the learn something more about it piece and very few that will connect you to the world of the people actually doing it. Political science should be studied at the center of the world with the actors and policy-makers in my view. If you share this viewpoint, Georgetown is your choice.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>I might add, with respect to the Georgetown SFS faculty, who at Duke is actually going to teach you more about politics than a real living Former Cabinet officer like Madeleine Albright or the former Head of a European Community nation like Jose Aznar?</p>
<p>I’m not a huge fan of Georgetown. I know a lot of people who go there and have said that they wish they had just gone to their state school. Duke offers internships in DC anyway and trust me, just because you can do something does not mean you can teach it. I don’t know about Aznar, but just look at ratemyprofessor.com to see what students have said about Albright (hint: they don’t think she is good).</p>
<p>Since you seem to be such an expert on the Georgetown Faculty, what did they say about CIA Director Tenet, National Security Advisor Lake, UN Ambassador McHenry ,Under Secretary of Defense Feith, and US AID Head Natsios? Are they all “not very good” as well? Could they all not do thier jobs when they had them? Your criticism is like a small town snob coming to Broadway and saying that all the stars suck.</p>
<p>When it comes to languages, Middlebury cannot be beat.</p>
<p>Bginger-can I have your Super Bowl tickets for next year, since the game will be between two “second-rate” teams that are obviously “not very good” and unworthy of ever being watched by a Duke student. Its tough being a Dukie, nothing is ever up to standard.</p>
<p>Yeah, I never said anything about “second rate.” I am just saying what MY friends that attend the school have told me. I also looked on ratemyprofessor.com when I was deciding which schools to apply to because I thought it would be interesting. The Georgetown political science faculty is clearly exceedingly accomplished. I never said it wasn’t. Many times, the best “doers” aren’t the best teachers. I do not know if this is the case in this particular situation as I have not actually taken classes from these people (though I have read students’ online opinions of one of them). Sorry if my commentary on Georgetown was not up to par. </p>
<p>Toast eater, I will gladly give you my Super Bowl tickets next year. Watching 300 lb spandex clad men chase a ball is really boring. Great, I’m sure someone will find that offensive too ;).</p>