<p>my son has been accepted to GU Walsh SFS and geo mason early action. Waiting to hear from uva (in state) so if he gets in there is a big financial difference.. He really wants an Career in this area, my question is is it worth the price. He will also apply to american and william and Mary. I can make gu happen but it might make grad school tough. Any insight appreciated. </p>
<p>By “career in this area” I mean Foreign svc /int rel. not the mid Atlantic!</p>
<p>It’s never worth the money to pay for Georgetown over in-state UVA on the HOPE your son stays in the field. A teen could change fields by the time the FA packages arrive. Really, this is undergrad education, and where the child goes or what they major in is of very little importance compared to what the child does at the school. The student could major in finance or econ or Mandarin and still do IR in his or her career or grad school. UVA is in many respects a better school than Georgetown. You be the adult, Dad.</p>
<p>G’Town’s a really underrated school and SFS is tops in its field, but I consider UVa a near-Ivy like G’Town, so if the money is a big sacrifice (and it sounds like it is), I second @jkeil911.</p>
<p>Master’s degree programs in IR or law school aren’t funded in the way PhD programs are, so you are wise to consider the possibility of needing to be able to afford grad school. UVa or W&M give you the most bang for your buck and are well-respected by grad schools. </p>