<p>What are some good colleges for political science and international relations? I'm a junior with almost no knowledge of colleges. I mean, I know Georgetown is really good for that field, but what are some good schools that are easier to get into? I have pretty good grades and Sat's, so...Anyway, any advice would be helpful. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Columbia University. Why? President Barack Obama graduated from Columbia in 1983 with a B.A. in Political Science, his specialization being International Relations. Since the President is most successful in his attempts to make international peace, I’d say this college gave him a good foundation in politics.
But I guess this Ivy isn’t exactly easy to get into, so here are some non-Ivies known for their political science programs (not that these are particularly easy to get into either):
UC Berkeley, University of Michigan Anne Arbor, Stanford, University of Chicago, Duke, UCLA, MIT, University of Wisconsin Madison, UC San Diego, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Virginia.
Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks ravenclaw, I’ll take a look at all those schools. Columbia might end up being a reach school for me, but its always worth a shot. I live in Virginia, so do you know any Virginian schools with good political science programs? That way I can get the financial assistance.
Thanks alot.</p>
<p>Richmond is private, but isn’t bad in this regard in Virginia, although they’re stronger in economics. Washington and Lee is probably a reach, and is private, but they are strong here as well. UVA is very good, W&M as well. Christopher Newport is smaller but passable, and Old Dominion is a lower level public. You live in a good state for this.</p>
<p>UVA and W&M for Virginians, definitely.</p>
<p>I would recommend UVA for pure hard political science, but W&M for International Relations and undergraduate research:
[Institute</a> for the Theory and Practice of International Relations | Home](<a href=“http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/]Institute”>http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/)</p>
<p>I forgot to mention Mary Washington which is a good cheap private that supposedly has a beautiful campus and academics that you can’t wag a finger at. I’d look hard there as well.</p>
<p>
Not to mention that Hopkins and the DC trifecta (Georgetown, GWU, American) are also not too far away.</p>
<p>I would add George Mason as a contender for a good match/safety. It has a very decent government program and is in a pretty convenient location.</p>
<p>Thanks alot, I’ll look into all of those schools. Getting in-state tuition would be fantastic, especially if it was at a school like UVA or W and M</p>
<p>Circular, you must first decide on an actual major. Political Science and International Relations, although related, are different fields, just as Physics and Engineering or Economics and Business are different fields. The DC schools, Tufts and several other universities have top rated International Relations programs, but their Political Science departments, although certainly respectable, are not considered very strong. The strongest Political Science departments are at Harvard, Michigan, Stanford, Princeton, Cal, Yale, Duke, Chicago, Columbia and MIT.</p>
<p>[Political</a> science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science]Political”>Political science - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[International</a> relations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Relations]International”>International relations - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>This said, as a resident of Virginia, the University of Virginia has a highly regarded Political Science department…and given your in-state status, would come at a hard-to-beat price.</p>
<p>
University of Mary Washington is not private. It is a Virginia state school.</p>
<p>Yeah, Its funny how everyone mistakes so many Virginia State schools for privates…but yes, UMW is pretty cheap for a decent quality school, even for OOS.</p>
<p>I posted this on another thread:</p>
<p>Depends on what you want to do in Pol Sci and/or IR. Are you interested in political theory? Do you enjoy studying American politics or do you want to compare politics of other countries? Or are you more interested in the politics of a particular region/area? Does military history or national security studies sound more interesting? A good political science department will require you to take a sampling of different courses, giving you a good foundation in political theory and allowing you to define your interests. You should also look for departments that encourage a multi-disciplinary approach (ie courses in history, foreign language, economics, etc.).</p>
<p>I started off as a German language major but fell in love with political science and ultimately graduated with a double German/Pol Sci major with an Econ minor. Taking classes in several disciplines helps you identify your interests and strengths.</p>
<p>Go to a school’s pol sci department website and see what kinds of courses they offer and whether these appeal to you. Look at the list of faculty and where their expertise is. This will help you evaluate if the Pol Sci department is a good fit for you. Also check to see if the professors teach their own classes or if they have TAs who teach for them.</p>
<p>If you are looking at a school’s IR programs, make sure that you also look at their language studies. Most IR programs also require language proficiency. Also look at the availability of study abroad programs and in which countries those programs are offered.
And as a junior, you should work hard to keep your grades up. UVA and W&M are not always easier to get into; in fact, they are very competitive. UVA only takes 2/3 in-state applicants.</p>
<p>This is currently the most authoritative ranking on IR undergrad education:
[Inside</a> the Ivory Tower | Foreign Policy](<a href=“http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/02/16/inside_the_ivory_tower]Inside”>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/02/16/inside_the_ivory_tower)</p>
<p>I would personally recommend Georgetown SFS, and (if you are aiming at a slightly lower par), George Washington or Tufts.</p>
<p>American University has invested in the School of International studies and just opened a new building. It also has a very good political science department, offers great internships and is easier to get into than Georgetown. The honors program attracts a high caliber of students, and they offer generous scholarships to the most highly qualified students. My son is enrolled there and I have been impressed with the honors students who I have met.</p>
<p>My son’s roommate was trying to decide between WashUStLouis and American. After a visit to both, he realized that at American he would be working with people who did politics not theorize about politics.</p>
<p>Georgetown. You would be in the capital of politics.</p>
<p>I’d look at William & Mary, Richmond, ODU and GMU if you want to be in Virginia.</p>