<p>As it stands, I am choosing between George Washington University and University of Rochester. I also got into Umass-Amherst, Uconn, American, and Stony Brook, but I have pretty much ruled those out. </p>
<p>University of Rochester PROS:
It is a good school academically; ranked 34 in USNews and World Report, above NYU and Boston College. It has a very good track record of getting people into law school, which is something I hope to do. It has a beautiful campus with loads of resources. It's small; only about 4,000 undergrads, but it has all the opportunities of a larage research university. The faculty are accessible, and pretty much 100% have PhDs, or the highest degree in their field. I observed a class which I really enjoyed, and the curriculum is wonderful. It's pretty much the same as Brown's (where I was rejected); no requirements! And that is probably my favorite part. They also gave me a merit scholarship which means my parents won't have to live on ramen noodles for the next four years. </p>
<p>University of Rochester CONS:
It's in up up upstate New York. I hate the cold. When I stayed overnight, everyone I met was really into hard science and math...mostly chem and bio. I am interested in the social sciences and humanities-specifically international affairs and history/poli sci. I am sure there are people at rochester with similar interests, I just didn't find any. The city is not that great, and its a shuttle ride away from campus. The food is expensive and not very good. </p>
<p>George Washington PROS:
It's in DC!!! I got into the Elliott School of International Affairs, which is EXACTLY what I want to study. There is no better place to be than DC, and GW is the second best school there after Georgetown. I love love love being in DC because there is so much going on all the time. There are also opportunities to hang out with kids from Gtown and American, and I might even want to transfer to Gtown after my first year. </p>
<p>George Washington CONS:
It's not as good academically as Rochester; it's number 53 in USnews. While the acceptance rate is lower than Rochester's, it's considered less selective because the applicant pool is generally not as amazing. There are requirements in science and math. It costs $51,900 per year. </p>
<p>Be careful about putting too much weight on rank. I'm not saying this because GW's rank is lower than URochester. I'm saying this because their methodology considered flawed by members of the academic community.</p>
<p>You got that DC is an amazing place to live and learn! I love it here! Will it actually cost you the full amount to attend? Did your receive any merit or need-based aid? </p>
<p>The Elliott School is only one in a hand-full of institutions which has an entire school dedicated to both the graduate and undergraduate study of international affairs. I'm discovering that the GW network is extensive and very useful. I'm having amazing experiences with our alums who are connected with the alumni association. You're professors are also very knowledge and intriguing. I posted examples of our great full-time Elliott School faculty <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2130684&postcount=19%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2130684&postcount=19</a>. You have the opportunity to intern WHILE you're taking class. You have to opportunity to assist in faculty research DURING the semester. Other school's you might have to pay extra to attend a Washington summer or semester. Why not go to GW where you can do that feasibly every semester? GW and DC is definitely the hot spot to study IR and being a GW student, you're in the middle of that hot spot.</p>
<p>I do think Rochester is VERY deserving of its rank -- it is a great school academically. The student body is like pretty much near-Ivy level; very intelligent people... Pretty "traditional" campus.... all the works.</p>
<p>However, there are a lot of things that I personally find lacking there (you may not agree with me, but that's just my opinion)... For example, Rochester is much colder than DC; everyone complains about the snow there. Also, the campus environment just isn't like DC; you can't get the same kind of business/political/extracurricular opportunities as you can at GW. Finally, Rochester is kind of off by itself up in New York... GW has American, Georgetown, Catholic, Howard, etc. -- to me, at least, it's more fun to be in a city that is just literally packed with college students. </p>
<p>Also, on a more superficial level, although Rochester is ranked higher and has slightly stronger academic statistics, I don't think it is really MORE well known than GW. If anything, I'd say they were about equal.</p>
<p>hahahahahaha- i'm just trying to counteract all of the unconditional G-dub love on this forum....if the posters really want that they can go to GW's own class of 2010 forum...i have made very positive comments in the past about GW, just skim through my history if you have the time....i think people on this forum are just hearing one side of things, who better to offer a second opinion than someone who is not a big GW fan because of his financial package---that's the purpose of this site: to hear people's accounts of postive and negative experiences with universities across the nation- this should give prospies a more realistic view on GW when they put both sides together and they should benefit from hearing stuff that is true that they might not want to particularly hear</p>
<p>People do appreciate both sides to the story. Maybe you will be taken a little more seriously if you support your opinions with reasoning rather than posting one liners based on bitterness or longer posts based animosity.</p>
<p>Valid reason. There are transfer scholarships and continuing student scholarships available. But at any rate, best wishes and good luck wherever you decide to attend!!</p>
<p>Ginger, there are a lot of ways to afford GW if you are willing to go the extra effort. I'm completely broke myself... I actually had to spend this year at another school because of $$$. However, GW is very generous with transfer credits (much more than many schools). You can AP or CLEP out as many as 30 credits. You can transfer several community college as well as state school credits it at any time except your senior year + the last semester of junior year. You can take summer classes at other schools or online classes during the school year.</p>
<p>Also, like GWCurrentStudent said, there are current student scholarships. In addition, DC offers VERy high paying jobs. My p/t jobs freshman year paid like $12/hr.</p>
<p>There are definitely some rich kids here who don't have to work, but a ton of my friends work several hours at high-paying jobs to make ends meet. </p>
<p>But either way, good luck at whichever school you choose!</p>
<p>U of Rochester has an array of internship programs although not nearly as many opportunities as U of R.</p>
<p>U of R has one hte top poli sci programs in the nation. It is consistently ranked in the top 8th -12th in the nation. Poli sci is extremely highy regarded at U of R.</p>
<p>Rochester also has a fair amount of resources with an endowment exceeding $1 billion.</p>
<p>I would choose Rochester but would give serious throught to GWU honors.</p>