<p>I like American more than GWU overall, but American only offers a major in International Studies (for undergrads) and they don't have a ME studies program. GW does have both. I like American's general education requirements more. </p>
<p>I like that American is a bit easier to get into and it's less expensive. I've heard that the dorms aren't the best. I know GW's are supposed to be very nice.</p>
<p>Also, I heard that American is very gay-friendly. I'm from a small town in Missouri, so I'm not sure if I would feel comfortable. I don't want to be surrounded by it.</p>
<p>So, based on what I've typed, what would you all suggest?</p>
<p>I have a friend going to American too (who is not gay). I really can’t attest to the actual environment, but I would say to not let that deter you from attending.</p>
<p>Chelsea- based on your statement above I’d say you’re in for a bit of culture shock when you come to DC. The gay lifestyle is very much out in the open and something you will have to get used to whether or not you go to American or GW. Hopefully you’ll gain an understanding that gay people are not very different from you and you’ll learn to accept different lifestyle choices. If you think that you just can’t accept that, you might be better off staying in your small town.</p>
<p>Pamom59: I wouldn’t want to not come to D.C. because of that. I might not agree with it, but I meant that I don’t want it to be in my face all the time.</p>
<p>You’re very right, but D.C.'s political and global atmospheres are great! You can’t beat it!</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that your stay in DC will open your mind to be more accepting of differences and to be respectful of the basic freedom of people to choose their partners.</p>
<p>It’s time to grow up. There’s no such thing as a “gay lifestyle” - gay people do all the same things that straight people do – go to class, study, go out with friends to eat, blah blah blah. When they are out of school, gay people do the same things that straight people do – go to work, mow the lawn, pay their taxes, blah blah blah. The only thing that is different is the mechanics of what they do with their private parts behind closed doors. Since what consenting adults do behind closed doors doesn’t concern you (unless your private parts are involved), you needn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>well said Pizzagirl. And I did not mean to imply anything different by using the term “gay lifestyle”…just meant to let Chelsea know that in DC, as in Philly where I’m from, she should be prepared to see openly gay people.</p>
<p>I’m applying to American too, and am deciding between it a GW. I’m pretty sure International Relations is only for grads, but I think you can get a 5 year BA/Masters in International Studies and International Relations, plus they have concentrations in IR and Middle Eastern Studies.</p>
<p>Hoping411: I still don’t know. It’s weird that it’s a 5 year BA instead of 4. I would like to go to law school. The concentrations sound good, though.</p>
<p>Are you going to apply to both American and GW?</p>
<p>I don’t know, haha. I like American’s campus a lot better and since I’ll probably apply to Georgetown as well I don’t know if I need to apply to GW. But I like GW’s program as well as American’s concentrations. So I’m stuck like you :)</p>
<p>Chelsea, my daughter just went through a college search very similar to yours. (Academically, I mean. Not the gay-friendly thing.)</p>
<p>We didn’t get too hung up on the labels. Call it “Islamic & Middle East Studies” at Brandeis; call it “International Studies with an emphasis on the Middle East” at American; call it “International Affairs” at GW; the name probably doesn’t matter very much. Look at the content of the courses offered; look at the requirements for the major. Is this what you want to be studying? AU’s School of International Service is pretty political, and somewhat peace-oriented. Is that what you want?</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my daughter figured that many career paths involving Middle East studies probably involve graduate school anyway–at least a master’s, if not a Ph.D. No matter where you go, your undergraduate education is likely to be lighter in one area and weightier in another. Maybe you’re long on politics and short on language skills, or the other way around. Her plan was to do something well in college, and then balance that out in grad school.</p>
<p>Sikorsky: I’m planning on attending law school.</p>
<p>I guess I’m looking for something that is very globally focused. I’d like to the cultures and political systems of other countries, as well as the languages.</p>
<p>I will look at the courses offered at each school. I know I glanced at it, but I didn’t look long enough.</p>
<p>(1) George Washington is a much stronger school in IR/Politics than American. This is simply a fact. In D.C. the IR rankings go Georgetown -> George Washington -> American. The Politics rankings go George Washington -> Georgetown -> American. It would seem obvious, to me at least, that if you are seeking the best education possible in your respective field as well as possible internships etc. that certain school names bring with them, George Washington is the more apt choice. This is of course assuming that financials are not being considered and that both schools are equally as affordable. </p>
<p>(2) Your hesitance to gay ‘culture’, if you will, as has already been addressed by previous posters will, to say the least, be potentially disadvantageous to you. You plan to go to school in D.C. where, at this point in time, large political debates and lobbyist groups are constantly going over the same-sex marriage issue. As such, many members of the gay community and gay rights activist groups are going to Washington on a regular basis for equal rights in areas such as the repealing of DOMA. For the most part, you find very few academics on CC who are not at least open to equal rights. Why? Because in the world of academics, the gay community has flourished as, in many cases, higher education has removed bigotry and allowed members of the gay community to, in a sense, ‘thrive’. This being the case, I can almost assure you that over the course of your studies you will interact with more than one member of the gay community - fellow students, teaching assistants and even some professors will most likely be gay. Even during lectures the issues of things such as gay marriage, equal rights, gay constituencies, etc. will come up; so don’t be surprised. I don’t mean this to sound at all demeaning or attacking you in any way, I’m simply pointing out that in the world of academia gays are quite common.</p>