<p>GWU at half-price vs. a full-ride (room, board and tuition) at a good state university honors program(but not a "public ivy")?
Got accepted into Elliot School of Foriegn affairs.</p>
<p>I'd definitely go with the full ride public. But what publics are you talking about? Are you assuming that you will receive a full boat at these schools, because I would certainly not count on that.</p>
<p>Is it U of Oklahoma? I would ask yourself what your gut tells you.</p>
<p>How serious are you about IR? What do you plan to do with your studies? How important is the money in the scheme of your family finances? Would you want an internship in some related position during your college years? How do you feel about the "fit" of each campus as you walked around them?</p>
<p>Once you answer these questions honestly to yourself, I think you will have your answer.</p>
<p>Definitely GWU. It is one of the best schools on Earth for IR, second to only Gtown, JHU, and the Ivies. If you want to work in IR, DC is great for internships + build connections. State school gets none of that. Also, GWU has a little prestige, state school has none. The 24,000 a year debt can be paid off through internships in DC, which will help you get a bettter job, pay off the loan faster.</p>
<p>"second to only Gtown, JHU, and the Ivies"</p>
<p>isn't that like 11th?</p>
<p>Its better to be ranked 11th than 100th or 200th</p>
<p>i dont believe gw is ranked in the top 20 for political science or international relations. although i still would choose gw over a non elite state school, especially with a partial ride.</p>