<p>Hello CC community. I need your guidance for a decision I am going to make. Right now I am waitlisted at Boston College and if I am accepted, I will most likely join. However, realistically I will most likely not be accepted to BC. My next top choices are Syracuse and GWU. Here is the dilemma: Syracuse offered me a $12000 scholarship as opposed to GWU offering me nothing. I intend to major in Political Science so GWU seems to be the obvious choice when looking at its location. I would feel guilty burdening my parents by going to such an expensive school. I am personally leaning towards GWU, but I feel like it is a selfish decision. I equally like GWU and Syracuse's campuses. However, I think
I would be more academically and intellectually challenged at GWU. Also, GWU's location provides great oppurtunities for internships. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you...</p>
<p>I would go with GWU. Syracuse is a great University (No doubt, as I have 3 cousins going there right now) , but if your major is Poli Sci, like you said, no location is better than D.C., the political heartland and hub of America. You can get high-powered internships, and also participate actively in the political scene if you so choose.</p>
<p>How much of a problem are finances, though? I’m not sugarcoating my praise for GWU’s strength in the political and social sciences–it is VERY strong, but GWU is one of the most expensive private undegraduate institutions in the country. If you’re in a financial burden right now, and your parents will have true difficulty in paying for your education, then Syracuse would be the better, debt-free choice. If finances aren’t THAT much of a problem, but you’re still looking at the price tag, I honestly do recommend GWU for your major. </p>
<p>And don’t forget about work-study and other ways to pay off the debt in your college years too. Bottom line: If you are not TOO concerned about finances, as you clearly love GWU, go for it. If you are VERY pressed for money right now, and your family’s financial situation is in terrible shape, then Syracuse indeed would be the perfect choice.</p>
<p>Thank you DesiCollegeGal. My parents’ income is substantial enough to afford GWU, but it’s just the guilt of knowing my parents will be having to shovel out $250,000 for my college education (not even counting grad school). I definitely understand what you are saying and hopefully work study will allow me to reduce some expenses. Thanks again:)</p>
<p>250,000? GWU offered you NOTHING?</p>
<p>Yea I received no merit aid. I’ve heard they are not very generous with merit scholarships. My parents’ income is too high to necessitate any need-based aid.</p>
<p>I’ve got the same decision right now 
Syracuse for poli sci or GWU for poli comm. I really like GWU but they gave me nothing too and 60k a year is a bit outside my price range. I was really hoping to be at 45k or I could probably even make 50k work but GWU is so expensive. Syracuse at least gave me a partial scholarship so I really have no idea what to do.</p>
<p>Littlepolitician it’s so difficult!!!</p>
<p>gwu all the way! better school, WAY better location, and MUCH better opportunities. Is it even a question? GWU vs boston college is usually jews vs christians so go with that hah</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your help. Any further advice?</p>
<p>Any plans of going to grad school?</p>
<p>Yes, I do plan on going.</p>
<p>I have lived in DC for many years. About thirty years ago GW was known as a second tier school. So its the president Stephen Trachtenberg, had the brilliant idea to raise tuition to the highest levels in the country without increasing resources for students. He believed (correctly it turned out) that the high price would signal prestige. Shortly thereafter GW started getting lots more applications and a better class of student so that it is now without question the #2 school in DC. The only cautions with GW I would have is it is truly an urban school (in safe neighborhood) but not much grass and it has lots of adjunct professors. If you want the traditional college experience go with Syracuse. It has a lot of alums in DC too, although not as many as GW.</p>
<p>Do you have enough money leftover for grad school if you go to GW? Grad school is more expensive than undergrad.</p>
<p>The campus itself may not have a lot of green, BUT the best “green” in the world is just a short walk away (National Mall). Not to mention the weather- much nicer than Syracuse.</p>
<p>You already brought up the internship opportunities, which are wonderful at GW.</p>
<p>I actually had to make the same decision- Newhouse or GW SMPA.</p>
<p>GW is (overall) better than Syracuse unless you are strictly talking sports. It is true that GW is #2 in DC, but that ain’t bad since there are over 20 schools in the DC area. Syracuse is #1 in Syracuse though, without question.</p>
<p>Hard choice when money is involved. If you’re looking into communications at all with poli sci (Newhouse), I’d go with Syracuse. Also, as esthetique kinda mentioned, if you are planning on grad school, I think it would be a better financial decision for you to do undergrad at Syracuse, save money and then you can do your grad at GW. The name on your grad degree arguably matters more than the name on your undergrad. </p>
<p>@mucksdog07, I think it’s only fair to mention that the current president (Knapp) is trying to increase resources for students-- I’m not a current student, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I think GW has been updating a lot of buildings and dorms over the past few years. Also, adjunct professors is not always a bad thing.</p>
<p>Sorry for me to transgress, but it’s intriguing for me to see GWU being number 2 in DC mentioned a number of times in this thread. What, number 2 to GT? </p>
<p>Not to me, sorry for the arrogance, but GWU was always number 1 in DC for me. </p>
<p>My choice was between GW (SEAS, biomedical engineering) and GT (chemistry). Biomedical engineering the easy choice for me, GT has no engineering school.</p>
<p>Agree, 5Krunner. It was always #1 for me- didn’t apply anywhere else in DC.</p>
<p>If money is the problem and if you are going to graduate school, you should go to Syracuse and get a high gpa so you can apply to great grad schools. I would save money and get a good gpa first then get into ivy league grad schools!!! 
just my opinion.</p>
<p>Dippindots what you prescribed is the exact pathway I intend to choose. Thank you everyone for your help. I am going to be enrolling at SU in the next day or two.</p>