<p>So I need to make a decision on this by tomorrow and I really don't know what to do. I am a freshman at USC, majoring in political science. I plan on moving to D.C. after school and would like to be a political aide or campaign worker. I am trying to decide whether or not to stay here or transfer to the College of William and Mary. There are several things that bother me about USC: The size of the school is a big one. I have had many lecture classes this year where I learned a lot, but I much prefer being able to interact with a professor and my other classmates. Most of the interaction is with TA's instead of profs; they grade my papers and sometimes write the exams. I have had a couple great TA's but also some very incompetent ones. Another reason I don't like the size is because I feel that it is harder to make close friends because you don't see the same people all the time. Also, the vast majority of students move off-campus into apartments in the neighboring area after freshman year and a lot of people go home on the weekends. This means the weekends on campus are kind of dead and it bothers me that everyone I know is going to be so spread out next year. Plus, I really don't like Los Angeles...everything is very far away and it's difficult to go places without a car. I think a lot of these issues would be solved by going to William and Mary where the have a good government program, smaller classes, very little TA's/Grad students, and 75% of people live on campus. With that said, there are some small classes here at USC that I could take (although most are larger than I like), I'm already comfortable here (although not necessarily happy), and I have a full tuition scholarship so it only costs me $10,000 a year to go here (It would cost $30,000 a year at WM). I don't feel like my college expectations are being very fulfilled here, but I don't know if it is my fault or the school's fault and the idea of starting all over again at a new place where most students are already settled is very intimidating. But maybe a new start would be good for me so I could put this year behind me. Please please please if you have any advice/anecdotes I would love to hear them. I am so stuck about what to do.</p>
<p>My good friend got his Biz degree at USC and says the classroom experience you speak is very common for all lower division courses. Your classes will become much smaller in your junior year and will be filled with mostly poli sci majors and social science/humanities majors with a deep interest in politics.</p>
<p>It sounds like WM offers still more personal attention and they are certainly willing to charge a lot for it. I'm a cheapskate, but it has to be worth it for you.</p>
<p>Plus, with your career aspirations you might consider where your "networking" energies should be directed. Towards professors and "academia" or towards politicians and the "political arena." Maybe WM offers a nice balance of both with its proximity to D.C.?</p>
<p>I understand your feelings about expectations and fullfillment; I imagine that a poli sci major would jump at any chance to do research/intern work/field work. Some school departments wait for you to jump, others make you jump. What type is USC and WM? Also, you're just a freshman - still a newbie. I would imagine your oppurtunities for extra-curricular work related to your major would increase with your academic standing. Check out what the juniors and seniors are doing at USC and WM.</p>
<p>If you want to go to grad school there are additional considerations. The prevailing (though sometimes incorrect) attitude is that you go to a grad school that is slightly less prestigous than where you get your undergrad. I know nothing of WM so I can't speak to their standing in comparison to USC.</p>
<p>If your already planning to move to DC, then it only seems like a matter of when would be the best time. Maybe after sophomore year?</p>
<p>And life sucks without a car in LA. We can all thank GM for dismantling LA's original public trans system, while we try to catch up with a slowly growing system of new trains.</p>
<p>I've seen bonsai trees grow faster than our public transportation system.</p>
<p>I attend WM and have friends in govt.
This is my experience
WM is small, and not socially active like a city. Williamsburg itself is geared toured tourists, and its residents have a . . . certain hostility toward campus students. If you enjoy hanging out, then that's pretty much all you will do here on the weekend. You'll likely make a small, tight knit group of friends, and do almost everything with them, but you will also have lots of other acquaintance-type people that you know. I estimate that if there's about a crowd of any 20-25 random people on campus, I will be guaranteed to know one fairly well. School spirit is iffy; it emerged this year because our football team did really well--in IAA. The things you do will almost be on campus or close to campus, e.g. frisbee-golf.
Campus is 65% VA, and the rest out of state (mostly MD, NC, NJ, and NY, I think). Also, its 35% Greek, but its not something that gets in the way. Mostly liberal, but some strong conservatives (especially libertarians).
If you expect giant parties/clubs/bars, etc. those aren't really present. And most people don't get cars until junior year. I don't know much about USC, but I would have to give them the edge in social life, due to location and size of student body.</p>
<p>Class-wise, there are GERs (General Education Requirements) you will have to fulfill, though you may place out of many based on prior work. Check the WM course catalog (online) for details.</p>
<p>WM govt classes are good, and its faculty is approachable. You can do things with them, like research, if you are willing to ask and be persistent. Everyone here gets assigned an advisor (a volunteering professor). For most students, it was the department they filled out on a brief interest form that we did before arriving. One of my friends is going to be a government major, and he got the head of the department. Because this friend is pushy, he was able to (ab)use this to get in some courses he might otherwise not have.
Although there is a graduate program in public policy, there is mostly an undergraduate focus.
WM does host or undertake an occasional program of interest to government people (like a weekend in Washington that you apply for and where you hear speakers on a certain topic), but D.C. is still two hours away. Stuff still happens, though. There is annual visit to lobby in Richmond, open for interested students. Fmr. General Zinni hosted a course this year (pretty much all seniors) though he's leaving. The school and student groups sometimes bring in interesting speakers, like Pat Buchanan, Syrian Ambassador to US, David Brooks (NY Times columnist), etc. or just guest lectures by govt. professors of WM or other schools, international relations people, etc. (Though you might not be informed about these, and have to have the discipline to seek them out.) And people do get jobs on the Hill or with VA state govt. from what I understand. You can also do things like International Relations Club/Model United Nations, which our school has done well at, or some of the campus political organizations. There is a Govt. faculty vs Students softball game, too, which (I believe) occurs at the end of every semester.
But WM govt classes (especially international relations) are also very popular, and fill up. You will have difficulty enrolling, although that will pass as you get older/gain higher standing. And WM does think of itself as an academic bootcamp. Personally, I would bet that USC will narrow down in size as you go deeper in your major, too. Edge to WM, but maybe not so much as you think.
WM is always struggling budget wise (especially as a public), and you may hear gripes about things that you wouldn't at USC. Food isnt great, and many classes (including govt.) take place in what is called New Campus. Its new because it was built in the 60-70s, in an ugly, industrial style, unlike beautiful old campus. The library is quite nice, though, as it was just renovated (and has a special librarian and special sections devoted to govt).</p>
<p>My opinion: I would think very hard if money is the issue for you.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend you spend some time reading the student publications, like the Flat Hat and Dog Street Journal. (No one really respects them, but theyre accurate for what you need. Mostly these papers are just there, not insulted or really praised.)
Check their archives for pieces (especially opinion or commentary) on student life or anything related to the government department. Study whats said on a site like <a href="http://www.studentsreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.studentsreview.com</a>. Look at the class ratings on ratemyprofessor and sin.wm.edu. Visit if that's a possibility. Google the WM course catalog. Email a professor or a couple of professors (get a name, go to <a href="http://www.wm.edu%5B/url%5D">www.wm.edu</a>, and click on find people in left corner for email addresses) about your dilemma, if you can, being clear to explain your situation, questions, and interests in govt. (Im nearly positive they will respond, given some time.) Most professors are very friendly in that regard; they dont see teaching as a waste of time.</p>
<p>Good Luck, and maybe ask for extra time if need be.</p>