<p>Eventhough Michigan State University is no longer my top choice ( as I no longer have one) for multiple reasons ( local hospital, family etc...) I still have high interest in the school. How is Michigan State University in political science, possibly branching off into International Relations? I visited their political science department website and it was more of blah..... very plain and blah compared to other sites. I figured I may be able to get some insight on cc.</p>
<p>-Thanks</p>
<p>Oh yeah, it appears that Michigan State University graduate school for political science is more focus on having their students become teachers, which I have no intentions on at all. Do this mean their undergraduate is likely to be focus on educating their students to become teachers also?</p>
<p>I was looking at MSU James Madison College and was wondering the difference between their Political Science Department and James Madison College. I went to the James Madison College website and found information about International Relations, political science… though it seem like it was mainly focus on public affairs. How difficult is it to get accepted into James Madison than Political Science Department?
Thanks</p>
<p>It isn’t any more difficult, but it does generally fill up quickly so I would apply early. </p>
<p>JMC is an amazing residential college for any kind of political science, including IR. I don’t know of any major differences other than JMC is a residential college and the politcal science department is just a general department. </p>
<p>I haven’t heard of it focusing on teaching, ever. </p>
<p>If you want to do political science, you will NOT go wrong with James Madison.</p>
<p>^
Yeah. If I got accepted into the university and decided that I wanted to attend there I never had in mine living in Case, I actually always had Brody, Holden, Wilson, Wonders etc…</p>
<p>It seems like JMC is more recognize than MSU political science department</p>
<hr>
<p>So I know I’ve read this somewhere, but I think JMC freshmen are required to live in the hall? If so, any stereotypes of the hall… as I’ve heard some for Brody, Hubbard, and Holmes.</p>
<p>So applying early is a must? I would really like attending James Madison College if I attend Michigan State University, I think it’s a great program. Though I can not apply too early since I need FASA. What would be the best time for me to apply?</p>
<p>Case is nice, we had orientation there. The people that live there are a bit more studious than a typical MSU freshman. </p>
<p>It is a highly respectable undergrad political science program. </p>
<p>You don’t need a FAFSA to apply. You need to apply and then you’ll send your FAFSA in Jan/Feb or whenever and they’ll send you your financial aid package. I applied in Sept, got accepted in Oct and didn’t accept my acceptance until March when I got my financial aid package.</p>
<p>The MSU political science department is pretty respectable in itself, although it is not as well-known as the UofM political science dept or MSU’s James madison college. From what I gather, the MSU political science dept at least for undergrad is not teaching-focused. It is a comprehensive major that can cover a number of subfields (American politics, international politics, comparative politics, public administration and policy, and political thought). There are actually 3 majors within the department of political science; general political science, political science-pre-law, and public administration/public policy. If you were a political science major, you could choose whichever subfield interests you most. </p>
<p>James madison. There are 4 majors within James madison - political theory/constitutional democracy, international relations, comparative cultures/politics, and social relations. You enter in the college as an undeclared madison major and then will choose what you prefer the spring of your freshman year. </p>
<p>As either a james madison major or political science major, you can take courses through either department (i.e. if you were a james madison major, you could take as many courses as you’d like in the PLS political science dept. If you were a political science major it is a little bit harder to get into madison classes as you have to request special approval, but it is still possible to enroll in MC classes). </p>
<p>The biggest difference between the two I’d make note of, is the nature of the residential college. With james madison college, you will be living in case hall with your peers. You will have your 2 james madison classes with fellow james madison freshmen in case hall. Your professors offices and classes are held in the building in which you reside. There are special “james madison sponsored-events,” and the courseload is likely to be a bit harder. With the political science major, you will be living in whatever dorm you get stuck in. You won’t necessarily live near any political science majors. You will have your main classes all over the place around campus. It might be a little harder to buddy-up with people in your similar major. So it is completely up to you</p>
<p>Oh one other thing. Like romanigypsyeyes stated, students are admitted to James Madison College on a space-available basis. If you are admitted to the university, you can be in james madison college. Just FYI, it is a lot more difficult to switch into James madison halfway through the year/in sophomore year than switching out of james madison, due to the nature of the 1st year program (2 required classes - 1 writing and 1 public policy class). So if you are debating whether you should apply into political science OR james madison, I’d advise to apply into james madison first unless there is some feature of the political science dept that you would much prefer over JMC.</p>
<p>Well being in political science department would not due me that well, since I would like to major in political science and possibly concentrating on international relations. I also have plans to attend a top graduate school for my potential graduate major/ program. Since James Madison College seems to be more respected, and perhaps more focus in my interest it would be best for me to enroll in the college. Though I’m not too sure if I were to attend Michigan State University I would want to stay in Case, since the freshmen experience is very important. I’ve always though of halls like Brody, Wilson, Wonders, Holden etc… I also would like to enjoy college experience and I’m almost reading as if JMC students are always studying and no fun? I would assume attending JMC at MSU may be more helpful for your future than their political science department.</p>
<p>I still question how respectful is JMC seen, as high as UM-Ann Arbor political department… behind, ahead, or no more respected than MSU political science department?</p>
<p>I also almost want to question do JMC freshmen not get the traditional freshmen experience?</p>
<p>They do not get the traditional freshman experience in the sense that they don’t live with mainly other freshman. However, they still get the typical freshman classes and support and all that. There are still plenty of freshmen in there with you and they are not all bookworms. Plus, you could just as easily go away from Case and go find the party you are looking for. It is not as though you are under lock and key in Case.</p>
<p>Since you want numbers, although I think you are looking at it from the wrong perspective, here you go: <a href=“http://www.politicalstudies.org/pdf/psr/hix.pdf[/url]”>http://www.politicalstudies.org/pdf/psr/hix.pdf</a>. </p>
<p>MSU’s political science programs are rated 12th in the world. U of M AA is rated 27th.</p>
<p>I promise you, JMC is a VERY, VERY highly respected political science department. You seem to be looking for negatives and almost ignoring the positives.</p>
<p>Well I see the positives, but negatives are usually hidden… I need to know about the negatives</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Negatives aren’t really an issue. There aren’t many, if any, that won’t apply to practically every university out there. The bottom line is that JMC is a top notch program that will give you amazing opportunities and connections. If that’s what you’re looking for, JMC is the place to be.</p>
<p>Ok. For instance, in case last year. In my floor…I lived on the honors floor (unfortunately)where there were a lot of returning students (sophomore students). I’d say 2/3rds were sophomores/upperclassmen, and 1/3rd freshmen. The kids on my floor, in my honest opinion, were rather nerdy as a whole. I didn’t hang out with most of the kids on my floor, although they were nice in passing. However, most other floors were mostly freshmen. And seriously!!! This is MSU we are talking about. Not harvard or some snooty liberal arts college. People in general here, even the “smart bookworms” are looking to have a good time. This meaning attending sporting events, concerts/performances, and heavens forbid, even parties. Seriously, some of the biggest alcoholics I know are those who are rather obsessed with studying as well (this includes james madison students). Just keep that in mind, and if you keep friendly with all sorts of people in the dorms, you will have the same ideal “freshman experience” as everyone else in other dorms. Remember, case is not only james madison students (2/3rds are james madison, and the remaining 1/3rd is a medley of honors students in all sorts of fields, athletes, and freshman/returning students in random majors). The biggest negatives of living in case hall…being stuck with people who love talking about politics (especially if you aren’t into politics), and according to a few of the guys…not the most attractive selection of people. But I’m not complaining about that…</p>
<p>Thanks for replies</p>
<p>I do have interest in James Madison College, and if I was accepted and were to attend Michigan State University… I never had intentions on staying in Case, at all… which really makes me question the whole college thing as a whole. I’m confused on why Freshmen must stay in case if they are apart of James Madison College… it really changes ones choice.</p>
<p>Plus, I don’t think I want to feel like I’m within a boarding school… I’m more so looking to feel more like I’m in college.</p>
<p>It doesn’t feel like a boarding school, it feels like you are at a college and a few of your classes happen to be in your dorm. NOT ALL of your classes.</p>
<p>Plus, the VAST majority of four year colleges make all freshman stay on campus, so I don’t know why this is such a big shock to you. If you really feel like living at home or living off campus then you can, but you have to request it.</p>
<p>Freshman must live in Case if they are in JMC because it is a residential college. The whole living where you learn thing is key and the premise of living-learning communities. If it is not for you, don’t go there. It really is that simple.</p>
<p>Oh no, I don’t wan’t to stay off campus… more so in a different hall. I never really considered case, always was Brody, Wislon, Wonders, Holden etc…</p>
<p>And no, it’s not that simple… there is a lot more to it.</p>
<p>^^^ the hall in which you live in really doesn’t make that big of a difference when it comes down to it. It genuinely doesn’t…it is not like choosing a hall is a life-changing decision. Each hall has different features, of course, but especially in south complex all the dorms are so close by that if you “didn’t like” your hall you could hang out in one of the neighboring dorms easily. People end up in halls they didn’t request/didn’t want but still end up loving the experience. Seriously, don’t overanalyze it so much…</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Well ofcourse I wouldn’t want to overanalyze the hall situation, but I myself know how universities state it’s important in choosing the right hall, and could be more comforting etc… which is why they give the options and try to place you within the hall you select. Though it’s not like if one was attending James Madison College that they are stuck in the hall for four years, only one not by choice.</p>
<p>Though I hear stories all the time on how your hall selection makes a large impact, routinely hearing how some students even regret they were a residence of the hall ( not just speaking about stories I’ve heard from MSU students, but all universities).</p>