<p>My parents are being extremely picky and insist that I choose a college by Tuesday. Don't ask me why because I don't know either haha. I am an international and plan to pay in full without financial aid.</p>
<p>One thing that is extremely important to me is international reputation/job prospects. I'm an international and as much as I'd like to stay in the US, I know that that's highly unlikely so I will most likely be working in Canada or the UK. I'm looking to major in international relations with a minor in either economics and public policy but don't know exactly into what career to go into. What school would be best?</p>
<p>I've done quite a bit of research and Tufts seems to be the better option. However, I absolutely LOVE California and its weather :D I'm just not sure what Claremont McKenna's international reputation is. Basically, can someone convince me that Tufts is worth it more than Claremont McKenna's weather? Yes, the weather is pretty important to me :D On the other hand, I've heard a few not-so-favorable things about CMC's drinking habits. Also, as a gay female, is there a big difference in terms of diversity and integration?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your help and I'd be happy to return the favor!</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna is a better school then Tufts academically. You will get just as many research opportunities especially with the five college consortium. I would choose CM in a heartbeat</p>
<p>CMC for your major. Claremont has great internship and travel opportunities to experience international relations. In addition, you can take classes at the 4 other Claremont Colleges, as well as use their facilities (Scripps, Pomona, CMC, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer). I have heard beer parties are pretty prevelent at CMC, but that’s for nearly every colleges, you can avoid them. And Claremont has one of the most diverse populations I have seen, all the claremont schools do.</p>
<p>Don’t quote me on this, but I have heard from some people that the claremont colleges have a “trade” system within them, so you can make an easy transfer from one claremont college to another. </p>
<p>You get great everything at CMC. Resources from 5 different schools, amazing travel opportunities, it’s one of the best schools for job placement, amazing weather, great location (though, for me I’d prefer to be closer to the beach…you are still only an hour away from the beach, and minutes from the mountains), amazing tradition (chocolate day, puppies before finals, etc), good professors…list goes on, I could talk about the claremont colleges all day.</p>
<p>I think a lot of the comments are specific to the reputation in the states, not necessarily internationally, correct me if I’m wrong but that was one of your major concerns?</p>
<p>Yep, it is! I’m by no means swayed by prestige but I do want to make sure that I go to the school that gives me the best career options internationally. I’ve asked a lot of people the past week and everyone has given Tufts thumbs up but no one seems to have heard of Claremont here (Germany). I’m not planning on working in Germany (I would rather commit suicide) but I think it’s somewhat indicative which is why I’m so surprised by the responses haha!</p>
<p>Academic quality seems to be about equal and I actually think that on paper Tufts has a better/stronger IR major. On paper, that is.</p>
<p>Tufts will get you as good an education as CMC. There will be other considerations for you. My daughter in Claremont (not CMC) has gotten into LA a few times but by no means frequently. When she flies into LAX she takes a bus to the train station and then takes the train to Claremont. No way could she afford a taxi. The weather is almost always gorgeous and that does affect her mood, in the good way. The fall semester, it didn’t seem to rain once. It has rained more now that it is “winter”. The mountains in the background offer a nice view and in the winter they are snowcapped. The campus in flat and easy to walk or bike around. It is like living at a resort.</p>
<p>Based on my experiences back in prehistory: At Tufts it is easier to really get away for a day. The public transportation system into Boston is good but much of the time just getting into Cambridge is a nice break. It is much easier to go to museums and shops. The airport is an easy distance by taxi or public transportation. Not much really to look at. On clear days from the library we could see the skyline of Boston. The campus is on a hill but it is not steep. Fall is lovely, winter is a lot of rain/snow/slush, spring is pretty with lots of blooming plants.</p>
<p>Tufts is better known on the east coast. CMC is better known on the west.</p>
<p>CMC is a liberal arts college on the West coast; Tufts is a university in Boston (East coast). I would predict that Tufts has greater international prestige but CMC greater U.S. prestige (among those who matter). CMC is also very well known for government/econ/IR; so is Tufts, although not quite so famously focused on the social sciences.</p>
<p>The questions: Do you prefer an intimate LAC or a small research university (but a university nonetheless, with TAs and lecture classes)? Which is more important to you, weather or international prestige?</p>
<p>I would have thought Tufts was more well-known, especially for international relations. Few from our area head to the West coast for college though. We visited Tufts and liked it. My daughter has a friend who is a freshman there; she loves it.</p>
<p>Boston is such a cool college town, too, and it is easy to get around using public transportation.</p>
<p>Main reason: location. Claremont is beautiful but it’s about 20 miles outside of downtown LA and to be honest, I think I would feel a bit isolated and surrounded by a “bubble”. Tufts has an amazing location being just 15 minutes from Boston and better study abroad programs (Virgin Islands anyone??).</p>
<p>Congratulations! It is a great region to be in - lots of history. And trivia… Do you know the song Jingle Bells? That was written in Medford as was the song Over the River and Through the Woods.</p>
<p>Wikipedia disagrees with me on Jingle Bells. I thought I had read a plaque about it in Medford Square. Wiki says the father of the composer was in Medford. Hmm. More digging to do.</p>