im a little confused here with georgetown...

<p>so i found the political science rankings the other day and i’ve got a question. with georgetown being an incredibly prestigious school with the SFS and all and several people having told me that it’s arguably the best poli science school along with some ivies, then why in the world is it ranked #41???</p>

<p>can anyone explain this to me? here’s the 2005 rankings:</p>

<li>Harvard University (MA) 5.0 </li>
<li>Stanford University (CA) 4.9 </li>
<li>University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 4.8 </li>
<li>Princeton University (NJ) 4.7 </li>
<li>University of California–Berkeley 4.6
Yale University (CT) 4.6 </li>
<li>University of California–San Diego 4.4 </li>
<li>Duke University (NC) 4.3
University of Chicago 4.3 </li>
<li>Columbia University (NY) 4.2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.2
University of California–Los Angeles 4.2 </li>
<li>Ohio State University 4.0
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill 4.0
University of Rochester (NY) 4.0 </li>
<li>University of Wisconsin–Madison 3.9
Washington University in St. Louis 3.9 </li>
<li>Cornell University (NY) 3.8
New York University 3.8
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 3.8 </li>
<li>Northwestern University (IL) 3.6 </li>
<li>Michigan State University 3.4
Texas A&M University–College Station 3.4
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 3.4 </li>
<li>Indiana University–Bloomington 3.3
University of Iowa 3.3
University of Texas–Austin 3.3
University of Washington 3.3 </li>
<li>Emory University (GA) 3.2
Rice University (TX) 3.2
SUNY–Stony Brook 3.2
University of California–Davis 3.2
University of Maryland–College Park 3.2
University of Pennsylvania 3.2 </li>
<li>Pennsylvania State University–University Park 3.1
University of California–Irvine 3.1 </li>
<li>Florida State University 3.0
Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.0
University of Arizona 3.0
University of Virginia 3.0 </li>
<li>Georgetown University (DC) 2.9
George Washington University (DC) 2.9
Rutgers State University–New Brunswick (NJ) 2.9
University of Notre Dame (IN) 2.9
University of Pittsburgh 2.9 </li>
<li>Brown University (RI) 2.8
University of Colorado–Boulder 2.8 </li>
<li>Arizona State University 2.6
Claremont Graduate School (CA) 2.6
Syracuse University (NY) 2.6
University of California–Santa Barbara 2.6
University of Florida 2.6
Vanderbilt University (TN) 2.6 </li>
<li>University of Georgia 2.5
University of Kansas 2.5
University of South Carolina–Columbia 2.5
University of Southern California 2.5
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee 2.5</li>
</ol>

<p>Don't pay attention to USNWR.</p>

<p>according to what ive seen, good point!</p>

<p>What is the formula for these rankings? There is no way to quantify the opportunities that G'town gives you in politics, like connections with important DC people, good shots at internships, seeing/meeting lots of important speakers, etc. There is no way you can calculate that. The only things you can quantify might be number of politics majors per capita, number who end up getting politics phD's, etc which definitely tell only a small part of the story.</p>

<p>Because Political Science and International Relations are completely different fields. It's like comparing Physics to Engineering or Economics to Business. Those are all loosely related fields of course, but they are not the same. The University of Chicago is amazing in Physics, but it doens't even offer Engineering. Harvard's Physics department is one of the top 4 or 5 in the nation, its Engineering programs are not considered top 20. Similarly, Princeton's Econ department is one of the top 4 or 5 in the nation, but it does not have a Business school. The University of Wisconsin's Economics department is one of the top 10-15, but its Business school is generally not considered one of the top 25. Georgetown is amazing in International Relations, but it is not quite as good in Political Science.</p>

<p>ok thanx alexandre. btw, 6108 posts...NICE! </p>

<p>well, i guess im looking at the wrong rankings. thread closed, thanks guys.</p>

<p>Yeah, I'd been around! hehe</p>

<p>Seriously, if you are really interested in diplomacy and would like to work for the State Department or become an embassador some day, you probably want to study International Relations. Some of the better IR programs, in my opinion, are:</p>

<p>Geogetown University
Johns Hopkins University
Princeton University
Tufts University</p>

<p>Other excellent programs include:
Claremont McKenna College
George Washington University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>

<p>im leaning more with going to law school (hopefully yale! :D) and becoming an international lawyer, so yea i've always clashed about whether IR or political science would be best for me. would you have any tips?</p>

<p>thanks for your list! most of those schools are on my list too. im leaning more with going to law school (hopefully yale! :D) and becoming an international lawyer, so yea i've always clashed about whether IR or political science would be best for me. would you have any tips?</p>

<p>Both are equally good majors. It really depends on what you prefer. You can also major in Economics, Philosophy, English, the Classics, Mathematics etc... Major in something you love. What you want is to graduate with a good GPA (at least 3.7 if you are aiming for Yale) ands excel on the LSAT.</p>

<p>USNWR = the most indsidious power in the known world.</p>

<p>SFS at Georgetown is really good. However, their poli sci program isn't one of the top ones. It's very good, just not top 25 or anything. Alot of people just assume it's good because it's in DC. UMCP is actually the best DC school for poli sci.</p>

<p>The distinction between Poly Sci and IR isn't the only thing off with those rankings. I can't imagine that there are too many people regarding Political Science stronger at Iowa or Florida State than Georgetown because they get a higher score in the USN&WR rankings.</p>

<p>If they are looking at getting a PhD they might well make that distinction as future employment is highly linked to dept reputation.</p>