<p>Im interested in majoring in political science or international relations. GMU claims to have a fairly good program in that field. However, I'm worried about how competitive ill be in a job market filled with people from American, Georgetown, and GW. The real selling point for me on GMU is the price (10k) as opposed to 45k for the other schools i listed. Opinions?</p>
<p>GMU has some of the best job placement and starting salary stats in Virginia. Plus your future has a lot more to do with your own initiative than the name of your school. In my opinion, the private colleges aren’t doing a great job of justifying the huge difference in tuition. And I say this as a GWU grad - I love GWU, but I paid my way through by working at the university and using the staff tuition benefit. My kid goes to GMU and loves it. I think your happiness and career prospects have everything to do with what’s inside you and the effort you make. Good luck!</p>
<p>Good points from Bookmouse.</p>
<p>A lot of colleges will provide a great experience in their undergraduate international affairs department, but initiative and desire for career success is up to you.</p>
<p>You can make an argument that Georgetown is worth $140,000 more than GMU. It may or may not be a winning argument, but it’s a rational argument. I can’t see how AU or GW are worth that much more unless you have a trust fund that covers it.</p>
<p>Hanna’s right. YOU can make that argument, but I wouldn’t. It’s all about YOU, OP, not your alma mater. On this Hanna and I will disagree a bit. Worry about name recognition if you go to grad school, and even then don’t worry too much. The DC area is over-run with wonks teaching in its unis. GMU has as many of them as Georgetown. It’s up to you to get your profs and the uni’s resources to work for you. And if there’re lectures at GU you want to attend, use the metro–save your money. Georgetown’s a great school, but it doesn’t matter for an u/g degree when you have GMU in your pocket. Unless money doesn’t matter to your family.</p>
<p>I’ve been looking more at GMU, and it looks like a winner. Id love to go to GW or AU, both are tied for my first choice, but being in debt as an undergrad vs graduating and having money left for grad school doesn’t seem like a very tough choice. I could do a BA at GMU and a masters at either of those schools and come out with as much debt as i would with simply a BA from GW or AU. I guess the thing that gets me about mason is the pathetic social scene and the fact that its in my back yard. While those factors aren’t worth massive debt, they’re still important enough to consider. Thanks for all the responses thought!</p>