<p>After removing some schools from my list, I now have to choose between American University and James Madison University's honors program. </p>
<p>The honor's program at JMU has many benefits, such as reduced class sizes, special seminars and designated housing for the program's students. </p>
<p>The biggest con of attending JMU is that I would not be able to get a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in five years like I could at American U. </p>
<p>I calculated the costs, and it turns out that the difference between attending two years of graduate school with 4 years at JMU and only 1 year to obtain a master's degree at AU is $40,000-50,000. </p>
<p>Location doesn't matter to me in the end, because I don't want to take an internship during the year, and I live close to DC, so I can find one during the summer. </p>
<p>I am looking to major in economics which would be available through JMU's nationally ranked college of business or through AU's college of arts and sciences.</p>
<p>I was thinking of doing pre-medicine, but I was also thinking that I want to do something after college that would allow me to travel internationally. A degree from American University would be internationally known, and one from JMU would definitely not be. </p>
<p>So, which school do you think I should attend?</p>
<p>Why is it so important to you to get a master’s degree? Especially if you are pre-med, I’m not sure why that should be a major consideration. As for international reputation, again, if you are a doctor working on international public health projects or the like, the fame of your med school and residency program might be somewhat relevant, but your AU (or JMU) undergrad degree won’t be.</p>
<p>I am not sure that American is “just better.” They are peer schools. American is private. JMU is a large state school with huge sports. And quality of life is important in any college experience. JMU is a fun school, but there are lots of parties and you have to be careful with those. Its also away from home and to some extent there is value in going to school away from home. </p>
<p>It is a flip of the coin. JMU will either appeal to you, when you visit or it won’t. So go visit and see for yourself. Harrisonburg is not a big town and the Shenandoah Valley is very pretty, but its also a lot slower than DC. Most JMU students come from Virginia, whereas American students come from all over (and many are Georgetown wannabes.) </p>
<p>Being in an honors program has a lot of advantages. AU is not as well known overseas as you might imagine…its okay but its not like Harvard Yale Georgetown. International employers dont care about your degree after they hire you, its only to get you in the door. After you are hired its all about performing. I know a kid from Elon who runs a pretty big outfit in Shanghai. So its really about what you do with what you know, not so much the name on the diploma after you are hired.</p>
<p>Ghostbuster, I know more about American so that’s how I made my judgment. I see American as “better” because of their great study abroad program, access to internships in DC (a major center of economics, politics, medicine,etc…), smaller classes, diversity, and overall exciting location. </p>
<p>P.S. Even if most American students are Georgetown wannabes it doesn’t mean anything when comparing them to JMU students.</p>