Which one is better for political science?
What are costs?
Family made of money or no?
What are goals?
Are you a US citizen? German citizen? Both?
What’s your parents’ budget and net price at each (include tuition, fees, room, and board).
Luckily, costs are not a factor. At UMich, I would obviously pay OOS tuition, while I’d only pay the EU tuition at King’s since I’m a German (EU) citizen. My goal is to receive a degree in political science and afterwards go to grad school. I don’t know yet if I’m gonna attend a grad school in the US or somewhere here (UK, Germany, …)
I think UMich is better academically than King’s and the experience is comprehensive (campus life); however it’s very expensive compared to King’s.
British and American universities are very different. If you go to King’s, you will read a subject and be expected to look after yourself. In the US, who will take a very broad curriculum and specialise in your junior and senior year. American universities also have extensive “pastoral” programs and in general show you a lot more personal attention.
As for which university is better, this is apples and oranges. Michigan is an American university and caters to the US. King’s is a British university and caters to the UK. It also depends where you want to live. Michigan is excellent academically but it is a foreign university. KCL would have much more extensive ties to the European job market.
Socially American and British universities are also very different. I have a niece raised in the UK who now attends Columbia. She was shocked at how “shepherded” they were. She said she felt like she was still in school. She also was stunned when the RA came into her room, removed a wine bottle, and reported her to Residence Life. She then had to meet a dean and explain why she had violated their “zero alcohol” policy. British universities, by comparison, subsidise their student pubs. Most UK residences (dorms) don’t have RAs in the American sense of the word and it would be unheard of to enter a room looking for alcohol. Conversely, many American universities have spent small fortunes building student centers, athletic facilities etc. Very “five star”.
One thing: If you go to the US, be prepared for sticker shock. Tuition is astronomical.
@widgetmidget 's advice and observations are very good.
I would emphasize that American universities are better if you want to experiment and “find yourself”. If you are sure you know what you want, King’s would be the more direct and economical route to an undergrad degree in poli-sci.
For example, my daughter is in an archaeology course in the UK and that is literally all that she does. She really knew that’s what she wanted to do, so opted for the UK, where (as an EU resident) the entire degree costs what about 1.5 years do at an American Uni at full tuition.
The OP should also be aware that it is not citizenship but EU residence (for the past 2 years) that determines the tuition scale.
Three years, actually.
i am a junior at umich and poli sci is one of the most popular majors. You should email the polisci department if you want to know more