<p>In high school, I was not given any advice at all as the administration had favorites and I don't suck up to people at all, so I was never given any attention even when I was in the top of my classes and took several AP and IB courses. Now, I need to transfer from GSU, which was a horrible choice ,I don't know what I was thinking. I am either deciding between UGA or Tech, but is the liberal arts education at Tech any good? Would I be wasting my time and should just go to UGA? I plan to go to graduate school at an Ivy for my major in International Relations and History, but I have no idea. I am even considering Duke, but they only accept in the Fall, so I have some time before deciding to attend my junior year, if I still want to go. Please give me an honest answer. I have a close friend that goes there for aerospace and she hates it and I am unsure whether it will be worth it or which to choice as Tech is mostly an science school; although I don't mind doind research in my field of interest.</p>
<p>The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at GT is very good and is one of the fastest growing departments on campus. It’s ranked higher than UGA. In addition, International Affairs has some very nice double majors available (International Affairs and Economics as well as International Affairs and Modern Languages). </p>
<p>The rest of the Liberal Arts college… well that’s another story.</p>
<p>Duke is super duper hard to transfer into. I would stick w/UGA and Tech as choices. As for getting the opinion on a school from an aerospace engineering major, that’s a fail. Because other than it being hard, what does she hate? Also, could it being tough skew her opinion on everything else. I could see many people at top engineering schools hating the experience because of the difficulty.</p>
<p>They hate the experience but love the salary and career options.</p>
<p>Engineering really isn’t that bad. It’s just that so many students complain that all students feel like they have a right to complain, so they do.</p>
<p>That’s basically what I’m trying to say. You have to make a sacrifice when going through an engineering program. If you keep a level head and do well, you end up in an awesome position at the end. At least you guys are cheaper so less people seem to complain. Imagine the petty complaints you hear over here where its > 50K (and now 55K I think. So glad I’m not paying).</p>
<p>Annez – For a transfer student in International Affairs, I think you might be better off at Tech than at UGA. Among other things, Tech has a very well developed study abroad program and internship program, and there are probably more opportunities to network and get relevant work experience in Atlanta than in Athens. </p>
<p>Also, as a transfer student, you would not be eligible for the UGA honors program. I mention that because UGA has honors sections for all of their international affairs classes, where you get (presumably) better professors and smaller classes. You would be in the regular classes, which would tend to be larger and you might get less individual attention. Plus, the honors students get first choice at some of the better internships and studies abroad program. My point is that if you’re really a motivated student who wants to go to a top graduate school, you might feel a bit discriminated against if you’re not in the UGA honors progam.</p>
<p>At Tech, their honors program is different. They don’t have honors sections for many (if any) international affairs classes, so you wouldn’t feel disadvantaged. They basically take the position that everyone at Tech is an honors-caliber student. I’ve heard nothing but great things about their international affairs program, but don’t know anything about their history program. Obviously, you should check out their respective websites for more information, and it wouldn’t hurt to call or email some of the administrators (or even professors) and tell them you’re thinking of transferring there and ask a couple of questions. If you feel you got bad advice in high school, now’s the time to gather as much information as you can before you make a change.</p>
<p>At least if you’re in Atlanta, you could get internships and stuff with the Carter Center among other places. It’s what many people do here (plus the Washington semester, which I’m pretty sure both UGA and Tech should have). Maybe Emory should also be a consideration. The profs. are really good (as in lecturing, expertise, teaching, mentoring, looking out for students in terms of intern ops, etc. This is what I detect from taking many history/polisci classes), most classes pretty small, decent transfer admit rate, and decent financial aid even for transfers (and of course we have an excellent history and polisci program. Drawback is that International Relations is treated like a concentration). At the same time, you’ll have the HOPE advantage at UGA or Tech. And the curriculum for international studies here seems kind of tough. They put them (as opposed to regular polisci majors) through 2 intros. (110 and 120; International and Comparative are weedout), methods (ouch), and the modern language requirement, which if you don’t have enough experience from HS, will result in you taking 4 sequences in one language (and most are not easy at all. Most gladly give Cs and B grades) because you have to complete up to 200 level. This on top of the college GERs and the other major requirements would make it interesting and certainly not guarantee all A/A-. </p>
<p>However, I could see advantages to Sam Nunn vs. UGA as it more than likely is smaller than UGA’s and like jack said, you’ll get equal treatment. I can’t imagine being treated differentially if one is doing well their courses simply because they aren’t in the honors program (problem is: most people in social sciences will do “well”, but the honors program get better rewards for doing so b/c of their HS stats. That’s unfair and what I always found strange about UGA’s honors program).</p>
<p>And never mind, it’s a separate major.</p>
<p>Just to add some more information on UGA:</p>
<p>
Transfer students can apply to UGA Honors ([click</a> here for more information and scroll to the bottom](<a href=“http://www.uga.edu/honors/p_s/apply_to_honors.html]click”>http://www.uga.edu/honors/p_s/apply_to_honors.html)).</p>
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<p>Intl. Affairs offers very few Honors courses at SPIA. If you look at [next</a> semester’s course list for UGA IA](<a href=“http://texan.myweb.uga.edu/INTL11FALL.pdf]next”>http://texan.myweb.uga.edu/INTL11FALL.pdf), you’ll see that 1 of 16 courses is Honors. That’s because major classes are small anyways – an Honors major course in SPIA would probably have about the same number of students as the equivalent non-Honors class. In major-level classes, Honors status won’t affect your access to professors – if you engage during class discussions and attend office hours, you won’t have any problems getting “individual attention” from professors.</p>
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I don’t think this is true at all. If OP is motivated (and he sounds to me like he knows what he wants to do), then he should be able to succeed at UGA or GATech regardless of whether he is in either school’s Honors program.</p>
<p>If you’re planning a double major in IA and History, I’d imagine the greater # of course offerings at UGA would make it easier for you to schedule classes. Also, I understand that many social sciences classes at Tech are still very technology-oriented – this could be either a + or -, depending on your preferences. In any case, best of luck to OP with your transfer.</p>
<p>I dont’ go to either UGA or Georgia Tech, so I certainly don’t have any inside information, but I’ve studied both schools, particularly their international affairs department.</p>
<p>Regarding UGA honors, it seems from the coure guide that there are a number of honors sections in the International Affairs department, but I suppose you will need to check what is actually offered each semester.</p>
<p>[Bulletin</a> - Courses Home](<a href=“http://www.bulletin.uga.edu/CoursesHome.aspx]Bulletin”>UGA Bulletin - Courses)</p>
<p>And I suppose after the introductory classes, there’s not going to be much, if any, difference between an honors class or regular class.</p>
<p>I certainly did not mean to “dis” UGA. In many respects, I think it could be one of the best places in the country to go to college and certainly produces its share of Rhodes Scholars and the like. As jablaf points out, you will probably have more variety of classes to choose from at UGA than at Georgia Tech, particularly in history. And if you are motivated, get to know your professors, and choose the right internships, etc., you can get a great education anywhere (including, I would suppose, at GSU). Plus, I think it would be easier to double major at UGA than Georgia Tech, if that’s what you want to do. (As I understand it Georgia Tech doesn’t have actual double-majors, but you can get dual degrees. I’m not sure I really understand the distinction.)</p>
<p>Also, Georgia Tech requires all of its students, including liberal ars majors, to take a number science, math and computer courses. I don’t know whether UGA requires something similar, but I would assume that those types of courses are going to more rigorous at Georgia Tech, so if you dislike those sorts of courses, that’s something to consider. Again, I would suggest you contact the departments directly at those schools and visit them as well.</p>
<p>I don’t think UGA should be measured by Rhodes Scholars, which is absolutely awesome, but has a huge sports component. UGA has a particular advantage in the sports arena that a) a school like us w/D-3 sports/heavy emphasis on intramural sports wouldn’t (thus we would produce significant less Rhodes Scholars) and b) a tougher school like Tech would either. I suppose all sports players at Tech would have to go to the liberal arts college (or pull a Harry Potter and be two places at once) if they wanted a chance at Rhodes. </p>
<p>Simply say that UGA has lots of courses, perhaps some good professors, and a larger, more prevalent social science scene.
Also: Requirements for International affairs: Appears as if the main issue is that they have to take Calc. 1 and 2 which are brutal to many. I don’t imagine the Compsci. classes being that way (there was 1-2 of those). Actually I double checked and they are allowed to take Survey of courses for math/calc. This seems equivalent to the Emory GERs requiring everyone to take 2 (I think or may one) science courses (and one with a lab) along with at least 1 math course (of course many will choose calc. 1 or stats). So I guess that makes it a tad more rigorous depending on how tough the major requirements are themselves.</p>
<p>I’d like to reply with a general note about Georgia Tech Liberal Arts. The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts is an excellent school. While not as large as the College of Engineering, the IAC is diverse with the following majors: History, Technology & Society (HTS), Science, Technology & Communication (StaC), International Affairs (INTA), International Affairs and Modern Languages (IAML), Economics and International Affairs (EIA), Global Economics and Modern Languages (GEML), Applied Linguistics & Intercultural Studies (ALIS), Computational Media (CM), and Public Policy. There is something for everyone in this college. Furthermore, IAC graduates earn a Bachelor of Science in these areas. GT is the only school that offers this, in the world! A BS gives graduates a competitive edge in career searches, as they are equiped with a high technical knowledge. I could go on and on about IAC but please visit this website to really look into this great college. [Ivan</a> Allen College of Liberal Arts](<a href=“http://www.iac.gatech.edu%5DIvan”>http://www.iac.gatech.edu)</p>