<p>...still very early in the process, but my son is interested in attending a large university with a great political science department starting in the Fall of 2014. Based on GPA/SAT, etc., he appears to have a great shot at both the University of Wisconsin & Ohio State. Would love to hear the thoughts of folks who are "in the know" on the choice between those two.</p>
<p>I'm a newbie so if I'm asking in the wrong forum, etc., please be gentle. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of paying out-of-state rates to attend public universities, but If cost isn’t an issue, and if Wisconsin and Ohio State appeal to you more than UConn, then I think choosing between the two is more a matter of personal preference than academic quality. US News ranks the Wisconsin & Ohio State graduate political science departments equally (at #15). The NRC/Chronicle numbers, too, are very similar for the graduate political science departments at both schools ([NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Political Science - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Political Science”>NRC Rankings Overview: Political Science))</p>
<p>As far as I know, there aren’t any reliable undergraduate program rankings for this field. The graduate rankings may tell you something about faculty quality (especially with respect to their research productivity). However, the professors who bump up the graduate program rankings won’t necessarily be the ones teaching your kid. So again, choose based on personal preferences. Then make an effort to avoid big classes/sections led by inexperienced graduate students. The effort your kid puts into his program probably will matter much more than marginal quality differences between the programs.</p>
<p>tk: thanks for the reply and the link. From an economic perspective, there’s no question that UConn is the best value, but he wants to get away to a large school out of the Northeast. I don’t think he can go wrong with either, just looking for “decision-points” from those out there. Peace.</p>
<p>As between the two, Wisconsin is a stronger school overall. Most students change their intended major at least once, so it’s worth considering where the fallback options will be stronger. Political science also tends to be a very popular major, so at a big university that’s likely to mean a lot of big lecture classes, probably even in some upper-level classes.</p>
<p>For a less expensive alternative in a similar range in poli sci grad program rankings, consider Minnesota. OOS tuition is pegged at $5K above the in-state rate, making it considerably cheaper than either Wisconsin or Ohio State for an OOS student. On the high end there’s Michigan, perennially ranked among the top 5 in this field, though with more selective admission standards, especially for OOS students.</p>
<p>Personally, though, I’d consider a LAC for poli sci. Just too da*ned many poli sci majors at a research university, public or private.</p>
<p>It’s not particularly cheap or large but if you can afford it and your kid can get in - Georgetown is the place to be for Political Science majors.</p>
<p>^^^ so the lay person would think, but that’s actually false. There are a large number of school that have stronger politics departments compared to Georgetown. In fact, the other George school, George Washington university, has a better politics department than Georgetown. </p>
<p>In fact, all of the following are ranked ahead of Georgetown for politics:
Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Michigan, Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, MIT, UC-SD, Duke, UCLA, Chicago, UNC, WUStL, NYU, <em>Ohio State</em>, Rochester, <em>Wisconson-Madison</em>, Cornell, Minnesota-Twin Cities, Northwestern, UT-Austin, UC-Davis, Illinois-UC, Emory, Indiana-Bloomington, Texas A&M, Penn State, UMD, UPenn, UWashington, Michigan State, Rice, Stony Brook, Iowa, GWU, Notre Dame, UVa, Vanderbilt, FSU and finally Georgetown.</p>
<p>What is your son’s career goal? Politics? Law School? </p>
<p>Do you have a budget to keep to or will you pay full cost for whatever school he wants?</p>
<p>UConn may be the best deal but if he wants to go OOS, and cost is an issue, then he should consider schools that will give him merit scholarship money for his stats. Paying more for an OOS public can be a pain unless money is no object in your family. It can be hard to justify paying $40k-55k+ per year vs $25k per year if the only reason is to have an OOS experience.</p>
<p>UW is overall stronger than Ohio State if he changes his major.</p>
<p>u of texas austin</p>
<p>I agree with bclintonk that you might add Minnesota to the list. The campus is nicely located in the Twin Cities. Check out their honors program. Students used to be able to take special sections of some political science courses, but I’m not sure if they still can.</p>
<p>University of California at San Diego is also good for political science.</p>
<p>Also, George Washington University</p>
<p>You might also look at some British universities, such as Warwick, St Andrews, Kings College, and London School of Economics.</p>
<p>thanks for all the great suggestions!</p>
<p>@#6
Except none of them(execpt GW) are in DC the only place to be if you are serious about politics
But what is his intended career path, working on the hill, law school, teaching, campaigning?
Because for almost every other major has skills that are useful in politics that also have more marketable skills. Economics, statistics, behavioral psychology, marketing, math, computer science. That you son may want to consider</p>
<p>@#6
Except none of them(execpt GW) are in DC the only place to be if you are serious about politics
But what is his intended career path, working on the hill, law school, teaching, campaigning?
Because for almost every other major has skills that are useful in politics that also have more marketable skills. Economics, statistics, behavioral psychology, marketing, math, computer science. That you son may want to consider</p>
<p>@yoskis… Being in DC does not ‘make one more serious about politics’; not being in DC does not ‘make one less serious about politics’. </p>
<p>I don’t know why people think you have to go to school in DC to ‘be serious about politics’. That’s so completely false. You realize students can obtain summer internships in DC from other schools, right?</p>
<p>I have to agree with NYU2013. There are plenty of schools, including my undergraduate college, which have superior political science programs outside the DC area.</p>