Penn vs. Tufts IR

College Search & Selection
1

Hello!

As I contemplate my options for where to send my application for early decision, I find myself stuck between Penn and Tufts for International Relations (I should add that I have Penn legacy). Both schools offer terrific research opportunities as well as study abroad and similar internship opportunities (both also have semester in DC programs). Tufts certainly has a better reputation built around it’s IR major whereas as Penn has an overall better reputation of all of it’s programs but not particularly IR. At Tufts I would probably study IR whereas at Penn I might study Political Science with a concentration in IR (seems to be the more popular IR route) and maybe a double major in Middle Eastern Studies. Tufts seems to offer a more warm atmosphere on a suburban campus whereas Penn is more pre-professional in an urban setting. I would like helping trying to determine which school offers the best opportunities for IR. I want to be involved in meaningful research with faculty who are leaders in their field, internship opportunities and the best connections/opportunities post-graduation. Campus vibe, competitiveness among students and student involvement in clubs/extracurricular activities are also aspects I am taking into consideration.

Thanks in advance.

2

I would personally choose Tufts, since it’s specialized in undergrad and has one of the best IR departments in the world. If you were choosing a brand name school for grad school, however, I’d go with Penn.

3

These would make me lean toward Penn, personally.
[ul][]Legacy status helps primarily in the ED round.
[]Both are fine for undergraduate IR, and the majority of students change their majors at least once.
[li]Penn’s language offerings are much broader and deeper. In Middle Eastern studies, Tufts offers only Arabic and Hebrew. Penn offers Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, and Persian (as well as ancient Middle Eastern languages like Sumerian, Akkadian, and ancient Egyptian). [/ul][/li]Have you visited both schools?