<p>Hello! I'm a HS senior, looking to double major in Political Science and Gender/Women's/Sexuality Studies (whatever program the school I go to offers). I recently found out about this school because of the Kinsey Institute, and it has certainly piqued my interest. Aside from the Institute, though, I was wondering: how is the Gender Studies program here, same with the Poli Sci program?</p>
<p>For reference, here are other colleges I'm looking at:
Clark University
CUNY Hunter
Fordham University
UMASS Amherst
Rutgers
Denison</p>
<p>The Kinsey Institute is a fantastic resource. I don’t have much to offer in the way of first hand experience with the PoliSci and Gender Studies programs at IU, but they both enjoy very strong reputations, and are probably larger than you are likely to find elsewhere.</p>
<p>I have taken both PoliSci and Gender Studies classes at UMass, though many, many years ago! I am a Massachusetts native and most familiar with Clark and UMass. I would say Clark is not for everyone, though it has a very engaged student body and a progressive, left leaning campus culture. </p>
<p>Gender Studies is a relatively strong program at UMass, and PoliSci I would say is solid. Both programs are probably better at IU. </p>
<p>Those are some VERY different schools on your list. What are your other criteria? Are you in state at any of the publics you mention?</p>
<p>Thank you for your input! I haven’t been able to tour much, which I’m sure will lead to a more homogeneous selection of colleges, but at the moment my criteria (all of which have exceptions) are: </p>
<p>-within an hour of a large city (UMass being the only exception, but I love Amherst regardless of its size)
-no strong religious affiliation (Fordham’s isn’t too bad for me)
-in the Northeast (Denison is only a consideration because its free; IU is the main exemption)
-diverse student population (I come from a town of 11k predominantly white, cisgendered, straight residents)
-work-study program
-ability for a double major
-internship opportunities</p>
<p>There are others, but those are the main ones. It’s a rather motley crew, but in my research, these just happen to have been the ones that I felt the most.
Unfortunately, no, I’m not in state in any of these; I live in Connecticut, and the only public state school here I’m fond of (Eastern) is my safety.</p>
<p>How much of a priority is affordability for you? I think UMass is just over $30k for New England residents, which means IU would be around an additional $10k/yr for you. It’s almost too bad that Eastern offers a Gender Studies major, otherwise you would qualify for in state tuition at UMass!</p>
<p>The Amherst/Northampton area does offer a lot for its limited size and the Five College Consortium is a valuable resource. The campus culture on the whole is very tolerant and lbgtq friendly. It could be more racially diverse, but as state flagships go it it has more economic diversity than most. </p>
<p>My daughter and I were very positively impressed with IU on our visit. She is also intending to declare a double major in the College of Arts and Sciences, in Sociology and Spanish and/or Portuguese. Major requirements appear to be slightly less rigorous at IU than at other schools to which she is applying, and IU is also more generous with AP credits, making a double major here and still graduating in four years very feasible. She has already applied and has been accepted. If it’s where she ends up enrolling, she and I both think she would be very happy there. </p>
<p>The student body is not the most diverse at IU. It has a large and active Greek system, and has something of a reputation as a party is school (though UMass is not exactly Brigham Young U in this regard). My own take though is that at a huge school like IU there is always a party if that is what you are looking for, and that the IU and Bloomington have much to offer socially and culturally. The presence of the large and prestigious Jacobs School of Music at IU means not only that there is a very vibrant music scene on campus and in town, but also brings a diversity of sensibility and interests to the student body. IU and Bloomington as a whole are widely regarded as lbgtq friendly.</p>