<p>McGill University
New York University
Boston University
George Washington University
UC - San Diego
Tufts University</p>
<p>I am a male who lives in New York. I am uncertain of my intended major, but will most likely go into something Political Science. I have always wanted to go to McGill, for several reasons. It is in a great city which always has tons to do. The legal drinking age is 18. Montreal has beautiful women, and McGill is 60% female. My brother had a great experience at McGill, and from my own experience I really get the sense that there is probably no college in the world with a more interesting (and international) and friendly student body than McGill. And finally, McGill has a world renowned academic reputation that may place it as the best school in Canada and one of the best schools in the world.</p>
<p>However, the other schools I mentioned also appeal to me for different reasons. But I see a downside in each of these schools for me. For instance, NYU is a great school in a great city, but I have lived in NY all my life and might be looking for a change of scenery (I may even live in NY later in my life). Also, unlike McGill, NYU really has no campus whatsoever; the campus is basically New York.</p>
<p>UC-San Diego is very appealing to me. One could argue that the weather alone in comparison with the weather at McGill is enough reason to go there. But I don't know if I'm ready to be 3,000 miles away from my family, and with almost all California kids.</p>
<p>Tufts, GW, and BU are also nice schools, but I'm just not sure I would go to them over McGill.</p>
<p>For the record, even though I'm writing this as if I have been accepted to all these schools, I have actually been accepted only one one (McGill, coincidentiall).</p>
<p>So, should I just be content with McGill and be happy? Can anyone try to persuade me to attend one of the other schools (assuming I get into them)?</p>
<p>Im not sure where tufts would fall, althoguh i have heard excellent things about the school.<br>
Check US News out, I believe UCSD is the top ranked out of those schools, not including McGill which is Canadian. You must be a good student to get into a UC, and a top tier UC (UCSD) at that out of state. Very difficult to do. You cant go wrong with any of these schools (UCSD, McGill, NYU, GW, BU, Tufts), all good academically speaking. Your a lucky guy to be able to be choosing out of them (implying you gained admittance to all of them).</p>
<p>Thanks chris, but like I said, the only school I have heard back from so far is McGill! I THINK I'll get into BU and GW, but I have no idea about UC-SD, NYU, and Tufts. I know that they are all very difficult schools to make.</p>
<p>I'd say all 6 of those schools are roughly equal academically speaking. UCSD and McGill are probably the best and GW and BU are probably the weakest, but all 6 are what I would describe as top 50 but not top 25 universities. If one were faced with those schools, I would say decide based on fit and academic interests. For Example, McGill and UCSD are probably the best in Engineering, NYU (Stern) is obviously best in Business, Tufts is probably the best at the Liberal Arts and International Relations and QW is a solid university for fields such as IR.</p>
<p>Just to emphasize Alexandre's point about the similarity of the schools, the rankings change quite a bit if you look at individual departments. For econ, I'd say NYU, then UCSD and BU, then a bit lower Tufts and McGill, and GW last. You should worry about the feel of the school and the environment and the range of programs more.</p>
<p>Definitely go for McGill. These pple are American, so they don't really know McGill. But that's definitely the best. In UK, anyone would rank McGill higher than all others!!!</p>
<p>WOW i resent that I am NOT american I am FRENCH and Yes mcgill is great BUT USDC is better i wouldnt expect any european to know, and Tufts is also very good... to be honest i take back what i said the topo 3 are:</p>
<p>Bobbobbob, you stated your political science ranking as this:
"academically (for political science):
George Washington
NYU
Tufts
McGill
UCSD
Boston"</p>
<p>This list for political science is completely innacurate. Where did you come up with this ranking? The ranking for political science is:</p>
<ol>
<li>UCSD (#7 in the US)</li>
<li>NYU (#18 in the US)
Your number one, george washington, is not even ranked in the US News top 25 for political science. BU and Tufts are also not ranked in the US News top 25 either. How could you put some of these in front of UCSD and NYU in political science? None of these schools, other than McGill since its not ranked in US News do to being a Canadian school, is in the same ballpark as UCSD and NYU in terms of political science.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>go_went-gone: I have visited McGill on numerous occasions and am applying to school there for graduate studies, i do know the school. In my oppinion it is the best school in Canada, and likely more well known throughout England and parts of Europe. However, the poster is not European, and likely not moving to Europe, and likely he needs to choose a school not in regards to how Europeans view institutions. I would argue McGill is likely second as an institution compared to these universities. The difference between UCSD, McGill, and NYU is somewhat minimal, as all three are great universities. In most prominant international rankings McGill and UCSD fair considerably better than the other schools on this list. Just because someone is american does not meen they do not really know McGill. I would not state just because your not English, not Canadian, you wouldnt know McGill. I agree with your first two in your European ranking.</p>
<p>For political science, Id say go to UCSD or McGill. In the end, what do you intend to do with the major? I am currently a grad student in poli sci and soon-to-be law student so I am interested in your choice. UCSD has great comparative politics specialities that is hard to beat if that is what you are interested in. They are also more rational choice and quantitatively oriented, def a department on the rise.</p>
<p>the NCR rankings have GW, Tufts then NYU...but i did not realize how good UCSD is in poli sci, that i admit.
so:
GW, NYU, UCSD, Tufts, McGill, BU</p>