<p>I'm a high school senior and have basically decided to apply ED1 at GW, and I've been trying to get my head around all this ambiguity about admission to SMPA. The prospectus lists it as a separate school like ESIA and SB, but I've also heard that is just part of CCAS. I've been told that no one school is more selective than the other, but I've also heard that SMPA is an exception to this rule. I visited last Friday and even the woman leading the information session wasn't very clear about any of this.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm just not being very attentive, but could someone clear all this up for me? SMPA, particularly the PoliComm major, is the primary reason I'm so set on GW. Is it a separate school, or part of CCAS--do I apply directly? Is it actually more selective than the other schools? If so, how much more, and what specifically is the school looking for?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>SMPA is not a separate school. It is part of CCAS. It is more difficult to get into the program than it is to get into CCAS because there are only a small number of spots available each year. If you have a good enough application package (stats, ECs) to be accepted to GWU, but don't get into SMPA, you are accepted into CCAS. Then you can apply again from within GWU. I'm not sure, but I think ECs that are specifically related to journalism/broadcasting can make the difference.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, that really helps. Does anyone specifically know how exclusive it is? Anyone have any numbers, or know where to get them?</p>
<p>My son was NOT one of the 30 or so acceptees to SMPA for this year's freshman class. He as an ED 1 applicant. Given that he's only wanted to live in DC since he was 10 years old, he took admission to CCAS, and is going to try to work with his advisor to reapply for next year. He was able to take one TV studio production course this year.... and hopefully he will be able to take SMPA 50 (the required freshman class for smpa, in the spring). But he's loving GW, and if SMPA doesn't happen for him, he's figuring out other ways to do it. I'm not sure what the criteria are. All his ECs were political and/or broadcasting (he produced a bi-weekly political roundtable show for his HS tv studio for 3 years). Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I don't know the numbers either, but PoliComm is known to be one of, if not the, hardest major to be accepted under at GW. I did not apply for PoliComm, but I know people who got into the Honors Program and received half-tuition scholarships who were not accepted. But like researchmaven said, even if you don't get into PoliComm as a freshman, you can reapply. So theres no harm in going for it!!!</p>