Crosspost:
I’m currently a senior trying to figure out what to choose. I am from Maryland, so I’d get in-State tuition from SMCM, making it very affordable. I did, however get a fairly large scholarship from WAC, and given additional as part of the Presidential Fellows Program, and I have also applied for two more WAC-exclusive scholarships (Quill & Compass and Cincinattus Scholarships). All that being said, the current price would be about the same for both, and if I get another scholarship, WAC would be cheaper tuition wise.
I want to study political science, and considering the costs are about the same, in my opinion it comes down to academics, location, campus life, etc. (basically everything else). Which has a better Poli Sci Program? I feel like WAC has better proximity to internships and the like, especially in Annapolis, and I could go to DC for a semester (I could probably do the last part at SMCM too). That being said, both colleges are pretty rural, so it’s not like there’s unlimited opportunities at either. Also, WAC programs like Presidential Fellows and the Starr Center are appealing to me, but idk how much benefit they really have.
Another thing that is important to me is campus life. How is the party scene? Will I feel left out if I’m not involved? Are there activities on campus or nearby?
I think both schools have more similarities than differences and both seem like great options with small class sizes and involved faculty. I can’t answer your questions about Washington College but have a D who is currently very happy at St. Mary’s. She also looked at Washington College but preferred St. Mary’s for a number of reasons including its overall vibe and beautiful location on the St. Mary’s River. She also wanted a very environmentally focused school. (St. Mary’s has been ranked as one of the top green colleges by both Princeton Review and Forbes)
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-50-green-colleges
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2017/09/20/americas-top-green-colleges/#273119775ffa
I really liked both schools and though I don’t know as much about the political science departments, I don’t think you can go wrong at either one. You might be interested in the Washington Program and Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s:
http://www.smcm.edu/posc/
St. Mary’s brings in some great guest speakers and classes take trips to DC (it is actually about the same exact distance to get to DC from either school) Internships are required for most majors and the school seems really good at helping to place students.
Most students at St. Mary’s complete an independent St. Mary’s Project during their senior year which I have heard really helps to have something to show when applying to graduate school/jobs. My D especially appreciates how easy it is to combine majors and minors at St. Mary’s which has let her really customize her class choices in some unique ways. It seems like most students have at least one major and minor, and many have double or even triple majors and yet St. Mary’s has a very good graduation rate and most students are still able to graduate in 4 years.
As a public school, St. Mary’s costs much, much less than Washington College so you if money is an issue, you will really want to research what merit aid you are receiving and the terms for keeping the aid. For example, is it guaranteed for all 4 years or will it be reduced if your GPA does not stay at a certain level? My D was very flattered by the merit aid offers she received from many schools but all of them had strict requirements about maintaining GPA. I also worried that since most merit aid packages were only for 8 semesters if she needed an extra semester to graduate, it would be very costly. Just something to consider.
It sounds like your decision might come down to the differences in the student life and location. I think no matter where you end up, you will find friends with similar interests and preferences. You might want to re-visit both schools and try to get a sense for where you feel most comfortable with the people and surroundings. One of the main things that my D liked about St. Mary’s is the strong sense of community and student involvement on campus. There is no Greek life at all and most live on campus all 4 years. The students do organize occasional large parties for Halloween, Mardi Gras etc. where the whole campus is invited. My sense is that most students go to these as they are very welcoming and fun but there is not a predominant party scene on campus. There are tons of clubs and activities but also lots of beautiful areas to walk around by the river and into Historic St. Mary’s City. The campus can feel very remote but it is only a 10-15 minute drive to any shopping or restaurant you could want and the school runs shuttles on the weekend as well. I think the location is a draw for most St. Mary’s students and it is a nice perk to be able to take out a free sailboat, SUP, or kayak or just relax on the docks or beach, all within steps from your dorm.
Thanks so much. Yeah I like them both and I want to visit each again before I make a decision. Thanks for the input!