<p>I am torn between the two schools and I've heard columbia has the upper hand when it comes to IR does anyone have an insight? Any current students have sth to add?</p>
<p>I don't know about Stanford, but Columbia has probably the best Political Science department in the world.</p>
<p>Columbia Political Science is better and it has SIPA (school of international public affairs) which is one of the best. CHeck out this joint program you can do:</p>
<p>"International Affairs Five-Year Program
The International Affairs Five-Year Program offers students the opportunity to earn both the B.A. and M.I.A. degrees in five years. The Junior/Senior Academic Advising Center will nominate candidates in the spring of their junior year. Information on application procedures is available in the advising center offices. Once admitted to the joint program, the student completes the senior year at Columbia College, but the bulk of the courses taken will be graduate-level ones acceptable to the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). A formal application to SIPA will be completed in the fall semester of the senior year. Admission to the joint program does not constitute admission to SIPA. To be eligible for the program, the student must have been enrolled in Columbia College for at least four semesters by the end of the junior year, completed a minimum of 93 credits, taken a basic course in economics, achieved competence in a modern foreign language, and completed all College Core requirements and major (or concentration) requirements with the exception of any 6 to 8 credits. These two courses may be taken during the senior year while completing the 24 points required by SIPA. Three points of the SIPA requirements may be taken in the junior year. Summer courses between the junior and senior year may be considered. The student must receive the B.A. with a satisfactory grade point average. Upon admission to SIPA, students must apply for housing and financial aid.
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<p>Both Columbia and Stanford are awesome, good luck choosing! Go to Days on Campus!</p>
<p>I concur: Columbia Political Science definitely trumps that of Stanford. Besides, New York City houses the United Nations Headquarters where one of my friends (a first-year undergraduate) actually interns. There are also countless embassies, law firms, and active organizations that always offer invaluable opportunities to gain experience. Furthermore, New Yorkers and Columbians are a politically active crowd with dynamic local politics that definitely challenges and enhances the knowledge one gains in the classroom. Stanford is a great school, but I would definitely say that Columbia is even greater when it comes to political science inside and outside the classroom.</p>
<p>WHAT?! He's a freshman and already interning at the UN? Does he just go there on fridays or how does he manage his internship?</p>
<p>Stanford is probably the only school on the planet I think I might've been happier at than Columbia. Definitely visit both places, if financially possible, before making a decision.</p>
<p>They are very different places, and no place is "weak" in any area worth comparing (unless you're into theater). Visit them, and decide based on fit and culture.</p>
<p>A freshman internship at the UN is pretty sweet. Great connections and learning experience.</p>
<p>Denzera I'm exactly the same. Am contemplating a gap year to reapply to Stanford and Columbia.. worth it?? Would I basically lose my place at Columbia?</p>
<p>I wouldn't wait a year and then roll the dice with a reapplication. I would decide where you'd like to go, and then tell admissions you want to DEFER for a year (or even two), meaning your re-entry is guaranteed when you come back. That way there's no pressure and you don't have to take all the time to fill out the app again - plus you don't have the chance of rejection.</p>
<p>No I got rejected by Stanford. Would Columbia allow me to defer a year with my place and also to apply to Stanford? Or would I have to risk losing the place and reapply to both?</p>
<p>It's a scummy option, but I would send a deposit to columbia, defer for a year, and then reapply to stanford anyway. you'd lose your deposit at columbia but I imagine that would be worth it to you.</p>
<p>the hitch would be whether stanford's application asks you a question of whether you currently are committed to attend any other institution (or a similar question). i definitely would not lie on that, i'd just attach an explanation like "took a year off, found myself, stanford lines up better with my priorities now, yadda yadda".</p>
<p>or, you know, you could attend Columbia. you'll love it here.</p>
<p>I thought only grad students could get UN internships...to get one otherwise probably betrays incredible connections and/or some fudging of what constitutes "the UN".</p>
<p>The Ace is Back... you're gonna take a GAP Year because you "only" got into Columbia and not Stanford? I really don't think there's a difference between those two at all...</p>
<p>Just intangibles really.. and the fact that Stanford is 6 hours closer to where I live lol. Have you been to visit Stanford? It's beeeeautiful.. so is Columbia but in a different way. I'm just not sure which I'd prefer. I'm probably going to end up taking Columbia though, I'm very happy to have got in.</p>
<p>Ace--- I think transferring from Columbia is a better option than just taking a Gap year and essentially putting yourself through hell again for no good reason. Columbia matches Stanford in almost every way on the east coast.</p>
<p>I was entertaining his idea because i'm very pro- gap year. definitely one of the best decisions i ever made.</p>