<p>I am in the midst of making a tough decision between Georgetown (SFS) and Tufts. I am planning on majoring in IR, but I don't have enough experience in it/with it to really know if that's what I want to pursue. Any advice, any one facing a similar situation? Thank you! Any input is appreciated.</p>
<p>Well, my grandfather and uncle went to G-Town and I will be attending Tufts, so I have some idea. G-town is a great school, jesuit work ethic, not quite in Washington, and not on the metro, so a car would probably be beneficial. The campus is nice, but the dorms can be "very" old. The SFS, from what I've heard focuses a lot on the career aspect aside from the in-depth analysis of foreign affairs. In other words, it leans more towards a school that preps you for a career in the field more specifically than teaching you the scope of IR. However, it is an excellent program and you would have many opportunities. </p>
<p>Tufts, on the other hand, is more focused on the actual ramifications and interactions with the world, the entire school focuses on "global citizenship." Similarly located right outside of a major urban area (Boston), however, the "T" does stop ~15min away from the campus and a shuttle can bring you there on cold days, making it quite easy to get into Boston. Both schools have the top graduate level schools in IR/Foreign Affairs, as well as tons of opportunities being in two of the biggest metro areas in the U.S. Cultural diversity seems to be a bit bigger at Tufts, and this could be due to its' location in Boston, as well as the fact that it has no true religious affiliation as G-Town maintains. Tufts has a very nice campus, people all love going there it seems, and things like the Experimental College make it very well-rounded in terms of overall curriculum. </p>
<p>Honestly, both schools are excellent, so it really comes down to location, accessibility to major urban area, cold vs. moderate, hoyas vs. jumbos, etc. </p>
<p>Oh, and from what I've gotten, the food is definitely superior at Tufts, heh.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Any insights re: IR at Cornell v.Tufts? D is trying to decide bet. these & UVA, which she revisits tomorrow. any insights appreciated.</p>
<p>I think Tufts beats Cornell for IR. Plus remember that Ithaca is in the middle of nowhere while Tufts is near Boston, a huge bustling vibrant city with 20 or so other colleges. Tufts v Georgetown I'm not sure about though; that depends on what you want.</p>
<p>As much as I love Tufts, it really was my second choice to Georgetown. GU's undergrad IR program is frankly unbeatable, and carries with it a lot of prestige in the diplomatic/international arena. It's much more of a "professional" school, and doesn't have any bs core requirements that you have to weed through like at Tufts. Keep in mind however that the SFS is incredibly intense, and the curriculum so exhaustive that you really should only be attending if your dead set on IR/IPOL etc.. </p>
<p>As far as location, Georgetown's distance to the city isn't really an issue. Georgetown runs a bus to the nearest metro stop that is about the same distance as Tufts' Davis stop, and Georgetown is technically in Washington DC, whereas Tufts is in Medford/Somerville. Not to mention the Georgetown area is much more upscale as opposed to working class Somerville. DC is a superior city as far as getting internships, and the immediacy of diplomatic missions etc. Washington DC also attracts a lot more events/symposiums with keynote speakers. </p>
<p>Georgetown's students do however have a reputation for being kind of arrogant and preppy, and whether that's warranted or not I can't say, just something that maybe should be taken into account. Anywho that's just my impression I've gotten after seeing both areas over the past 6 months or so, I guess it just comes down to what your goals are in college.</p>
<p>G-Town is not in Washington, no matter how much you want it to be. Not that it makes a difference as both schools are equally close to the local urban area, but that should not be skewed. "BS" core requirements is a little inane of a statement, that's like saying "What's the point of getting a well-rounded liberal arts education when you can go to tech school and have one specific skill?" That simply makes no sense; in my opinion, you're better off having a broad education incorporating one or two classes you have little interest in, simply so you have a broader skill set for life, a majority of undergrads do something entirely different with their careers/life from what their major was, and a lot of people end of enjoy "trying something new" that they otherwise wouldn't have tried.</p>
<p>Anyway, both schools are excellent, good luck in your decision!</p>
<p>...just like to refute something alan said. </p>
<p>Somerville being a working class city is doesnt make tufts any less desireable then georgetown, if anything it makes it more so. If you are some affluent suburban kid you should live near some people who are not rich for at least 4 years, it might give you a different perspective on things.
That said Somerville has undergone extensive yuppication. Tufts alum have settled in the area, and west somerville (where Tufts is) may not be called "working class" in a few decades. </p>
<p>Georgetown SFS is still a better school though, so go there.</p>
<p>^ You make a statement "Georgetown SFS is still a better school though, so go there." without any empirical evidence, of any kind. I'm a legacy at G-Town, and chose Tufts over it, simply because Tufts cares about the overall education of its' students, not simply one single skill set. That being said, Fletcher is easily as good as G-Town's IR grad program, so I don't see how you can make such statements that G-Town is clearly better.</p>
<p>Georgetown is definetly in DC, specifically the northwest quadrant. Although it may not be in downtown DC, a relatively small area, it is technically in DC - but this is irrelevant. As far as your definition of education, I'm sure many certainly agree with you, but personally I am going to college to get myself a job. I can assure you that along with myself, many other IR majors will be skirting the math/natural science distro reqs with humanities centered courses (Physics for Humanists, Math of Social Choice etc..). Sure there are good things about maybe taking a few classes outside your comfort zone, but frankly unless you will major or take a number of classes in that concentration, most of the information will be either lost by the time you graduate (assuming you take you distro reqs your first two years of college...as everyone who correctly plans their schedule does) or so elementary it will really be of little use.</p>
<p>Again, I think this is the fundamental difference between Georgetown and Tufts. SFS at Georgetown is a professional school; and for those individuals who know exactly what they want to do with their life, and gain a strong background for IR graduate work, it is ideal. </p>
<p>And in regards to location, note that I never said Somerville was less desirable. There is however a difference between the two that must be considered before making a final decision between the schools. Personally I found Medford/Somerville to be an incredibly attactive/charming city to spend my next four years.</p>
<p>Duffman, G-town SFS is better if you want to go into IR, if not I suppose Tufts offers you more possibilities. At SFS you may be screwed if you decided you didnt like IR. </p>
<p>I say that SFS is better then Tufts mainly b/c as I understand it it has a better reputation. For example it got a huge grant recently along w/ Harvard to set up a middle east center. It has a lower admit rate, higher avg SAT, etc.</p>
<p>Gtown is definitely in DC. I have lived in DC for my entire life but I am going to Tufts for college. I love DC and I know I will Boston. That is a damned tough choice. I will say that I really like that Medford/Somerville is middle class/working class. Way more interesting than richy rich area of Gtown.</p>
<p>It also has to do with the fact that I grew up on Jupiter Island, and as much as Tufts may attract "yuppy northeast sailors", it's nothing compared to the Georgetown alumni receptions my grandfather used to drag me to on Palm Beach, those kids need to be shipped on a raft to Cote D'Ivoire. </p>
<p>So, I suppose it's also a personal thing, but I love both schools, Tufts just fit me better for multiple reasons.</p>
<p>I am from DC area, and Georgetown is DEFINITELY in DC, NO QUESTION!</p>
<p>It is NW, and in one of the hippest area. It is also served by Metro, and Georgetown is like the poshest area and the place with best night life...</p>
<p>It is THE area for college students, and GW is not faraway in Foggy Bottom...</p>
<p>Now only if I can somehow solve my Amherst, Tufts and Northwestern problem</p>
<p>Lately I was pretty sure that I was going to Amherst, but now I am giving Tufts and Northwestern another thought...</p>
<p>gosh, I hate this. Can't wait till I finally send the reply card to one of these schools and finish all this uncertainity...</p>
<p>
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Any insights re: IR at Cornell v.Tufts? D is trying to decide bet. these & UVA, which she revisits tomorrow. any insights appreciated.
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If she's serious about IR, she can't beat Tufts. However, all three schools are excellent and have fantastic reputations - she can't go wrong being an alumna of any of those!</p>
<p>The "feel" of each of those schools is radically different.<br>
Size: Tufts is, far and away, the smallest of those, with about 5,000 undergrads and not many grad students on the campus. Cornell and UVA are both much bigger, with grad schools on or near the campus.<br>
Location: Both UVa and Cornell are more remote (although C-ville is a great city); Tufts is just outside of Boston. Upstate New York is freakin cold; Boston can get cold; UVa gets cold at night - that whole mountain thing. UVa is a short (hourish) drive from DC... Cornell is near nothing. Depends on which suits her best.
Atmosphere: Tufts is the "work hard, play hard" school with minimal Greek life and a contingent of students who drink, don't drink, and sometimes drink. Cornell has a reputation (deservedly or not) for unhappy, overworked students - and the bridge! UVa has adopted the wahoo as its mascot - a fish that can drink twice its weight in a day.<br>
Athletics: Ivy v. DI v. DIII. Who does she want to be around?</p>
<p>There's really enough of a difference in the schools in terms of "fit" to make the decision that way, instead of splitting hairs over the differences in reputation.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar situation, in that I am deciding between Cornell ILR and Tufts. Everything about Tufts seems great to me (location, atmostphere, social factors). However, I sat in a class at ILR and it was fantastic; I have yet to do this at Tufts though I will be shortly. Can anyone help me compare Tufts' IR program to the ILR school at Cornell?</p>
<p>Bravery, I'm in your EXACT situation! Although I have a couple of other schools on my list as well, I have a feeling it's gonna come down to Cornell ILR and Tufts IR. I also sat in on an ILR class and went to the info session, they were great! Are you going to Tufts this weekend?</p>
<p>^ For both of you, Tufts IR is not only in a better location for the subject, but it also has a premier graduate school on campus, so getting your MA in 5 years at the oldest IR grad school in the country would be much easier to do. Cornell's a great school, but it's in Ithaca....lol</p>
<p>Thanks everybody for your insights. Thankfully, we've visited all the schools so need not debate the geographical proximities of colleges to downtowns, but agree that each has its virtues. In fact, for those of you currently mulling over the same choices, here are my d's impressions after Cornell Days and Day on the Lawn (UVa).
Cornell: very intelligent and interesting students (who did not seem unhappy or stressed, and reportedly did a lot but not insane amount of work), great programs, Washington semester, incredibly smart professors, new freshman dorms and excellent food, good music opportunities, lots of on-campus activities, lively nightlife, remote location and the day we were there, rain.</p>
<p>UVa: stunning campus and architecture, a sense of community and history, starbucks, slightly southern ambiance (they walk more slowly), excellent programs and faculty, lively sports scene, spring flowers, and the day we were there, rain. Also somewhat remote location, slightly dated dorms, weaker music opps, and inferior food.</p>
<p>She has also decided, however, after talking to lots of other kids and evaluating these two top choices, to skip the return to Tufts. I think at the end of the day, ariesathena got it right and the school reveals itself to the student. For all of you contemplating these or similar choices remember there is no bad choice, there is no perfect decision! Good luck everybody.</p>
<p>hands down: for IR go to georgetown. its the countrys center for politics. you can get great internships at DC. i lived in medford/somerville... its a small town just 10 minutes away from boston. it was a quaint old-fashioned town... there was a yummy ice cream store JP Licks. your lucky for having 2 awesome choices.</p>