<p>D2 got into both these schools and is having a hard time deciding which one she should back. One day she is convinced GT is the best place for her and the next day she thinks U Chicago is better. Right now she wants to major in something to do with International Studies but that may very well change based on her experiences in college. She wants to keep her options for a major open. She is very much into A Capella and debate and would like to pursue both in college. What do you think is her best option. For now let's pretend the cost is not an issue. So finances aside, where do you think she will have the most opportunity to learn and contribute to the community.</p>
<p>One thing to consider is that SFS is a bachelor’s and master’s focused professional school, whereas UChicago political science, history, etc. are research university departments. This means a few things:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Few students come to Chicago and major in the social sciences with the intent of working “inside the beltway.” Conversely, many students choose SFS precisely because of its DC location / real world emphasis, and this is reflected in the ambitions / tenor of the student body. I have heard some liken the divide to that between your average Ivy League economics major and those studying undergraduate finance at Wharton. On paper, there may be a lot of similarities, but in a certain intangible way, they can be worlds apart. </p></li>
<li><p>Courses at SFS are principally offered with the idea of affording students a cohesive curriculum. That is, American foreign policy is regularly scheduled not because the professor teaching it is going to be a titan in the field, but rather because it is a stock course for the kind of a curriculum SFS is trying to offer. In contrast, courses at UChicago largely reflect the individual interests of the professors teaching them, many of whom are academics of considerable stature. On one hand, this means you are getting people who are very passionate about and often noted authorities in their area of teaching; on the other hand, the curriculum may come across as disjoint and may not cater well to the average student’s interests. </p></li>
<li><p>Many upper division courses at UChicago are cross-listed PhD courses, meaning they can be quite laborious if not downright hard, whereas at SFS, terminal master’s students set the intellectual limit. In effect, at SFS you are getting a true undergraduate curriculum for the most part, whereas many third and fourth years at Chicago are dabbling in or are aggresively taking on serious doctoral work. </p></li>
<li><p>Doors in Washington are opened through internships, and one or two in the summers is rarely sufficient. SFS uniquely affords the opportunity to make a 10-15 hour a week or so commitment to various local bodies – often on an unpaid basis – a regular part of one’s learning and professional development process across several terms. No other school can afford this. For students who thrive in an extracurricular rich environment, this can be a very rewarding opportunity that actually heightens the academic experience. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Apart from those points, the broader cultural divide between the schools should be remembered. Georgetown offers the most “traditional college experience” amongst selective colleges, whereas the “life of the mind" really is at the polar end of that (somewhat exaggerated) spectrum. In turn, some consideration of drinking / sports / Greek culture might be relevant, insofar as it is pervasive enough at Georgetown to be a turn off for some students, whereas it is deficient enough at Chicago to leave some miserable.</p>
<p>This is Dandemom’s D - Thank you so much for your detailed reply UChicagoAlum! This gives me a lot to think about. Culturally and socially, I actually prefer U Chicago and the “life of the mind” bit is what I am most looking forward to. I am still waiting on a couple more schools so I have time to think long and hard about this and perhaps do an overnight at each before I decide. Anyone else with any input? Any U Chicago Poli sci majors out there?</p>
<p>I would encourage you to try to visit both schools and sit in on as many classes as possible.</p>
<p>Excellent post from UChicagoAlum.</p>
<p>Just to clarify/expand on what uchicagoalum stated:</p>
<p>As a political science major, I can say from experience and people I know that a lot of people are interested in DC work and many alumni end up there right after graduating. I’m considering that line of work, and I had an externship there over spring break last year. During the externship we had a get-together with alumni working in DC - people on Capitol Hill, government agencies (one alum is a higher-up at the Peace Corps), the White House, non-profits, and many other places. It really is a thriving community.</p>
<p>We are also reportedly the number 1 or 2 highest recruitment university for the CIA, so that’s an option too. Many people I know have had success with the State Department, if you are interested in that as well.</p>
<p>There’s plenty of opportunities to be involved in political work in Chicago too. Many people work on campaigns (national, state, city) or work at one of the senators’ offices downtown (like Dick Durbin).</p>
<p>In terms of political science/international studies curriculum structures - I’ve found that the flexibility of the majors allows you to tailor the curriculum to your interests. For example, I am interested in international relations, so I can take Intro to IR, Middle Eastern Politics, American Grand Strategy, and a bunch of other courses that relate to IR. On the other hand, if I was interested in more of a political focus, I could take Politics of the US Congress, The American Presidency, or New Media and Politics. The open-ended nature of the major allows you to be a political philosopher, a budding politician, a lawyer, or future diplomat. Many possibilities.</p>