UBC or UIUC

Hi everyone. So I was admitted to UBC and UIUC, both for political science major, and couldn’t really decide where to go.

I am an international student from Taiwan, currently living in Mainland China. I hope to study political science, probably international relations, and hope to go professional (which means no law school for graduate…) . I intend to stay in the U.S. for graduate school, and before that, work in a think tank or NGO for more experience.

UIUC has a wonderful program that allows students to go to D.C. for internship for a semester, which is exactly what I am looking for since experience is quiet important if I am to go professional. Another obvious advantage is… well, it’s the US. Why not choose the US for social science if possible? But in a middle of nowhere… I’m not pretty sure if it is a suitable place for a social science major.

BTW, weather is NONE of my concern.

UBC, on the other side, is located in a metropolitan, so I suppose more opportunities can be found. Anotrer advantage is that my uncle is running a cram school in Vancouver, and if I choose UBC I may get a job there and earn some extra money. But I didn’t find anything special about its political program (or am I wrong) beside its studying abroad program.

As you can see, living conditions aren’t my focus. What would you suggest me to do?

“I intend to stay in the U.S. for graduate school, and before that, work in a think tank or NGO for more experience.”

Almost any college or university in the US has a semester in Washington, so read carefully through what UBC offers. It might not be hard at all to arrange a semester in Washington or Ottawa from UBC.

If you study in the US, you can get an extension of your student visa to work for 12 months under the OPT rules. With only an undergrad poli sci degree, it will be almost impossible for you to find work here after that time runs out unless you have a personal connection in an international NGO who can get you another kind of visa. If you have that sort of contact now (or can develop one from UBC), then a US university isn’t necessary.

In Canada it is much easier for international students to get work permission while they study and after they graduate than it is in the US. That alone is a good argument for UBC.