I’ve been accepted to the University of Rochester and am still waiting on AU… I intend to major in Political Science but have been thinking lately I want to concentrate on more of the communications side of politics. If I attend Rochester, I plan to major in poli sci and minor in journalism since there is no comms major/minor. I absolutely fell in love with Rochester when I toured and have been back many times since (live about 30min away). I didn’t really like AU’s campus when I toured, a little too urban for my taste even with the campus feel (as opposed to other DC schools). However, since AU has a specific PR & Strategic Comms major (poli comms concentration) I am trying to decide whether the opportunities from this program (being in the heart of DC) outweigh the benefits of attending Rochester. I absolutely love Rochester’s unique open curriculum and it’s overall intellectual vibe. It’s been my #1 since the beginning of my search, but recently I’ve begun to think more about career advancement and the opportunities AU could provide for that, especially with poli sci. Obviously, this is all contingent on whether I actually get in to AU next week. Regardless, any insight anyone could give into the pros and cons of both would be greatly appreciated!!
In addition to Rochester, I have also been accepted to Dickinson College, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, SUNY Geneseo, Allegheny College, and Washington College. Including AU, I’m still waiting to hear from University of Richmond, Lafayette College, and the College of William & Mary.
Note that kids change majors all the time.
If you calculate (tuition, fees, room board)-(scholarships, grants) what is the net cost at each?
@PurpleTitan Trust me, I wrote my personal essay about how I’ve been obsessed with politics since I was literally in Kindergarten. The concentration may change, but will definitely be associated with political science. My father is himself a college professor (albeit not at a school I applied to) so I’ve been counseled directly from someone who knows the logistics of the process. @MYOS1634 I don’t know AU as I have not received a decision yet but net cost at Rochester is $27,084. Money is not a huge factor though.
Is that net cost affordable?
American is likely to be much more expensive.
Poli sci + journalism is a great combination. Now, check what sort of study away /Washington semester/ study abroad they offer.
In addition, your internships will be very important but likely unpaid at first: does URochester offer stipends? What’s the career center like for Poli sci majors?
You want as much information about that as possible.
My husband wanted to be an aerospace engineer and an astronaut since the time he was around three years old. I mean, many kids daydream about being astronauts, but he was serious about it - he went to NASA camps, did a NASA summer program in high school, had a NASA-funded scholarship in college, started off as a major in aerospace engineering and did an internship at NASA the summer after his freshman year. Then sometime in his junior year he volunteered at an elementary school, fell in love with teaching and changed his major to math. Then later he decided he didn’t want to do that and ended up graduating in statistics.
My point is - there are lots of people who want to do something since the time they are very young because what they know about that thing is mostly from what they’ve seen or heard second- or third-hand. It’s not uncommon for young folk to change their major or focus when they actually experience the things they’ve been dreaming about. That’s not to say that you absolutely will, only to say that you should keep an open mind and definitely don’t think that wanting something from the time you were too young to understand careers fully means that you will never change your mind as an adult.
With that said, you should definitely choose your college on the basis of more than just major. Most of your classes actually won’t be in your major and the rest of the college environment also has a huge influence on you and your career. It sounds like you really love Rochester and it’s affordable for your family, so you should go there.
There are lots of different ways to develop connections and opportunities in political communications aside from simply being proximate to them in DC.
On the note of the post above, it sounds like you’d be a lot happier at UR, which is a great school that’s pretty well rounded and solid in most subjects. If you stay as motivated as you are now for political science/journalism, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding opportunities there. Being closer to DC makes it easier, but not being close to DC doesn’t eliminate the possibility or anything. If you were 50/50, it’s a good tiebreaker, but here it seems a bit more leaning UR, so I say go there, be happy, and work hard 
Hi! I also got accepted into the University of Rochester, and I saw that you have a net cost $27,000. It that all from financial need based aid or did you receive from merit aid as well?
@senior14548 : has the AU financial aid package arrived yet?
Note that you should also plan an overnight at Dickinson. Ask to attend a freshman polisci class as well as the first ‘culture’ class in a Foreign language you speak and an Intro class for journalism + visit study abroad center, library, and gym, hang out at cafeteria, read student paper, walk about town.
My S has 2 close friends at AU. One who loves it & one who doesn’t. Both agree that the biggest perk about AU is its location & access to political events. There are almost weekly black tie type events at embassies that AU students can attend. You are hobnobbing with the political set & making great connections. For the one who doesn’t love it (he doesn’t hate it but is not 100% happy) – he finds it academically & intellectually below what he’d like. This is where I’d focus my concern if I were you because if you are in at Rochester & competitive for W&M & UR, then you are likely way above average for AU. While this may not bother you, it’s something to consider.
Update: I was rejected by both UR and W&M but accepted to AU. I’ve narrowed my decision to Rochester, AU, and Dickinson. Costs are AU: $28,667/yr Dickinson: $24,510/yr Rochester $27,084/yr. Rochester is the only one to offer merit aid (10k/yr scholarship). Any more help making a final decision would be greatly appreciated.
Can you plan an overnight at all three?
Unfortunately only AU offers overnight visits.
If you can handle the weather…the choice is Rochester. A very fine institution.
@senior14548 Are you going to URoch this Friday for Admitted Students Day?
@taverngirl I am, yes!
@senior14548 We will be there too. Weren’t you at Allegheny’s admitted students day as well? I guess we are following you around, lol. My daughter and you applied to many of the same schools I think Roch is probably in top place for her right now, but we are still awaiting merit/financial info.
UR sounds like the best fit, make sure you do your research on AU/environmental issues there