<p>I've been fortunate enough to receive the Trustee, full tuition Scholarship at USC as well as be admitted to Georgetown's School of Foreign Service as well as some other great schools (Northwestern, UVA with Echols Scholar recognition). I really want to study international relations and eventually work in international politics so Georgetown is a great option and has been my number one choice for a while now. I will receive pretty nice financial aid this year, but my EFC will probably go up in the future making Georgetown or any of the other schools much more expensive.</p>
<p>My question is, would it be a terrible idea to pass up the USC scholarship for Georgetown, or is USC's program robust enough to give me similar opportunities in the future? </p>
<p>I've heard great things about USC's international relations program but I'm from Southern California and would really like to go to the east coast to a more "academic" feeling college. Any comments on how USC compares socially to somewhere like Georgetown?</p>
<p>OP, Georgetown’s SFS has about the best program in your area of interest of all colleges in the U.S. Did you visit? Is it a good fit as a school? Congratulations on being admitted.</p>
<p>However, my own personal view is that tuition costs of the amount we’re talking about really matter. If your family has no trouble with the costs, that’s a different story. But I would not advise going into significant debt for any undergrad school. USC is offering you about $180,000 to attend and get a very strong education. Only you and your family can decide if you have that (or near that) laying around and it won’t be missed. 
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<p>P.S. Most of the Trustee scholars we know have gone on to truly spectacular grad programs. Fullbrights. Cambridge. Top law schools. If that is your path, USC is a place that can get you there quite well. . And, you know, save $180,000. </p>
<p>But which school has the strongest reputation for International Relations? Georgetown without a question.</p>
<p>congrats on great options. Georgetown only if money is no issue.
In international relations, your terminal degree is what matters.
USC trustee with academic success and foreign language proficiency plus work experience will position you for SAIS at JHU (arguably better than Georgetown) or anywhere you want.</p>