<p>So I've been accepted to both of these schools. I want to be an international relations major, and am having a real terrible time choosing between the two. Can anyone help me out here?</p>
<p>Elliot has more respect in the field, but I don't know how much it really "matters."</p>
<p>What are you looking for in a school?</p>
<p>Well, it seems like everytime I try and think things out, I find pros and cons for both schools which leaves me back at square one. Whether it be academics, location, social scene, location, it seems back and forth. I could really do either. I'm sort of looking for a fresh take on things...I can go into more details if it would help explain.</p>
<p>I know Elliott is an actual undergraduate college as opposed to USC's SIR which is just a school within the College of Letters/Arts/Sci...but, USC seems like a better overall school...but I guess that doesn't matter if I want to be an IR major? That's what I mean by the whole back and forth back to square one dilemna</p>
<p>What about money? Did either one offer a better aid package?</p>
<p>I, for one, could not go to school on the East Coast. Even though I plan on living there for work after grad school (in DC, no less!), I think that undergrad is best served sunny.</p>
<p>As someone who somewhat follows these schools, I'd be inclined to recommend GW if you're really really really wonkish. DC's just too fun to pass up. If you're less wonkish, then USC might be a good experience. Where are you from?</p>
<p>RecentlyAccepted,</p>
<p>Unless you're a real wonk, USC might be a good way to "hedge your bets," so to speak. You may want to change majors down the road, and USC offers you more options...</p>
<p>Well money is a consideration, but both schools are relatively the same (as in expensive to the nth degree)...i'm getting no financial aide from either school, so it seems like either loans/parentsdigin or a pending Navy ROTC scholarship...</p>
<p>So for now, my question is based purely on the merits of the schools.</p>
<p>I'm from Memphis, TN by the way</p>
<p>By the by, what's a wonk?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback</p>
<p>A wonk is "a person who takes an excessive interest in minor details of political policy." Basically, it refers to those of us who live politics. If you care about how policy is made, who's making it, when it's being made, and specific details about its making, then you're a wonk.</p>
<p>Most people don't really become wonkish until later, but I've met some who started young. </p>
<p>I'd be inclined to say that USC might offer you more options just because you aren't confined to one school. But I don't know how easy it is to transfer out of Elliot to GWU's L&S...</p>
<p>Aahh i see...I don't think I'm terribly wonkish, not at this stage in life at least...which I guess is why I like the idea of but am not obssessed with the idea of studying in D.C....i know people say "location location location," but I mean LA has opportunities, albeit different, too.</p>
<p>Also, while studying at Elliott may carry some weight in of itself, wouldn't being a member of the Trojan Family carry equal if not greater weight? That's also something I'm weighing...it seems to me like USC is more community centered and spirit strong...GW seems less cohesive in that way</p>
<p>I tend to not really think much of the whole "Trojan Family" or whatever alumni network-think. Yeah, it's nice in theory-- but in reality, you can do that anywhere. I meet tons of UCLA alums in IR-related fields who have helped me out despite the so-called "weak UCLA alumni network." It's all really how much you are willing to tap into it.</p>
<p>I think there is actually opportunity for IR stuff on the West Coast, but it tends to be far less policy-related, and more business related.</p>