<p>I'm pretty new here. I'm a track runner and I'm being recruited by Annapolis, Columbia, and Dartmouth. There's others too, but I've decided on those three. </p>
<p>My end goal is to be working in international affairs in D.C. with either the CIA or another government agency. I'm planning going to majoring in political science. What do you guys think is my best option?</p>
<p>Ps. I do want to be in the Marines after college. As an officer. No matter where I go, I plan on doing that.</p>
<p>I don’t know exactly how it works, but I’m pretty sure if you go to the Naval Academy you won’t graduate and become a Marine. You’ll owe the Navy five years of your life. Google David Robinson.</p>
<p>The USNA would be a great way to go unless you really have your heart set on being a Marine. Top notch education, you can’t beat the price, and probably a great track to foreign service.</p>
<p>If you are firm about being commissioned as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant, then by all means the Academy is a great option.</p>
<p>Another option that is not on your list is NROTC at Northwestern, Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Georgtown, etc… If you’re open to that idea, you should fill out the NROTC application sooner rather than later. The issue with NROTC is that only 25% of the approx 1000 scholarships offered each year are in non-science/engineering majors, and you won’t know if you are awarded a scholarship until around January or maybe even February. To me, NROTC at Georgetown, especially if you can get into SFS, would be ideal.</p>
<p>Columbia or Dartmouth are fine too, just do OCS the summer after you graduate and off to your 5 year commitment you go.</p>
<p>One drawback of NROTC is that you must decide Marine option now. At Annapolis, you don’t have to submit your list of preferred service option until Spring of your 2nd class year (Junior year). An advantage of OCS is that you can go straight into Intelligence… NROTC and Annapolis you cannot.</p>
<p>USNA or Columbia in my opinion. All are good though. A lot of schools that are good in IR or poli sci have programs where you become an officer upon graduation. Or so I have heard. Best of luck!</p>
<p>totally disagree. I’m not sure why you would choose Columbia over Dartmouth. Dartmouth’s presence in DC is phenomenal and there are really established programs to get you the job you want there. Also look at Georgetown SFS. Columbia’s SIPA has very little effect on its undergrad.</p>
<p>I’d pick USNA given your interest. As an anedote, my coworker’s brother beat 300 (or 500?) applicants to get the patent lawyer position with the Fed (not sure if it’s military?). He didn’t go to a T-14 law school but he was in the Navy.</p>