Hi! I got accepted into both Villanova and Catholic University of America recently and am having a hard time choosing between the two of them. I want to do Politics/Political Science or Spanish language with a possibility of going to law school for immigration law. Any opinions on which one is the right fit would be greatly appreciated! I am very academically driven, but would also like personal relationships in the classroom. Thank you so much for your help in advance!
Is money an issue ?
Reputation wise Nova is on a different planet. But for what you want it likely doesn’t matter.
I’d say Noca but if you love Catholic, it’s fine too.
Money is not an issue. Does Villanova have a good advising program for pre-law? If you know, of course! Thank you so much!
You can google and see their outcomes.
Really you need a great LSAT. major is not relevant for law school. I’m sure it’s fine but really not necessary.
Nova is a big time school
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Thank you so much!
Not that it matters…it doesn’t but USNews ranks Nova 49 and Catholic 136.
Catholic U has a major which appears to be specifically designed for what you’re interested in: Spanish for International Service, which included the interests which you’ve described. The major requirements include a semester abroad and an internship.The location in DC provides lots of internship possibilities for government agencies dealing with immigration issues.
Although both schools report the same 11:1 student:faculty ratio, Catholic (64%) has many more classes with fewer than 20 students than Villanova (43%) and it’s the smaller school (3000 enrollment vs 6800 at Villanova).
Both universities have law schools which offer another possible opportunity for experiences related to your interests. Villanova, for example, specifically mentions that it’s Spanish majors have the opportunity to act as translators for students at the law school (legal clinic?).
Based on student surveys, Princeton Review ranked CUA in the top 10 for students most engaged in community service. This seems related to your interests and suggests that there are students on campus among whom you might find “your people”. If you haven’t already done so, a campus visit might help you see if there is that opportunity for connecting. I have a friend whose daughter went there. She liked the neighborhood and loved her 4 years there.
CUA is a small college on the undergraduate level with small classes where you would have the opportunity for personal connections with professors that you’re seeking. It has a major (or minor) which seems designed to meet your interests. It has internships and other opportunities for community outreach related to your interests. On the surface it seems like the better fit to me.
Are there differences in cost? Law school means the expense of an additional 3 years of tuition, and immigration law is not necessarily one of the most lucrative fields. What is your ability to pay for 7 years of college tuition?
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Thank you so much! This is so helpful! There are no differences in cost for Undergrad.