<p>Definitely Georgetown seems to fit. If you are very sure about doing IR definitely apply to Georgetown SFS. If you get in, IMO the only school that should even cross your mind as going to instead on your list is Brown. And even then Gtown is tops for IR, just in terms of faculty, class offerings, prestige, and oh yeah location. The core is somewhat irksome for me, however i would say it qualifies as an intense workload, especially if you find classes/professors you enjoy.</p>
<p>As for IR and SFS related work, George Washington and Johns Hopkins BOTH have prestigious programs with amazing faculty. But in today’s world a simple bachelors degree in IR will not cut it in the professional world and most kids go onto law school or graduate studies. And graduate school is where you really have to focus on the absolute best school for you career wise. Every school and its location are different and offer unique offerings or settings. Some schools are highly political and if you dont fit into that line of thinking you will be ostracized and lonely and maybe not perform your best. Georgetown is a great school and its a great feeder school to the government and to prestigious grad schools. But its a very clubby school with a strong “DC” flavor to it. In New York, Columbia, NYU and Fordham are superb schools and each offers special programs in IR, International political economy, and area studies including Middle Eastern Studies etc. And Fordham has great connections with the UN. Its students routinely get into prestigious law schools and graduate programs.</p>
<p>One of the problems with Georgetowns Walsh School as I see it, is that its a separate application and requires a commitment from you now. What happens if you get there and get into that program and its not for you? Would you be better off going to school that allows you the freedom to take core classes or distribution classes for a year and wait to see what you really want to do? IR is a hot major right now, and its also very full. It has a jazzy name, but many kids have no idea what it entails and they often think that being a diplomat is attending wine and cheese parties for their life’s work. NOT! Its often mundane, stressful, thankless and they will send you to goshforsaken places until you have seniority and that takes YEARS. </p>
<p>IR is a great precursor to law school but if that is the case, then you can go almost anywhere…and you dont have to be in DC to get into law school. For that matter UVa is just as good.</p>
<p>I once knew a kid who was a SUPERB Russian Linguist. He started at State Department and ended up in the intel world. Where did he go to school? Not Georgetown or George Washington, but Iowa State. He married a Jewish girl who worked at Voice of America (this was 25 years ago) who was also a Russian linguist. She didnt go to Georgetown or GWU either. Not picking on those fine schools. I am just telling you that the world does not begin or end in DC. And WashU in St. Louis is another outstanding school to consider with amazing programs and professors…whose graduates all do very well in the professional world.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I am partial to the top Jesuit schools. I think any of the following leading Jesuits schools are outstanding: Boston College, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Fordham</p>
<p>Salpert: I am glad you say you did not like Tufts. I visited there as well and just could not see what was the big attraction. I was underwhelmed.</p>
<p>if you want a jewish population i wouldnt look at bc… but id definately check out bu</p>
<p>Tufts is 27% Jewish, or so said the Hillel president on my tour over the summer. You and I seem to be interested in a lot of the same places and things, though I’ll probably minor in IR (I’m a science person at heart). Beyond everywhere you’ve listed, I’ve been looking into Johns Hopkins, and that seems like it would fit your criteria too.
It also seems like Brown might be more intense studying than you sound like you’re hoping for. I was there for a few weeks over the summer, and the RAs (who were all undergrads) said that it really was a lot of work no matter what your concentration was. The Hillel there is nice, though, and the proximity to Providence (and Boston if you’re up for the trip) is always a plus. And of course, everyone there is very intellectual.</p>