Any College? I suggest Nebraska Westleyan.

Oops...Didn't see the first post. Have you toured all of the colleges?

Yeah.. except for GW. But they're on the list just because I've heard their program for international relations is like... the best.

Those are the ones I've applied to.

I won't know which all have accepted me till about April 1st.. but I know for sure that all the Texas schools have.

Thucydides, you're in high school?! It all depends on what your major will be. International relations?

hmm...I would say the University of Texas, jsut because they are the longhorns :P

i didnt like the UT campus very much. It really depends on your major, where you live, and what you can afford to shell out for college

I'm thinking of a Game development major but, I'm only 15-16 so no worries for awhile.

GW probably best for international shit just in terms of location.

USC is a great school but I hate their culture/outlook.

It's really all about getting into Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for graduate school.

Don't get in debt without a plan for paying it off. (However, don't rule out a school on that basis until you see their financial aid offer.)

Other than that, decide on the basis of what you'll be able to learn their, rather than prestige or how nice the campus is.

My advice is 16 years out of date, but there it is.

College choice is insignificant unless it is a top 20 school. Neither are your grades (shhh its a secret).

As a guy who has hired, promoted, and fired people, the best thing to note for future success is to always work harder than each of your peers, and to be sure to understand the big picture and not just the function.

My advice is to choose the cheapest school, work during school so you can have a base for a resume and not be a schmuck with a degree and nothing to jump off from.

Also, don't spell ‘there’ as ‘their’ on your homework, or they'll flunk you out. (^_^)

And live with your folks, save money, and start your life debt free!!!

GW is not as great as the tuition costs would make you think. The people I know who go to school in DC aren't very impressed with GW.
Nobody cares where you go to college, they only care what you've done. After your first job, nobody will ever look at where you went to college (Ivy league might be the exception), and even then nobody will care much.
Look at what school you liked most when you visited, compare it to tuition. If Texas State looked miserable to you, don't go just to save money. Starting off your post-college life debt free is nice, but spending four years miserable to get there is not worth it.
To sum it all up: Just go to the school that "felt right" when you visited, because as cliche as it sounds, it's accurate.

i would suggest that you take a college that has a lot of general things going for it since one of the ideas of college is to expose you to a collection of possibilities. You have time to decide on what to be and what to do, enjoy the exploration of the possibilities.
For myself, I started out as a math major and then did dual majors in History and Political Science and went into Grad school in International Relations.
College is ultimately about learning that you can learn.

im not even close to collage yet (im almost in high school), but id say also think about location, where do u want to be

This reply is not so much for Thucydides, who sounds like he has his mind made up and knows what he wants to do, but for all the other high school students looking at college in the next few years: have you asked yourself question #1 first?

"Do I need to go to college?"

Most people don't; lots of people get worthless degrees . I think going to college was a mistake for me, personally. My degree (a B.A. in history from a semi-prestigious state school) did not help me get a job (I have my own business installing computer network equipment, and before that worked a few decent-paying jobs that did not require a college degree) or improve my life in any other meaningful way. Yes, I learned a lot of interesting things about dead people for $4000 a year, but I've learned *more* interesting things about dead people on my own - for free - in the five years since I graduated.

Some occupations (law, medicine, engineering, teaching, etc.) require a degree; if that's what you want to do, college is for you. But for many others (like just about any kind of sales), a degree is just a piece of paper you use to decorate your office. And if it's money you're after, people who start their own businesses (and have the skills and determination to do well at it) will always make more than college-educatees who have cubicle jobs and are mostly working to make their bosses rich (and start after graduation tens of thousands of dollars in the hole for the privilege).

College is overrated for most (but not all) people. I went mostly because my parents expected it. Anyone looking at college should ask themselves first what they want to do with their life, and then whether or not a college degree (which costs not just money but years of your life you'll never get back) is going to help you get there. And if you're not sure what you want to do with your life at 17 or 18 when you graduate from high school, I suggest waiting a year and getting a job - *any* job - and try to figure it out first. It's a lot cheaper that way.

My two cents...

I strongly disagree with most of the above sentiments. Skimping on expense now is going to cost you later. You are going to want a better school for your undergrad because if you are in social sciences you are going to want to do a little past undergrad. Employers who went to a good school are going to look down on those that didn't, because they (correctly) believe that the state school is in an inferior education.

There are other things that come with better schools, practically its better networking. But I think the biggest bonus to going to one of the better schools in the country is that you are surrounded by smart people. They will instill good work habits on you. I want my social group to be intelligent and thats also what you are choosing. Pick a campus that is close knit and has a community, large sprawled out ones are bad. And for the love of god don't live at home, a bunch of my friends did and they are trapped in high school while the world moves on.

I can't give you any school specific advice because I'm not from the States, but I'd choose whichever one you think is the best, the one you would be most proud of attending.

As far as Tolstoy's question is concerned, its a no brainer. College degrees are now what high school diplomas were a couple decades ago.

I'm in university right now and I'd say you shouldn't pick just based on price and the reputed academic quality. This is where you will live, learn, and love for four-ish years, so take more than the bare academic bones into account. If the university wasn't there, would you ever even consider living in the city/town? Pick somewhere you think is a good size, with a good attitude and feel, and where you think you will flourish emotionally and intellectually.

I chose McGill mostly based on the fact that it was located in Montreal. It's academic reputation was just the cherry on top, that I could definitely find elsewhere in the country. I've been doing fantastically, and I definitely attribute it to the great student and urban atmosphere in Montreal. I have friends from Toronto who went to various small city universities in the province and I think they got bored out of their minds with the non-urban setting and the non-urban people, they just couldn't connect. As a result, all of them are leaving and transferring to University of Toronto or straight up dropping out. Nobody at McGill here would even consider that.

So I would pick a college based on where you'd like to live, because if you're bored, depressed, or lonely, wherever you go it doesn't matter what sort of price or academic reputation the place has, you'll be miserable and your marks will be miserable. I would absolutely recommend living in residence. It's a fantastic experience, and those that live off campus don't have the same opportunity to make friends.

I'm reading an interesting book right now called 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell. He talks about that there is a law of diminishing returns in both increased IQ and increased $ for college. The gap between, for example, 100 IQ and 130 IQ is much more significant in terms of 'success' in life than the gap between 130 and 160.

Same with college. There is a 'good enough' college. If Harvard is 3x more expensive than college x, that doesn't make it 3 times better.

Interesting, but very light reading...

Despite what Tolstor may claim, an education is important in most fields of business unless you want to reach a plateau and never breakthrough it. An MBA is more than just a piece of paper if you want to break out of "wroker" status and into "managment". An education can be the difference between getting the job you actually want or settling for a lesser one because someone with the education got it instead. There are times when I wish I had gone for an MBA as my bachelor's has gottne me to the head of IT (IT Director), but not a position as VP or CIO. And some companies won't even consider you for en entry level position on a managerial path (even in IT) if you don't at least have a bachelors.

Not pursuing an education is the WORST thing you can do as it limits your career path significantly. You can have a bachelors in basketweaving and get a better job in some companies that someone with 25+ years of experience in the field the employer is looking for.

oops, Tolstoy. And having a degree doesn't make one a better typist. :)

Well well well.

I still don't know what to do but I think I'm facing a different dilemma....

University of Texas waitlisted me... so many kids applied this year that they couldn't accept as many as they would accept so I was put on a waitlist of 250 kids who get to get in if something happens to another 250.

Now... I can wait until May 15th and see if I get in, or I can matriculate (or whatever the word is) at A&M.

Or I can go to UTSA (San Antonio), a second-rate sister school and be guaranteed to transfer one year later to UT Austin.

And I still haven't found out if the out-of-state schools will ultimately reject me.

Ugh this is so agonizing.

If Notre Dame's deadline hasn't pass you should try applying and saying your major is theology. They'll like that better than, say, business. You can always switch majors once you're in. I wish I had tried it...

Thucydides - I almost went to GWU but opted for the state-school option becasue they paid ME instead of me paying them ;P i'm also an IR grad and work in the field...

GWU - its not as good a school as the reputation or the tuition (some $38-40k+board) might suggest... its an elite school for kids of very elite people... so the biggest benefit is that (if you do things right) you will network your a** off and make some mighty friends in some very high places... if the $ is not a factor then go to GW. you are in the heart of DC where the action is and you will see thigns around you that will give you a clearer idea of what you want to do...

look - at the end of the day - College is about the experiences you gain. its less about specific classes as it is about finding those specific professors or those books that really open your yes... and more importantly - about the internships, relationships, and networking you accomplish.... the sad fact is that almost 70-80% of kids in college are there for the sex and the beer... and the other 20-30% use the majority's tuition fees in the library and research labs and end up going to on to professional trades...

and the one thing that is most important to remember is that in College - there are no more gaurd rails... no more training wheels... if you start doing bad in class or skipping school, your teacher wont tell the counselor to call you in... the principal will not call your parents and say you are being truent... in fact, since you'll be 18, you dont even have to send your grades home... so if you start F***ing up - no one will know but you for at least 2-3 semesters...

anotherwords - you have to make sure YOU have the strength of character to remain true to yourself and your goals... no one else will keep you honest... certainly not your friends ;)

but - I also think that every college kid should spend the first year or two in the dorms... the experience is just way too important... the friendships and skills you develop can not be found elsewhere in life... not that you wont have other opportunities later in life to make friends - but the specific factors that bring hundreds of kids your own age into a single building and single quad for the entire year is just unparallelled. (no I cant spell)

as for the IR/poli sci thing... do yourself a favor and get an econ minor if you can - that will be huge. IR/poli sci is very theoretical, so having a companion degree that is more quantitative will be a distinguishing asset once you are out... I would also recommend that you plan ahead starting from now for internships... what are types of places you want to work at? multi-national businesses? State dept? USAID? NGOs? lots of options - but check them out and get practical hands-on experience so that as you study the theory in your classes you have a context and point of reference so that you can retain the knowledge and become more analytical about what you are learning in your seminars and classes.

Also - take the time to look at the professors' profiles at whichever school you end up attending, and try to pick courses with those whose expertise is in the areas you like the most - ie the Americas? Middle East? Asia? Political Economics? Enviornmental Relations? there are so many sub-fields even within IR that your head is going to spin... b/c a the end of the day, higher Ed is about specialization - or at least thats where the money will be in the soft-sciences...

oh - and another little hint to all you college-bound kids ;P make friends with your professors... go to their visiting hours... yes explicitly brown nose a bit - raise your hand and answer in class - even in the huge 100 level lectures... the more you do that within the first 3-4 weeks, the more you can coast as you get deeper into the semester and the more likely you are to get that extention on the term paper you didnt write because you got drunk at the beach on the weekend... =P

@Babak

As a math instructor, I would like to repeat this:

>make friends with your professors... go to their visiting hours... yes explicitly brown nose a bit - raise your hand and answer in class - even in the huge 100 level lectures

Yes, yes, yes! I hope that ‘brown nose’ was humorous exaggeration, but make sure that your instructors know who you are BEFORE you need anything from them. Go to their office hour the first or second week and make up a question if you don't have anything, so that you can see how they are one-on-one. If they don't mind (this varies with the instructor), do your homework there. Ask the dumb question in class that everybody else wants to know but is too afraid to ask.

Whether your instructor knows you as more than just a name on a sheet of paper will make the difference (if you're doing well) between a meaningful letter of recommendation and a blasé reiteration of your grade, or (if you're doing poorly) between wanting to help you and not really caring if you fail.

Anywhere with an Air Force ROTC program (assuming you live in America). That's how I got my commission back in the day. Way easier than the Air Force Academy or OCS.

Figures. AFROTC. Diplomat was in the Air(un)force. I'll take my Marine Corps training and GI Bill paid for education, knowing I can kick some wimpy AFROTC arse any day of the week.

MARINE CORPS!
Shock troops, devil dogs, blood-sucking war machines!
We are lean! We are mean. We're the seniors fighting machine!
We are rough. We are tough. Break you bones and bite the dust ARRUGH!

lol.. the last two comments aside..

thanks a lot babak your comment is very meaningful

and yeah... i don't think i'd be going to GWU the economy the way it is anyway...

with regard to the IR field specifically - what do you do in the field? you said you worked in the field.

myself i am interested in state dept, USAID like you mentioned, or the UN or another aid organization. i am specifically interested in working in africa... and have looked at maybe the peace corps after college... but haven't looked probably nearly as much as i should have. but that's what i want to do.. something to do with africa. which means i don't know what, exactly, as far as what i should specifically do in college, but i figured i'd get it figured out after a bit, perhaps i was wrong.

also... do i absolutely HAVE to minor in economics? lol... i'm not particularly interested in it... nor am i particularly good at the quantitative side.. :( but if it must be done it must be done

Thu -

until recently I worked at a non-profit advocacy organization that focused on US-Iran relations... and I'm currently interviewing for jobs in the same field but in the private sector (consulting firms).

no - you dont HAVE to do econ - but if you plan on getting higher up in policy positions - UN, think tanks, management levels in Gvnt, you will need a grad degree, and the better grad schools really look positively on having an econ background... but if you want to work on Africa, where health issues are almost more dire than economic ones, you could consider taking some solid life science classes - it doesn't even have to be an official minor, you can work that out with your advisers when you get to school, but having a secondary set of skills and knowledge base will give you a HUGE leg up when applying to grad school.

peace corps is great - you have to apply for it around your junior/senior year and it is very competative - so dont 'depend' on it as you might not get in.

Another thing is a language minor - that is also going to be helpful, specially French if you want to do Africa... other areas of interest may be agriculture courses (ag econ) or environment related courses...

like i said - work some of that out with your college adviser...


but definately try to identify 3-4 bigger non-profits and 2-3 government agencies that you find interesting and start researching them - even now... so you can plan ahead to apply for internships for your summers. or even a whole semester.

another thing i would highly recommend is to plan on doing a semester abroad - this would go particularly well if you decide on a language minor


its good that you have a rough idea of what you like and what you'd like to do - but do keep your eyes and mind open to new areas... you may find that SE Asia is even more appealing, or that South America is more fulfilling... to be honest, doing Africa work is going to be quite depressing :-p