James Madison: Poli Sci/Global Studies for IB student?
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Anonymous
| Tell me about James Madison and if good for Poli Sci/Global Studies major and anything else about the school. My DS didn't research it because he doesn't want to go to school in DMV. So so grades but goes to IB school. We're DC and using DCTAG. |
Anonymous
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Are you asking about JMU? It’s not in the DMV, for starters. It’s a 2nd tier VA state school that takes a lot of bright, social kids who take the APs and get decent SATs but miss the cut for UVA/WM/VT STEM.
It also a big step down from UVA and WM in IR/ politics/ government/ history, which is the multi-disciplinary field you are looking at. Nothing wrong with going to JMU for IR, but I’m not sure you would seek it out as particularly strong in that field either. If he wants state U not in the DMV, using DC TAG, ED WM, which has a program often ranked in the top 10 nationally and which gives ED applicants (and men) and edge. If he wants larger, football etc, Ohio State is surprisingly well regarded. Pitt is also good. |
Anonymous
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OP, please disregard the above poster, who clearly has no actual experience with JMU. I have two kids who have both graduated from JMU - one with a double International Affairs/Russian degree, the other double majoring in Poli Sci/Intelligence Analysis.
Both absolutely loved their time at JMU and certainly didn't look at the school as some sort of "consolation prize." One had VT as their first choice but didn't get in (was planning on a National Security/Foreign Affairs major there) - but JMU was a high second choice. Never looked back. One went on to grad school and earned a MAERES from Georgetown SFS in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies. Now employed within the IC as an analyst. The other went directly into the workforce (private sector) and is now having their masters *paid for* by work - also at Georgetown SFS in Security Studies. To claim that JMU is in any way a "big step down" from UVA or W&M is just nonsense. I doubt my kids would have had the experiences they've had if they had attended one of those schools. I have a younger child graduating next year who is very interested in either VT's Nat'l Security/Foreign Affairs major (like older sibling was), or one of the majors at JMU listed above. Good luck to your son! |
Anonymous
| It is a “big step down” selectivity-wise and rankings-wise. |
Anonymous
And if there's one thing a lemming knows, it's a "big step down." |
Anonymous
+1 People who only look at rankings vs everything else they should consider are bores. |
Anonymous
| Is that Pp delusional |
Anonymous
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https://www.collegeraptor.com/Majors/Details/45.0901/Level/Bachelors-degree/State/All/International-Relations-and-Affairs/
This is a pretty accurate ranking of undergrad IR programs my DD used when she applied for last year. There are 4-5 rankings. This one does a nice job in terms of consistency. In the top 20, DC has Georgetown, American and GW. VA has UVA, WM, VMI and VT. GMU also outranks JMU. |
Anonymous
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OP, this “big step down” poli sci grad had a job offer from the White House before graduation.
Clearly, JMU failed me. |
Anonymous
Trump Admin 
Seriously though, IR and generic politics degrees are not the same things. A quality IR program will be a standalone department, not an also ran track in poly sci. And will require foreign language fluency, economics, history, government — plus a couple of politics classes. Kids will be encouraged to consider fluency in a critical language, studying abroad in a country with that language and specializing their coursework in that area. They are looking for CIA, NSA, etc, State Dept, NGO jobs. IDK about JMU politics. But UVA and WM are clearly stronger in IR. So first, OP’s kid should think about what their goal is. |
Anonymous
OP. Kid thinks he wants to go into foreign service. Paper pusher in a consulate. Kid really doesn’t know what he wants. Just wants a “typical college experience” with football and other activities he missed by going small HS. And again, not the strongest student. Could change major in freshman year. |
Anonymous
That’s more IR than politics. Typical big school football games and frats experience? DC TAG means state school? Not a top student, but I’m assuming he s not awful from a Dc private. VT could be great. Some of their non STEM departments aren’t that competitive to get into. Ohio State, Florida State and Syracuse also stand out as hitting his needs and wants. WM won’t give him big school sports, and it, plus U of Michigan, UNC, UGA and UVA are tough OOS. MI State might be worth looking at. So is U Minn Twin Cities. My kid did IR, wanted a SLAC (top choices in IR were WM, Vassar and Carleton and she now attends one of these), but we looked at UM when we did Carleton and Mac. It had a different feel than the DMV, and was very white, but seemed nice. Pitt is not a bad option. Most of these schools should let him change his mind if needed on major. I know a lot of kid at JMU. Almost all of them great people, sure to be successful. But JMU is 80% instate. If he wants to not attend school in the DMV, does he want to attend school with dozens of kids from every HS in NOVA? BTW— I have head the same complaint about Ohio State. |
Anonymous
| How about U of SC? State school, football, outside the DMV, hits that JMU sweet spot of being a pretty good school that’s not insanely hard to get into. And if I recall correctly they have substantial study abroad and international business programs as well as IR. |
Anonymous
| JMU would be fine for those career goals and a fun place to go to school. Florida State would be at the top of my list, though, and then probably Virginia Tech and IU. OSU might be a tough admit but Miami of Ohio shouldn’t and it’s JMU-esque but farther away. Wherever he goes, he should read the Economist every week and learn a diplomatically useful language. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| It is a shame he wants to go out of DC, American is great for IR. |