Advice on GMU vs UF needed urgently! [Political Science]

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UF is still about the same or cheaper than GMU because OP is instate

My son went to UF and did DC internship.

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I would never recommend a freshman attend a university without on campus housing/dorm/meal plan. It’s a recipe for disaster.

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It can but it’s far from the most significant element. What matters is what YOU do and the Gmu honors program would definitely offer the most opportunities + due to its location, has better than most access to influential people in politics/opportunities.
For the specific fields you’re interested in, I don’t think UF (especially without housing, which is a big problem) is better unless ou specifically intend to get into FL politics.

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You’re completely right! The good news is, at UF I’d have a meal plan covered, and just be in an apartment for the first year (move into dorms my sophomore year) so I should be good either way :slight_smile:

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You don’t need to intend to get into FL politics to get the best out of political science.
Not sure where you’re going with that.

And many freshman don’t get into on campus housing because it’s a popular campus. However there are many good off campus options that are very close (some within walking distance) and UF has an excellent bus system. The UF reddit site can give recs on apts, busses and parking.

I personally don’t suggest the meal plan because it is very expensive unless you are a big eater and are able to hit the dining halls on a timely basis. Even if you pay regularly it usually is cheaper over a semester to not have a meal plan. Living off campus I certainly would discourage it.

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I think UF offers more. It’s a highly regarded college, has the social aspects–football, any club you can imagine, a friendly student body. It is definitely not a commuter campus (which GMU purports to be). Good weather (especially since you are already used to heat–I’d die in the cold).

Yes, it is possible to get internships to DC even from down south. My son interned a full summer there.

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Given the concern expressed in the initial post about classes being censored, perhaps not. (Or perhaps that’s the incentive.) But yes, UF wasn’t at all a name that was on the radar when D19 was looking for politics-related courses. (And in fact GMU was down as a safety for D19.)

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That’s a good thing - being a freshman is hard enough, having to manage an apartment, making friends without being in dorms, figuring out what you want to cook to create a grocery list then cooking healthy meals every day.. is best attempted as a Sophomore.

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I think the scale tilts toward UF as being perhaps the better place for your needs/wants.

(Disclaimer: Son attended local high school near UF, and currently is in DC, and was accepted to UF but chose to go to school in DC. So I’m familiar with the pull to go OOS.)

I think for your purposes and interests I’d lean towards UF as such a solid school and you can do well there and apply for DC internship.

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Read this as “GMU would not be a good choice if you plan to enter FL politics”.

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UF is clearly more highly ranked and has enormous prestige in Florida. I know it seems almost sacrilegious in Florida, but outside it, many don’t quite know the difference with FSU - and before Florida posters murder me, keep in mind people confuse Penn State and UPenn all the time. It seems obviously completely different when you’re close and not so much from 1,000 miles away.

As for grad school, what matters is having advisers and professors who can write detailed recommendations - who know you well, who you’ve impressed, who invited you to join their research, who can point you to an internship or another opportunity.
(Whether at GMU or UF you will have stellar professors. UF is higher ranked but many “stars” left due to the governor’s policies. GMU is lower ranked but is well located to attract professors. In addition, Honors would help you choose the best professors and usually only highly rated profs teach Honors seminars.
So, it’s a wash imho - and all in all, in this era, no college professor is hired unless they’re excellent.)

Otherwise both are good choices.
For instance, OP may be interested in moderate political department in a liberal state vs. a liberal department in a conservative state.
Or using all the opportunities Honors afford could be just as good as attending UF without Honors.

@tsbna44 's daughter chose a lower ranked college with Honors over a higher-ranked one, and did very well.

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OP: Are you comfortable sharing more information about yourself ?

SAT/ACT score ,GPA, to which other schools you applied (regardless of whether you were accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.)

(Next day update)

This may be a situation where “trying out” GMU for a year may be worthwhile. If it works out (able to secure desired internship for example), then fine; but, if unhappy, it should be easy to transfer to a Florida public university to complete your undergrad years as poly sci is a very common major that is rarely, if ever, impacted requiring limited enrollment or unavailability.

However, not sure about the state of Florida scholarship implications if that is currently available to you.