<p>I had a similar choice between AU and the University of Illinois, where I could have gone absolutely free. I ended up choosing AU because I thought I could learn more political science in Washington, DC, than in Illinois.</p>
<p>This analogy isn’t perfect, but I think of the choice of a DC school vs. a non-DC school for subjects like political science is like the choice of where to study a language: are you going to learn Spanish faster/better/deeper in Mexico or in Milwaukee? Language and cultural immersion in Mexico is going to do the job better.</p>
<p>At AU, you can’t help but be surrounded by politics and government. This is true of the city and surroundings as well as the other students. Even students who don’t major in political science at AU (say, chemistry) are more likely to have an interest and astuteness in politics than those at other schools. AU is the immersion choice.</p>