Haverford vs. Vassar THIS IS URGENT

HC_Alum
Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:32:38 +0000

1) What about Vassar “enamors” you?
2) If you write you would “regret saying no to Vassar”, the corollary question would then be what about HC would you not regret if you were to say no to it?

Arcadia, Middlebury is very strong in languages and IR but I’m wondering what observations supports your assertion that Middlebury has the best training for a career in this field? In physician speak, “IR” studies seems to me to be like restless leg syndrome or simple acid reflux; it’s always been there but now it has a name primarily for marketing purposes. It’s a little bit of poli sci, history, econ, anthro, languages, ect. There’s nothing fancy about it.

In addition to academics, HC has 2 things going for it in the field of IR. HC’s location in the northeast corridor between the political capital of Washington DC and the financial capital of NYC, and an easy train ride from Philly, allows numerous prominent speakers to come onto campus to provide real world experience for students to complement their classwork… US leaders, international leaders, humanitarians, business leaders, activists, ect… This occurs at all times of the year, even in November-March when more remote LACs are snowed in and shut in. Multiply this by the speakers that come to Bryn Mawr and Swat and students in the Tri-Co have a tremendous roster of guest speakers to enliven their classroom learning.

In addition, regarding diplomacy and international peace work, given HC’s Quaker roots and strong ties with such organizations as American Friends Services Committee, students are exposed to learning within this framework of social justice and advocacy which is engrained in the culture of the school. HC has been active with international relations forever and alumni include the person who came up with the idea for the League of Nations (which became the UN), a US Secretary of State, the former international head of Greenpeace and the head of UNESCO who just retired. Alumni also include 2 alumni who accepted the Nobel Peace Prize (Noel Baker for League of Nations and William Cadbury for leading AFSC to help rebuild Europe after WWII)

Middlebury, probably like HC, has an academic center to promote students to gain international experience as a part of summer projects or a thesis. At HC, this is called the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship and funds annually I think about 50-60 individual student initiated projects around the world.

[Microfinance Students Travel To Bangladesh - Haverford College News](Microfinance Students Travel To Bangladesh | Haverford College)