McGill [$56k, debt] vs. BU [CGS, spring start, $47k] vs. UMD [$32k] vs. Trinity College Dublin [$43k] [political science major]

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Hello! I am a current high school senior and I need some guidance on what college to attend. Right now, I’m torn between four schools: McGill, BU CGS, UMD, and Trinity College Dublin. All are very good schools, and the fact that I am even overwhelmed by this decision is a privilege. ANY HELP/INSIGHT IS VERY APPRECIATED. Lmk if any additional information is needed!

Also, I am going into these schools as a political science major (except BU CGS: first two years is core curriculum/gen ed requirements, and second two years is my poli sci degree)

McGill –

Pros:

-Personally, this is MY first choice (not my parents’, though). I would be able to major in political science, the campus is beautiful, and studying outside of the country is incredibly important to me.

-McGill is internationally recognized, and I think my thought process was that maybe this could help me get a job in a country other than the US once I graduate.

-Also, living abroad for 4 years would give me experience to live abroad once I am done with school.

-I ONLY ever see positive reviews from alumni. Many say it was worth the education, experience, people, and opportunities.

Cons: MONEY. Total COA is going to be around 56k, and I would 100% have to get a larger-than-preferable loan. I would most likely have to go to grad school, which is even more money.

BU (School of General Studies) –

Pros:

-BU is a very good school, it has credibility, and I would be able to get a degree in political science once I am done with the two years in CGS.

-Alumni network is great, and jobs would not necessarily see that I went to CGS, only that I graduated from BU. I really like the idea of going to London for the summer.

-I got a scholarship, so my total COA each year would be 47k rather than 92k or more.

-I would start in Spring 2026, and I like the idea of a gap semester in fall. I can work to make and save money, travel, etc. Much more freedom whilst still graduating at the same time as every other BU student.

Cons: I have read VERY mixed reviews about their school of general studies. Some feel that they have to play catch-up junior year, others feel the interdisciplinary curriculum is a waste of their time and unrelated to their majors. Personally, I think that their courses (like history) are relevant to my political science major to an extent, but overall, people seem to have more negative reviews than positive reviews of CGS.

UMD –

Pros:

-Total COA would be 32k (by far the cheapest out of all four schools)

-Good quality of education, especially for a public school.

Cons:

-I want to go farther. Not a good reason, I know…. but it is important to me nonetheless. I feel that it would give me more independence and the means to live on my own.

TCD –

Pros:

-Total COA is around 43k, so 2nd cheapest out of all four schools.

-Well known for political science and social policy, which is what I would be studying.

-Experience living abroad, independence, etc. (same pros as McGill).

Cons:

-Far from where I live (quite literally separated by the Atlantic, obviously)

-No relatives or friends in Dublin, or really anywhere in the UK

-I am somewhat iffy with my major (a part of me is considering switching to business for job purposes) and Trinity is very inflexible - if I switch my major, I have to re-start 4 years all over again.

-Sounds stupid, but I need some sun in my life. Dublin is extremely rainy and does not get sunshine very often. PLEASE correct me if I am wrong… I would love to be wrong.

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I know it’s not your first choice, but Maryland seems like a no brainer. You have a life time to travel abroad. You can take a semester or even a full year to study abroad while at UMD.

McGill and TCD are no doubt great schools, but you’ll be living off campus at both, which adds another level of unpredictability to cost. My niece is currently at TCD and would confirm everything you said. She’s a hard worker who had excellent grades at a very good high school but finds TCD to be very demanding and time consuming, leaving no time for a part time job. For what it’s worth.

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This is not a stupid concern. I go to Dublin frequently. It is often gray and rainy. While the temperatures may not seem cold compared to winter in the northeast or Midwest, it’s always damp so it often feels colder.
I would not recommend moving there if you’re prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Dublin is a charming city, and Ireland is a beautiful country with wonderful people, but the weather is not to be taken lightly. You might find this article of interest. Light Therapy at Dublin City Libraries | Dublin City Council

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UMD seems the logical choice plus it is an excellent school. I wouldn’t be too concerned about UMD being close to home – you absolutely can create an active and full life on campus and you can always take a semester or year abroad or at a partner school in the US to expand your horizons.

A personal anecdote – After looking at colleges up and down the East Coast the best fit for my son (academics, finances, overall vibe) turned out to be a school very close to home. We sat down to discuss it before he accepted the offer. We (parents) agreed to never pop by campus and not expect him home other than school vacations. My son agreed to not use being close to home as a crutch (ex no bringing laundry home, etc.). It all worked out great.

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UND is reputed for poli sci. Close to home doesn’t mean you need to go home.

BU CGS is very limited curriculum wise these first years.

The other two are out of country - does that scare your parents.?

What will you do with a polo sci degree ?

I don’t think the school name matters here.

That’s not a major that necessarily translates well from any school.

It could - but there’s nothing per se that it 100% aligns too.

UMd, of the two domestics, is easily the best choice.

If you want to go further from home, strong schools in the south are still taking apps. If you have a good SAT you will crush UMD costs. The Croft Institute at Ole Miss (intl politics and studies) is very well known.

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Congratulations on being accepted to four excellent universities! Yes, you are correct, all are very good.

Keep in mind that some form of graduate school is very likely with a political science degree (whether law school or something else). While PhD’s are typically funded, master’s degrees and law degrees typically are not and can be expensive. Saving some college $$$ for graduate school can be helpful down the road.

Regarding McGill, it is a very good university and is in an attractive city (provided that you are fine with real winters). I can see two downsides. One is that you say that it would be the most expensive option for you. Also, McGill is known for grade deflation, and my impression is that this reputation is well earned. I am originally from Montreal and do know several people who went there. You might want to be aware that the provincial government in Quebec has been seriously considering requiring some knowledge of French to graduate from any of the three English language universities in the province.

Regarding UMD, I agree that is is a very good university. It is a good plan to save some money for graduate school while avoiding debt. I would not be too concerned about it being close to home. If you live on-campus, it will be like a different world compared to living at home. Then if something goes wrong (e.g., a bad break-up or the flu is possible even for university students) help can be nearby.

I will admit that I have only been in Dublin in the late spring or summer. It was quite nice at the time. However, it is a long way north. This means long and sunny days in the summer (when many university students might not be there), and long and dark and damp nights in the winter.

I think that you should seriously consider attending UMD close to home, but also taking either a semester or a full year abroad, or possibly taking a shorter class over the summer abroad. You might want to go to UMD’s web site and check out what study abroad options are available. You might want to check for example whether UMD has any exchange programs that would put you in either Dublin or Montreal over the summer – a time when both locations are quite attractive.

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The BU CGS curriculum for the first four semesters is shown at https://www.bu.edu/cgs/academics/our-program/courses/ . There are only three elective slots in the schedule, and the BU political science major requires three prerequisite courses before declaring the major: Political Science Major | Political Science . So there is not really much flexibility if you want to take additional courses to explore a different major (particularly one with a higher volume of prerequisites).

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Congratulations!

I have also read mixed reviews of BU’s CGS. I would review it closely, visit, and try to speak with a current student. It may provide good support for your transition to college and Boston is a great city.

McGill would be pretty cool, but in addition to grade deflation, there are not a ton of student supports and I believe you will have to demonstrate French proficiency to some degree as a graduation requirement.

I do not know much about Trinity, but I would read up on the differences between college in USA and abroad. I think students must be much more self sufficient.

UMD is a great deal. Is it the main campus? Law school will be quite expensive. A lot to be said for UMD and socking extra cash away for grad school or study abroad.

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