Oxford PPE vs. Georgetown SFS vs. Amherst Poli Sci + Econ

spelledwithak
Tue, 24 Mar 2020 17:54:07 +0000

I’m between these schools to commit to currently. Eventual goal is either consulting/finance, political research at an NGO (foreign policy-focused), or working on the Hill. I’m so, so grateful for all of these choices—but now I can’t choose!

Oxford PPE:

Pros:

One of the most prestigious degrees in the world—PPE is a brand

Collegiate system—already pretty attached to St. Catz

Singles + private bathrooms later on. Dorms are clean and nice.

Tutorials! I’d love to have the opportunity to learn in such an intimate setting.

Experience of a lifetime—I might never have the opportunity to learn in such a different atmosphere again

Passionate, smart, dedicated students. It would hurt to leave the Oxford Discord behind. I’ve loved effectively everyone I’ve come across there, even though I know that virtual friends don’t always equal friends in person.

College balls/formals! So fairytale-like.

All the history….getting to study in the BODLEIAN LIBRARY and walk the same grounds as people did in the 11th century.

The actual city surrounding Oxford is wonderful. So many boba places; certainly not lacking in culture. Lots of places to shop too.

When again will I ever have the opportunity to literally travel Europe between terms?

The Oxford Union! I’d love to join it. Other clubs to join: Oxford MUN, Oxford Consulting Group

So wonderfully British. College teas sound amazing. And people play croquet??

College merchandise….so wonderful. I want that Catz puffer jacket.

An Oxford degree opens doors. It’s true; everyone around the world knows Oxford.

Cheaper, even though cost isn’t a big factor here.

Cons:

Very far from home. What if I get really, really homesick? No drive home for the weekend here. Or what if a disaster happens?

The weather is also very British. Quite gloomy, and it rains a lot.

Restrictive curriculum. What if I find I don’t love PPE as much as I thought I would? I can’t change my course very easily at all. Though there’s a language center, I won’t be taking Turkish.

Coronavirus concerns—what if I’m not able to obtain a visa in time? Would I be up for spending my first term online? (Though this might be a concern for any college, honestly.)

Terms are VERY short. 8 weeks each—material is packed in, and I might feel constantly stressed/overwhelmed with the material, plus all the extracurricular commitments, searching for internships, a social life, and like, sleeping.

Might be a bit difficult to find internships, and I’d also have to start finding one sooner, given that it’s only three years instead of four.

Culture shock. Although Americans are said to not feel out of place, I’m also a student of color, and though Oxford has its fair share of East Asian students, most are Singaporean internationals/Chinese internationals—I’m unsure as to how closely I’d be able to identify with them. Adjusting to college is already a big challenge.

I don’t drink, and I don’t plan to either—and it seems like drinking is quite a large part of British culture. Most kids do drink, and going to the pub is a regular event.

I miss out on all the aspects of college as we know it in America—no tailgates, frat parties, or any of that. Even though the second isn’t a big factor, I do like school spirit, and though Oxford has a storied rivalry with Cambridge, I’m not sure if that’s the same thing.

Georgetown SFS (International Economics)

Pros:

I’ve stayed at Georgetown before. The campus, though it’s not Oxford, is absolutely beautiful. I love Healy Hall; I love the wide gates; I love the bridge that overlooks the river.

MUCH better weather. Although D.C. isn’t California, it’s warmer than N.J., where I live now. No puffer jackets here.

Georgetown SFS, though it’s not Oxford PPE, is still a force to reckon with in the world of IR. It’s only ranked below Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford, and actually ahead of Yale and the other Ivies—not bad peers to have.

It’d be quite wonderful to be surrounded by other political junkies 24/7.

Georgetown’s very pre-professional, and this shows in its career outcomes. Its data for careers out of Georgetown is very strong; SFS kids always do well.

AMAZING opportunities to take languages. Arabic, Russian, Turkish—you name it. Georgetown has all of it.

I could even intern during semesters. The location is unbeatable.

The town of Georgetown itself is very cute too. It’s got the restaurants and the shopping places, and there are a lot of food options, even if Leo’s isn’t always great. And, of course, there’s D.C., which has the free museums, all the food options, and the political culture.

My original dream school. Before Yale, which I got deferred from :(, there was Georgetown.

Georgetown’s core for SFS students is so cool. I’ve honestly wanted to take Map of the Modern World for ages. I’m also looking forward to compulsory theology—no, really. Learning about religion just seems so cool, especially since I’m agnostic.

Club culture is actually a plus for me. It’s pretty nice to be able to make friends just through clubs. Clubs to join: Consulting Club, Model UN, maybe debate? Definitely Chinese Students Association.

The opportunity to study abroad—maybe at Oxford as a visiting student so I get the best of both worlds? Maybe even somewhere else, like in Spain or Jordan!

Honestly, preppiness isn’t really a con for me. I’d like to have more peer pressure to dress up well for classes.

Cons:

The dorms are indeed hit-or-miss. Although georgetown.hotmess only showcases the worst of it, there will probably be rats at some point in my living quarters, according to students I spoke with. (Anecdotally, I saw no rats or bugs in my one week at Georgetown, though the bathrooms were a bit gross.)

The on-campus dining is also hit-or-miss, though apparently Leo’s is getting better with its options.

Doesn’t have quite the name of Oxford still.

Maybe a bit too pre-professional? I’m scared that I’ll get completely caught up in the rat race.

Amherst College (Political Science + Economics)

Pros:

THE OPEN CURRICULUM. NO REQUIREMENTS. I can take ANYTHING I like—everything’s ripe for exploring!

The small community means close student-professor relationships and contacts; the COLLEGE PRESIDENT knows everyone.

Close friendships as a result of the smallness.

One of the best liberal arts colleges in the U.S. Again, not Oxford, but employers will definitely know what Amherst is.

The Amherst-Williams rivalry sounds like a great time.

The town of Amherst is pretty small, but it’s cute! Great ice cream too.

Direct exchange with New College, Oxford. Also a growing exchange with Catz.

Good dorms and passable food.

Five College Consortium—I can take classes at ANY of the other colleges!

I can actually still take Turkish, which is pretty cool!

New England in the fall is absolutely beautiful.

Far enough from home to feel far, but close enough that I could be back in three to four hours if there was an emergency.

Cons:

I’m scared it’ll be TOO small, which is what my friend at Amherst struggled with her first semester. Will it feel like high school again? (9)

I’m scared it’ll be too isolated. No, it’s not Williams, but it’s definitely not Georgetown either—it’s not exactly in a city.

Econ seems to be much stronger at Amherst than Poli Sci is.

The student-athlete divide. I’ve heard that the campus is a bit cliquey.

A few recent incidents of racism worry me.

Clubs/student associations are far more casual; I'd like them to be more serious.