@Catcherinthetoast hit it. Brown has a strong alumni network.
Even despite of very real possibility I have to start over again as a freshman?
You say in post one you are transferring to finish a degree.
So which opportunity do you have to do exactly that vs. starting again - which isn’t than a transfer.
And i’m talking - even if it’s schools beyond these four.
You want to study IR - whether it’s these - or other lesser perceived schools - it won’t matter IMHO. Many successful diplomats, governmental execs, and think tank participants come from all over.
But you’ve done years and I think I read would be a 2nd semester sophomore.
So seems having to start as a Freshman wouldn’t be a transfer.
What I’m saying is - in that case, George Mason, as an example just to throw out a name, would be a better choice than any school that is making you start as a first semester freshman.
I respectfully disagree
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That’s fine - but I’m just noting you’re 26, have 3 semesters (do I have that right??) of college behind you - so why would you go somewhere that you have to start again?
The older you are when you get to starting a career, in theory the less earning years you have left.
Sending you a PM.
OP, I was transfer student who changed major at 23 due to family situation. It felt very awkward even as a junior next to youngsters. It was hard to do projects or communicate with them. You are reliable adult now and they are youngsters with million excuses not to complete work… I would cross over Amherst and forget about it. I personally would pick Yale. Friend’s child attends it now and discovered herself there. It provides amazing opportunities and open doors.
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Not sure if you read the thread but the only issue is at Yale I would be a freshman and Amherst all of my credits were accepted so I would be starting at just under a junior. Do you still think Yale?
I did. But being on campus with mostly youngsters is not fun for 26 years old even if you will get special attention from professors.
Think like if you suddenly dropped in HS among seniors. What do you have in common with 8 year gap? Nothing.
In Amherst will be students who just got their “freedom.” So think learning to balance a life from getting up without help of mom and dad, learn to wash cloth, thinking about getting drunk, go for parties etc.
No special program at Amherst. You will be there practically grandpa or dinosaur.
In Yale you will be in special program and among many graduate students on campus.
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I find it hard to believe that a school of the same ilk will accept three semesters but others won’t.
That said, if you have 3 semesters, go to Amherst. Get a great education.
Yes, age wise it’ll be a bit off - but guess what - UMASS is right there and you’ll have grad students of various majors/schools at UMASS to hang out with.
3 years among kids 7-8 years younger day to day… Especially in a small LAC. No way for any money or with any credits. This is social suicide.
This is different than 10 years apart coworkers. Can you imagine to work with unreliable person who doesn’t complete his work, forget to take a shower or does not clean dishes…or show up drunk…
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You are 100% correct to disagree based on my kids first hand experience.
https://home.watson.brown.edu/
Resources and reputation matter.
Of the 4 schools you are considering all have great reputations. Amherst has less dedicated resources in your area of focus and generally will be “younger” given their undergrad focus and campus location.
I would decide amongst Yale, Brown and Gtown based upon intangibles and feel.
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Honestly, I had agreed with you but now I’ve flipped to the other side because of the 3 semester of credit thing for a 26 year old. And the city thing. When OP again mentioned but Amherst will take all my credits - well that’s a heck of a reason to choose it!!!
There are socially difficult situations everywhere. And will be.
I understand an 18 year old who wants to go to a school that doesn’t take AP credits.
But OP is 26 and has three semesters of school under their belt.
It will be a struggle socially anywhere but UMASS is literally a mile away - and they will find access to older kids there just like other schools.
I still find it odd that an Amherst will accept the credits but the others won’t - or vice versa as these are peer level schools. But if true, that’s the game changer in my mind.
You are talking about 38% of the collegiate, academic experience - washed away vs. accepted.
This student is 26. It’s going to be odd anywhere.
Given UMASS is less than a mile away - there is every opportunity for social interaction with their grad students of which there are many - from Meet Up groups to living with a UMASS grad student - the student at 26 will be eligible to live off campus at Amherst.
Academically, the student will find a politics department that will have enough strength to find fantastic roles in the major. Frankly, those schools are everywhere.
It is not a winner take all game. Many schools have strong reputations but it doesn’t mean its grads have all the great opportunities and others don’t. It’s not a winner take all game - there are winning students from all over and that includes the non-prestigious.
And this student is going to grad school and will have every opportunity as the students from other schools so one top vs. another or one having an institute is less a factor anyway.
OP has heard a lot of perspectives - including polar opposite ones from myself - I’ve flipped - I just can’t get past the age part and starting over. If they were 18, I get it - but they are a full fledged adult that needs to get out into the real world.
OP I would also consider that quickest or cheapest isn’t always better. You worked very hard to be allowed to experience world class academic opportunities. I would take full advantage of them and not seek to hurry the experience in spite of your age.
You will be learning while a student and making contacts. The goal isn’t just to get done, it is to learn and build a foundation for future success. Don’t seek shortcuts but instead pursue growth opportunities.
Once again those that haven’t attended these schools don’t fully appreciate the value of being in attendance.
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Yes. In my opinion.
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It sounds like you prefer Amherst and apparently you’d be in a special dorm for non traditional students, with a single. Is that correct?
The big issue here will be social peers. Academically all students will be strong and mostly motivated (though may be a bit aimless since they’re still figuring themselves out, but it’ll be the same everywhere, or perhaps with a nod to Amherst since you’ll be in class with Sophomores and juniors). However the psychological/emotional difference will be similar to a HS senior in recess with 5th graders - you’ll be the adult in the room, not a social peer.
If you’ve reached out to students in that non traditional group, did they tell you how easy it to socialize at UMass over the weekend? That would be the big issue.
Btw, I would agree with not taking shortcuts. Even if they take all your credits, select those that will cover a typical freshman year max, and no more than that. Maximize time and academic resources wisely, establish relationships, learn a critical language in addition to a more common one then study abroad more than once, using the summer (and check where you can study abroad - whether the school is a power network in its country, ie., SciencesPo v.université de Rennes, King’s v. Loughborough, as even rankings don’t tell the full story.)
After that, you don’t seem to have a strong preference for Yale or Brown, really there’s no wrong choice. Since it’s unlikely your online courses would be as in-depth/accelerated as their courses it may help you academically and 3 vs.4 years may not be that big of a deal. Yale will open more doors internationally (they’re need-blind/meet need for internationals, unlike Brown, so have powerful alumni everywhere) and Brown has an open curriculum that will allow you to focus on your fields of interest and what can support them (making it really pre-grad school for you).
All 3 will give you free study abroad and excellent access to grad school.
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Have you reached out to speak to nontraditional students at all schools? As others have said, there will be a huge divide between your level of maturity, interest, focus, and more, and those of your classmates. You will find many motivated and driven students at the schools, but there is rarely an 18 year-old that is on par with a 26-year-old in other areas.
My daughter recently graduated from the University of Michigan, and in her very small department there was a non-traditional student. He had been in the military and then worked professionally before returning to school full-time. Even though they were upper level students, she said that very few of her classmates were able to relate to him. She mentioned that most in her major were intimidated by him. She got along well with him in class, but they didn’t socialize outside of school.
I don’t think it would be inappropriate to politely ask Georgetown for the timing of their decisions and to let them know why you are asking.
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It’s true. Colleges set their own policies regarding this. IIRC, this OP has taken online college courses and some colleges either limit or don’t accept those toward a degree at all.
Re: UMass being a mile away….yes, it’s close enough. But I wonder how many Amherst students actually go to UMass for anything?
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More precisely, in the group of older/non traditional students OP would be involved with, how many are involved in UMass social groups?
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My comment was more based on - they can join Meet Up groups (My son has done that - in the community) and because at 26, you can live off campus, they might room with a Umass Student.
Again - there is no question the student will find themselves in difficult situations because they are in a different stage of life.
It’s really a question of - does OP want to start new or get credit.
I agree Amherst may not be the best choice if all things are even - but all things aren’t even - and there certainly is an opportunity for adult social opportunities with UMASS just down the road - from living and other activities.
Just like anyone else in society - effort would need to be made.
I can’t imagine doing three semesters of college and having it go away - but that’s what the other schools would require. Seems like OP doesn’t like that either.
In the end, we can all share thoughts/ideas - but one 26 year old must step up and decide what’s right for them. We cannot do so.