Public Policy/IR Undergrad Umich/USC Price/CMU Dietrich vs UCL

College Search & Lists
1

Hi smart CC brains!

I’m a class of 23’, and I am looking to study public policy (more leaning towards IR, instead of health care or energy though), preferably with some ability to combine with business/management.

My current choices are: UMich at LSA (and can apply for Ford School after 2 years), USC at Price School of Public Policy, CMU’s Institute for Politics and Strategy in the US; Out of the US, I have an offer from the new International Social and Political Studies program (sister program to the insanely prestigious ESPS) at University College London, as well as a public policy major at the Trinity College at University of Toronto.

I’m Taiwanese and studied at an international school in mainland China, I’m a very out going type, which is why I’m a bit “ehh” about CMU.

Each school’s PROs:
UMich: cheaper, very good program at the Ford school, can take elective/minor at Ross. Solid reputation.

USC: Can double major at Marshall. Small school, well regarded public policy program, and very small class size (admission told me Price only have around 35 freshmen), good internship opportunities (although im not sure I can get paid cuz Im international)

CMU: Very highly regarded. They offered me to take the new program called Economics and Politics which is a partnership with the econ department and the Institute for Politics and Strategy.

UCL: Great program, allows me to take any relevant courses in the social sciences/humanities department, which is very very rare in UK schools. Widely regarded. good location too. Cheaper

UofT: Close to home (my cousins live in toronto), cheaper. Arguably the best politics program in Canada.

Cons:

UMich: COLD. Large class size. Have to apply again to ensure i get in Ford (50% or so acceptance rate)

USC: Party school rep?

CMU: Not known for humanities… seems nerdy

UCL: First year program, can’t combine with business. Tough language requirement.

UofT: Isn’t as prestigious.

Since I’ll be international either way, the UK vs US where I want to live debate doesn’t really matter to me. I also want to have the option of transferring to an Ivy (Cornell/Penn) or go to a big name grad school, so GPA matters too.

Any thoughts?

2

Newsflash…Toronto and CMU are cold in winter as well. Why is it always mentioned how cold it is in Michigan, but not in other areas just as bad?

3

Pittsburgh is not nearly as cold as Ann Arbor (I’m a UM alum from PA). But if it were me, and budget was not a limiting factor, I would go to London (most interesting place to live of those listed.)

4

Average high/low in Detroit in January/February : 32-19 35-21

Average high/low in Pittsburgh in January/February : 36-21 39-23

Not nearly as cold eh?

5

@rjkofnovi Four degrees in terms of highs are pretty significant. By gardening standards, they are a half zone apart, which makes a world of difference in terms of what plants can be grown. It may not look like much on paper, but you can definitely feel it. Also, if you are observant, you will see different types of trees and plants thriving in the two areas. But I will contest your data with my own, as I think your averages may have missed something.

But let’s just look at this winter:

Ann Arbor
Average low : Absolute low : Cum. Snow
Jan. 2019 : 14.6 degrees : -18 degrees F : 17.82 inches
Feb 2019 : 18 degrees : -7.1 degrees F : 17.48 inches

Pittsburgh
Jan. 2019: 22.4 degrees : 1 degree F : 5.32 inches
Feb 2019 : 23.7 degrees : 6.1 degrees F : 6.18 inches

(edited for formatting)

6

I’m sorry, but you’re acting as if Pittsburgh were located in the tropics compared to Ann Arbor. This winter was an anamoly btw.

7

Just saying…

Ann Arbor 2018
Average low : Absolute low : Cum. Snow
Jan, 2018: 15.1 :F, -13: 12.83 inches
Feb, 2018: 19.9 : F, -2.9: 19.92 inches

8

Nobody goes to CMU because of the weather.

9

Speaking of academics, for CMU – keep in mind that that IPS is primarily focused on security interests, with a specialization on cybersecurity. If you are more interested in diplomacy than security – it may not fit your interests. On the other hand, the DC program is a great perk. In Economics, CMU is most remarkable in applied (behavioral economics), and has some other strengths as well. CMU is rather a “pointy” school – so best for people who are focussed. For someone who has to “find himself” as I did once upon a time, switching from major to major, UofM is really top notch. (I started at UofM in microbiology and ended up the social sciences, and still managed to be able to claim I graduated from a top 5 program in my field). I don’t know enough about the other programs to comment.

10

USC has Professor Schwarzenegger.

https://priceschool.usc.edu/people/arnold-schwarzenegger/

11

I doubt he actually teaches though… They also have professor David Petraeus