UIUC VS UC-Davis

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>I’m new to the forum, but I have a pretty serious conundrum. I’m choosing between The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and The University of California at Davis. At both I intend to study Political Science. UI-UC has a Global Studies and International Diplomacy program I’m interested in, but I don’t really know. Political Science or International Relations are certain majors for me. </p>

<p>I’d like to hear your evaluations on attending these schools in general:</p>

<p>What’s it like to be a student?
How hard are classes?
Is one schools more “intellectual” (I like Hegel and philosophy, I would prefer to be at an institution where that “fits.”)?
How hard is it to get involved with research/internships?
How hard is it to get a leadership role in student government?
What is grad school placement?
What is the general ethos of the institution? </p>

<p>I want to go to grad school (Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, GW, Princeton, or Tufts) for either IR or Poly-sci. Money is no object. I’m not a big athletics person, nor do I want crazy (UCSB/Indiana-esque) parties ever night. </p>

<p>Thoughts? </p>

2

<p>I don’t know if I made it clear, but double majoring is likely. Whatever I find interesting and fall into wherever I go, Global Studies and International Diplomacy is just one such option. I might end up anywhere: Anthropology to Music. </p>

3

<p>Neither one is what I immediately think of when I think “undergrads into Hegelian philosophy”, frankly. :slight_smile: However if those are your two choices, welll… I think both have advantages. UC Davis is close to Sacramento, a plus for Poli sci majors. It has much better weather. Davis is a cool college town and you can occasionally go to Oakland and San Francisco. UIUC’s major seems like it fits your academic interests better.
Did you get into Honors at either one?
Would you be in the honors dorm, in a living-learning community, or in a substance-free dorm? This would help with fit (the substance free dorm is guaranteed not to have crazy parties every night. The honors dorm may appeal to your interests more.) Check if those are still available at either campus.</p>

4

<p>I didn’t get into honors at either school. I would try to get into one of the illinois living learning communities, but they don’t give any guarantees until you’ve put down a deposit. Are they in nicer dorms? </p>

<p>I’m not, as some would say, ridiculously nerdy. That said, I don’t want to go to Michigan State or UCSB. I’m looking for a balanced and diverse community, one where a variety of political views, races, and backgrounds are actively represented. </p>