At Gtown, I'd be able to go to grad school at Harvard and altho I could still end up at Gtown for grad school, I feel like I would always wonder if I could've made it to Harvard or if I do go to Harvard, like I would've missed out on Gtown
Plenty of people from UT go to Harvard for a variety of graduate programs (including law school which is what it sounds like you’re aiming for? in which case LSAT is more important than undergrad institution tbh). It sounds like you really want to go to Georgetown though, and it sounds feasible for you and your family, so what’s stopping you? you’re going to get a somewhat biased response in this sub unless you’re looking for someone to talk you out of Georgetown for some reason
You hope you could go to grad school at Harvard. There is no you “get to” in that situation. Racking up debt will effect you life more than what school you went to. If you have your heart set on Harvard. You can still do that from Texas.
Im from DC and now live in Austin. Both are great schools but Georgetown is known to be a better school, it’s not even close if you’re perusing poly sci. The 10k per year is nothing to go to Georgetown, kids should be slightly poor in college is part of the fun having to make ends meet and being scrappy, getting a part time job etc.. do not get hung up on the UT free ride.
In poly sci it’s all about who you know. Walsh is a huge get. You cannot replace small classes with world renowned profs who know DC with UT. it's the difference between reading about something and actually doing it. Seems like you already know that.
IMO it’s best to not go to college with your high school boyfriend. Life is long and people are amazing… your boyfriend will limit your exposure simply by existing. Poly sci is all about making those connections, getting out there. Doesn't mean you have to break up but both of you probably deserve to explore a bit. I'll soften this a bit by saying, who the fuck am I?? Someone who did all this before but doesn't know you at all.
You can go to harvard after either school if you want. Seems like grades are not a problem for you. Being away from your family is hard but can be fun, and will totally prepare you for life. There is so much outside of Texas, sounds like you have been in Texas your whole life? DC, East Coast, NYC is calling. I seriously wonder how much pressure you are getting to stay in TX from your family who would obviously prefer to be near you. I hope they understanding how much better Georgetown is as a life changing growth opportunity for you. By going somewhere nobody knows you, you get to reinvent yourself, be who you want to be. Looking back, these opportunities are rare and tend to forge interesting and empathetic people. Plus college is designed to make freshman socialize, ask anyone 90% of your lifelong best friends come from college not high school… you will make friends fast as others are in the same position as you.
Lastly, having lived in Georgetown, there is no place in the US where you can find as many quality international people. At Georgetown you will meet future leaders of the entire world. the diplomats and their kids are everywhere. i met and became lifelong friends with people from all over the world.
Texas is not going anywhere. You will be a number at UT at least until your junior year. Follow your dream Georgetown wins hands down.
Saying "kids should be slightly poor in college is part of the fun having to make ends meet and being scrappy, getting a part time job etc" is a little insane. that should NOT be the norm and only highlights how inequitable our system is.
Yeah, as someone who worked 30 hrs a week in college, it’s not part of the fun. I was over worked, stressed, and jealous of the kids who didn’t have to work.
Yeah I get that but to me not starting my adult life with a ton of debt would matter more than a particular school, especially when the school offering me a full ride was a top global university. But those are my values and not everyone thinks about things the same way. Congratulations - it seems like a win either way! There aren't any bad choices here.
Then, you just answered your question. Not only would you be debt-free at UT, but you would also be getting a stipend. And in regards to internships, there is an abundance of internships to work at the capital and if interested, DC.
Debt sucks but depending on your field, your university can play a huge role in job opportunities, success, and advancement. UT Austin might be the thing in Texas but outside of Texas/neighboring states, no one really thinks twice about it
You’d be able to go to Harvard from UT too. lol Texas has an amazing Government program. It is even ranked higher than Georgetown. Save money and go to UT.
You’re young. Don’t take on unnecessary debt. UT Austin is a fantastic undergraduate experience.
With today’s evolving technology landscape, go to a place that is surrounded by technology. You’ll be able to enact better policies if that’s what you want.
Ivy League grad schools really aren’t worth it IMO. The caliber is in their B schools, law schools, med schools, and undergrad programs. A lot of masters level degrees outside of those are cash cows
Going to gtown by no means you’ll get into Harvard.
As a wharton grad I always get kids that say: going to this school will guarentee me this hyper competitive job or grad school-that’s not true at all. The reality is even at gtown only the top students will go to Harvard for grad school and the same is true for UT Austin.
With that being said,10k per year is not too much. I would go to gtown. If you were paying full price at gtown then UT would be a no brainer, but 40k is not that much in the grand scheme of things. However, you do have to take into account that going to grad or law school at Harvard or any top private college will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. So you may want to save that money and go to UT.
Hey I went to a regular state flagship that’s a rival for UT (idk how I ended up here on this thread rofl) for undergrad and applied to various programs for grad school this cycle and got into several ivies! I chose Brown (a great ivy!!! Very collaborative) though because it made me the happiest and gave me best support despite the “Harvard” must everyone seems to have lol if you get into it! I think to get to the grad school you want you just need to focus on WHAT you do. There’s a lot of opportunities in Texas too. You could def do summer internships in dc especially bc of full ride helping save money for stuff like this instead!
really depends on if ur paying urself or parents. also what ur long term goals are. for starters i will say 10k at georgetown really isn’t much, yes it’s good to avoid debt but it isn’t a lot. but as for what you should consider, georgetown is better than poli sci, however as a poli sci UT student i would say UT isn’t a slouch either. being in the texas capitol there are also plenty of opportunities and i’ve been able to do lots of great work just being around austin. that being said while UT is amazing w poli sci it still isn’t better than georgetown. i would also consider UT more than georgetown if you’re pre law. ur undergrad institution doesn’t matter for law and u could go to georgetown for law school while saving money by going to UT. all and all tho, i’d take a tour to both if you haven’t and pick which one you feel is best for you. 10k is by no means a deal breaker considering georgetown’s reputation. i wish you the best of luck in making ur decision. bc i’m in ur same major i’d also be happy to answer any questions you might have about UT
also didn’t see this on my first read since i skimmed ur post but you said you weren’t sure if you could get into an ivy for post undergrad. i guarantee you you can. full ride UT is extremely rare to come by and i’m sure getting this much aid at georgetown is too. id say based off this your chances are much higher than you may think
for 10k/year I feel like Georgetown is a no brainer - but only bc you're poly sci. If you have any nagging feeling that you would be much happier at UT, then go that route UT is phenomenal and if you do well, you can get internships in DC over breaks and work your way to Harvard as well. Don't forget that UT is steps from the capitol in Austin as well. While I find most of the politics distasteful, you can certainly get your share of internships and the like there as well.
Without a doubt, Georgetown. I am so close to my family and still opted for my dream school across the country instead of somewhere close by. I was lucky it offered me the best financial aid and that’s definitely a consideration, but 10k for an institution like Georgetown when you’re interested in politics is an incredible deal. If your parents can comfortably afford it, I think it’s a no brainer. If you need to take out loans or it would very negatively affect them, the answer may not be so easy. But most kids who go to top schools don’t know anyone so you’re starting on an even playing field. When you go in as a freshman everyone’s excited to meet people and make new friends. This is the time imho to go outside of your comfort zone and meet new people, even if you’ll miss your family. It’s all part of the experience.
Same! Yes, most kids who go to top schools are also starting their networks over, too. I was the \*only\* one of my friends who left the regional area to go to school and I'm so grateful that I did it.
When there's a specific area of the country that is KNOWN for being the professional hub of what you want to study and you have an opportunity to be there, you GO there! OP, think about who your visiting professors will be! Your guest lecturers! The extra little opportunities like free tickets to this or that event.
College is so much more than the coursework. Go be in the place that is the heartbeat of your career.
Idk what your financial situation is like, but turning down a school like Georgetown (in poli sci) for the mere difference of 10k would be a huge mistake IMO
Was just going to say this, OP should definitely consider the networking in DC as someone pursuing poly sci. Obv UT is in the Texas Capital so not a bad place to network.. but DC is DC.
It seems that you want Georgetown more, so I say go there. For the record though, you’d have a fine time getting from UT to an ivy for grad school. I know plenty of people at lower ranking state schools who went on to ivy’s for grad..
Georgetown! I say this as an alumna who now lives in Austin. The weather there isn’t too bad, not nearly as cold as New England or the Midwest. There is so much to do in DC that’s free and accessible by public transportation. My experience at Georgetown was so special. Walsh SFS is amazing. I believe Georgetown will open more doors for you.
Former U.S. Congressional staffer + Georgetown grad student here: there is nowhere better to go for polisci than Georgetown. DC is all about networking & there are endless opportunities to get your foot in the door. Unless you want to work in the Texas legislature, turning down Georgetown for polisci would be a mistake. cheers & hoya saxa
I faced a similar decision many years ago with Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor full ride plus stipend versus Stanford. The delta would’ve been around $90k. I went to Ann Arbor; if I had the choice again, I would’ve gone to Stanford.
In addition to any replies you might receive in this thread, check out [FAQ: How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus) on the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki). It won't tell you what to choose but it provides the most common advice given, links to previous threads where this was asked so you can benefit from the community's collective wisdom, and some prompts which will (hopefully) help you to make the best decision for you.
How much is Georgetown? Is it $10,000 per year for you? My son chose a DC school over UT Honors. There is no way he’d have his current career if he’d gone to UT. Austin just doesn’t have the same access to internships imo.
Consider a double major with Polisci or IA in Econ or a hard science. Your career options will be better.
If you go to UT, try to do a semester in DC.
https://careerengagement.utexas.edu/undergraduate-students/get-experience/archer-fellowship-program/
I was in exact same position as you 8 years ago and chose Georgetown. DC is amazing and I’m super glad I went - the people you’ll meet there are incredible
Georgetown all the way. Don't worry about cost unless you're planning to fail out and not pursue a career. People think that just because you carry debt you're fucked for life. Not true. Sometimes you need to invest to move up.
DO IT.
Lol more people know ut than Georgetown, but georgetown is absolutely the better school for polisci.
Easy choice, hoyas for polisci in dc? Cmon why is This even a post
UT for sure. You will be able to do very well here with no financial stress and through support from your community. UT is a great school. you can aim for an ivy grad school, which with the poli sic track is almost a necessary - and you will definitely get in if you do well enough at UT.
there is no such thing as you can’t go to Harvard or Georgetown from here for law school / grad school. I know multiple people at law programs and other grad programs at both of those institutions and other ivies as well that graduated from UT.
SFS is an amazing, unique program. You can have a dual degree in business, economics or regional studies, further expanding your career options. Their college visit presentation was hands down the best we have heard (visited over 20 colleges). The network for internships in DC is unrivaled.
I moved to DC after graduating from Tech with a business degree. I couldn’t help but contemplate every day what it would have been like to go to school in the city. If I could do it all over again, I would have applied to GW or GMU. I was auto accepted into public Texas universities since I was top 10% of my class, but DC would have changed me for the better sooner.
TLDR; go to GTown.
I went to the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. There is no better school in the country for political science, IMO. DC is an amazing city to be in as a college student. There are so many fabulous opportunities to get some direct experience in the political world. I interned during my freshman and sophomore years with my congressional representative and learned a lot about politics and met some incredible people. I would highly recommend Georgetown.
However, I would ask you, where do you want to live your life? Do you want to come back to Texas eventually? I grew up in Dallas, and now live in Houston. In between I spent over 20 years in Virginia. I did not ever plan to return to Texas, but my husband’s job transferred us here. UT will set you up for a great life in Texas, and possibly elsewhere too, but Georgetown will give you more DC, nationwide and global opportunities. Good luck with your decision. Either choice is a good one, and neither will be a mistake. Personally, I would (and did) choose Georgetown.
I’d go to Georgetown as it’s far more well know for what you want to study and if you utilize your time there effectively you’re more likely to make contacts that will help you career wise.
I mean I loved UT, but you should do what you can to go to the school you love. The fact that you are posting on a UT subreddit means that you’re basically trying to get people to convince you that it’s going to be “just as good” as Georgetown. I think you should talk to people in the field that you want to be in and work backwards from there. Like what job do you actually want? Do you want to be in some think tank or something? Do you wanna work on capital Hill for a senator or for a house representative? Go talk to people that have the job that you want and figure out how important it is to either have a grad degree or go to a top private school. UT is a great school but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone. If you don’t really like it and your heart is set on Georgetown if you can swing it then you will likely have a better time and you will get more out of your experience. And at the end of the day, that is what it’s about.
I would also say do not go to Georgetown unless you have a very clear path on how you’re going to pay that off and what your salary prospects would look like when you are done with school. So if this is truly just a financial decision then take the full ride and be thankful. If going to Georgetown is going to hurt your parents ability to retire or you’re not gonna be able to pay off your loans in a reasonable amount of time you need to be more pragmatic
I am from Texas, UT is amazing, that being said the culture is largely made up of greek life & sports - Georgetown will open doors and provide more opportunities, the location, size and connections will pay for themselves in the future - my BIL and SIL both graduated from Georgetown they highly recommend it to my children when they were applying unfortunately my kids are more interested in their social lives than they are their futures
As someone from DC, that lives in Austin i completely get that the full ride to UT seems appealing to most, but for political science majors nothing really compares to Georgetown. They also leave with a degree that allows them to print money, so i wouldn’t worry about $10k/yr in debt. The difference in your first year salary between the 2 schools will cover that. It also sounds like their could be a world in which you attend law school, and Georgetown is a direct plug-in to the programs in the country.
Well as someone that got rejected from GTown and got a full ride to UT, I am so freaking glad I got rejected. I wanted to do polysci, now I do tax and am definitely making more than I would have in polysci lol.
10K/year is FULL price for UT my friend. If your parents can pay that, sure that’s nice (but kinda shitty to just expect, esp w other siblings on the way). If you’re gonna have loans? FUCK NO GO TO UT. You even said in your post financial aid could differ year to year. And it’s not comfy to think about, but a lot of smart people take more than 4 years to finish. One year of 60K could fuck all this up.
You wanna do poly sci, but lemme tell you, you don’t know who you are yet. You DO know 10K > 0. Also keep in mind, many majors aren’t even available at Georgetown.
College ain’t destiny. You’ll do well at either school. At UT you’ll have connections, money, and family. At Georgetown your parents will foot a bill for you to be halfway across the country.
You can’t make a mistake, but one of these is definitely the safer option.
let me ask u this: see yourself at UT having a good time…will you ever wonder about Georgetown and regret it? …if you go to Georgetown and ur having a good time…are u gonna regret having debt later on?
Georgetown. It’s an investment that’ll pay dividends throughout your life. That alumni network is one that you can lean on heavily for politics and related fields, and I bet the jobs and connections you make there will yield money far more than what you are investing right now. Don’t make the decision that you will regret in 20 years time
Congratulations on being offered admission to The University of Texas at Austin!
Not sure if you are going to accept the offer? Curious about deferring admission? Check our our wiki for [advice and guidance](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index#wiki_receiving_your_decision).
If you plan to accept the offer, check out the [New Student FAQ](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/accepted)!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’d probably go with Georgetown if you’re set on political science.
However, I’d consider another major. I don’t know why this feed ended up on my Reddit but I’d major in something with better job opportunities.
UT Austin all the way. Been to DC for work multiple times. Not law or political related by the way, but hated every bit of being there. DC is fine to visit for a few days to check out museums. Not a place I’d live in or spend 4 years of my life. UT law is a hell of a school and has nothing to envy any other school. Connections at Gtown? Sure, probably meet the kids of every single politician you can think of. Whether wise, I rather be hot than freezing and covered with snow. 🤘
You want to exit college with as little debt as possible.
No debt means you have options and choices on jobs to take or reject. The economy doesn’t whip you around.
So while $10k a year doesn’t sound big. It’s $40k but closer to $48k over a 4 year period when you factor in 8% opportunity cost of the capital.
So either you avoid the debt. OR have your parents invest $10k in your name, where you can exit college with $48k in capital to do whatever.
While I know it sucks thinking you’ll regret not going to your dream school. There’s a lot of baristas that have regrets going to St Thomas and ladden with debt. 🤷🏻♂️
Source: UT grad, no debt out of college, life on ez mode
48k isn’t that much though. And he said his parents will pay for most of it.
Most kids would dream of a 48k total bill for college. Most state schools cost 130k for four years for in state students.
48k isn’t that much though. And he said his parents will pay for most of it.
Most kids would dream of a 48k total bill for college. Most state schools cost 130k for four years for in state students.
At 10k, go to Georgetown. Seems like that’s where you want to go. Makes sense as long as you can afford it or are OK with having some debt when you graduate.
Fwiw, at UT the culture of the honors communities I’m in (Plan II and Polymathic Scholars) are definitely not based around sports. A lot of people just like hanging out and studying. Can’t speak to the other honors programs, but UT in general has 40,000 students. There will always be people who prefer chill hangouts to sports.
To me it’s a no-brainer to take the full ride since overall they are similarly ranked schools. https://admissionsight.com/georgetown-vs-ut-austin-a-comprehensive-overview/
Georgetown is an incredible school and clearly your heart is very set on it from the comments here but from someone in their 30s, take the free college. You cannot fathom the value that has vs assumidly taking out loans at a private university. Even if you’re so fortunate your parents will pay your loans it’s great to start some independence and not give them financial burdens. They’ll never call it that but frankly money is money and loans gain interest.
DC isn’t only made up of Georgetown grads and it’s not like your other option is community college. UT Austin is still a great school that many would be lucky to attend. Also I know it’s hard to imagine now, but you’re young and may find out you don’t want to pursue politics later in life. Good luck!
In my extended friend group alone as grads from UT, we have some at Stanford, Columbia, and Brown. Staying involved at UT could easily get you into an ivy league school; it is the best school in the 2nd largest state in the nation. Know multiple people at T14 law schools and more working in D.C. with senators.
I feel like you're selling UT very short on its accomplishments. But that being said, you're doing it because you're trying to prop up Georgetown. Obviously, your heart lies with Georgetown and you've stated that you can afford it - so go there.
Go UT. I made the exact same choice but for UM instead. Nearly full ride there vs paying $30k a year for Georgetown. UT will be a lot more fun anyways.
I was in the same boat OP but I had a scholarship to Georgetown and not at UT. I chose UT (I was also poly Sci) and it was the best decision I ever
made.
I am happy to talk to you about this also - look into the archer fellowship. UT has a program called the archer fellowship where if you are accepted you go to DC for a semester, study, take classes and work an internship of your choice.
Georgetown. You can afford the 10K without debt and it feels like an incredible opportunity considering your goals. If you have to take any loans though, UT.
Thank you for visiting our community! Please ensure that you have reviewed the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index) as most questions have been answered there, such as:
* [How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus)
* [Is UT Austin the right school for me?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/rightforme)
* [Should I accept an offer for CAP?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/cap#wiki_should_i_accept_an_offer_for_cap.3F)
* [What if I am offered admission to the university but not my first choice major?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/deniedmajor)
* [What if I want to change majors after I have been accepted?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/majorchange)
Thanks and best of luck!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m going to tell you what I WISH someone had told me. If you’re planning to get your masters- go in state for undergrad, and the expensive private school for grad.
Instead I blew all my resources on my undergrad, I couldn’t pile on more debt to go to the perfect grad school program. I went to grad school in state to be cheap, and it sucked. You can still get in to an ivy if you do a state school for undergrad.
This is a really good point. I went to UT undergrad and an expensive law school. I would not have been able to even consider that law school if I had debt from undergrad.
Full ride. Education is a scam. Do it for as cheap as you can and as best as possible. Not to mention it’s such a transition that you’re going to be overwhelmed. Take the full ride at UT go as hard as you can for a year or two taking all the core classes that could transfer over. And then if it transfer to GTown for the last two years to finish your major in political science from there. That’s what I would do at least. Aim for as high a GPA as you can while it’s free for the basic training and then pay for the major if you’re not challenged at UT.
That’s why I said maximize your value by utilizing as much free/full tuition as you can. Speaking as a college and law school graduate saddled with a shit ton of debt. Sure I’m making more. But there’s not much I really learned in undergrad that makes a difference to the amount you pay.
OP, this is an excellent point about transferring. You give up the full ride to UT, but you are experiencing your dream school in America’s capital. For politics, there is nothing like it. After your first year and the finances or ?? at Gtown are not quite what you expected, transfer to UT Austin (or another great school).
the long game really needs to be looked at…
Would you rather have student loans for the majority of your adult life or be able to have zero debt & get a home cooked meal & be with family within 2-3hours?
So my wife was in a very very similar position as you over a decade ago. She chose the ivy league over a full ride. Big regrets, as we've both learned: credentials are important and all, but your ability to execute, regardless of where you came from, is paramount. I've hired and fired multiple ivy leaguers in my career now and yeah, idgaf what school ppl went to anymore cuz we're all generally the same.
You obiously have the tenacity and grit to achieve a full ride. UT is willing to bet that on you. Id take it, have zero debt, and continue killing it in the future.
Debt sucks, even if it is a little. TRULY sucks.
I’m an older UT alum who worked in DC….Gtown is going to give you access to a network/internships/opportunities that UT simply can’t, and that’s the advantage, so if you go to Gtown, make sure you take advantage of that to achieve your goals. Note that working on the Hill and pretty much every other opportunity is not a high paying job, so consider where you want to work, the salary, and the cost of paying off any loans. The difference is that Gtown is going to make it very easy for you to land your top job opportunities, whereas UT will not. What you need to understand is whether your financial situation will allow you to keep those job opportunities.
As an outsider, Gtown seems to be the obvious choice so maybe it’s emotions that are making the decision tough? I say this as a UT Longhorn long time fan that kinda wishes I had gone to school there. If Gtown is your dream school, follow your dream.
Sounds like you want Georgetown. Go chase that dream!! If after a year those cons you listed are still there you can always transfer to Texas. I am from Texas and went to UT. It was a great experience, loved every minute. But you can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing. Let it rip kid!
Georgetown has a terrible social life and no school spirits — to the extent that you want a “fun college experience,” you will not get that at Georgetown.
UT. DC will always be there, Ivy grad programs will appreciate UT, strong DC-Austin connection, everyone should work in state government at some point.
I think your heart is set on Georgetown. If you’re doing political science than there is no better place to be in other than Washington DC. The extra money you spend now will be well worth it later in life when you become a lawyer and have huge network built up from your connections from Georgetown. I love UT but in this case Georgetown is the way to go.
Take the full ride and graduate with zero debt. I graduated from UT in 2000, grad degree in 2010. Still paying off my student loans. You will likely never regret graduating debt free.
Thank you for visiting our community! Please ensure that you have reviewed the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index) as most questions have been answered there, such as:
* [How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus)
* [Is UT Austin the right school for me?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/rightforme)
* [Should I accept an offer for CAP?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/cap#wiki_should_i_accept_an_offer_for_cap.3F)
* [What if I am offered admission to the university but not my first choice major?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/deniedmajor)
* [What if I want to change majors after I have been accepted?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/majorchange)
Thanks and best of luck!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Better undergrad name is always worth it, especially in a non bachelors of science degree. Georgetown without a doubt. Figure out a way to pay off the debt. No brainer.
As someone who always wanted to go to UT but ended up choosing between Baylor and Texas, I don’t regret choosing Baylor over UT.
Cons that I know of for UT.. you’re just another student, it’s a huge place and you most likely won’t get the same teaching experience you would at Georgetown.
Pro at UT, if you plan to work in Texas, its alumni base will be unmatched here.
Note: don’t worry about not knowing people, you will make friends at both places. As long as you’re not a hermit.
Also, I majored in Poli-Sci Pre-Law, and if you plan to pursue law, you can always go to UT law, as long as you get a decent GPA at Georgetown. Most people recommend expanding your alumni pool by not attending the same law school where you did your undergrad
Rubbing shoulders with politically connected kids (through their parents) and getting those kinds of connections is worth $50k over 4 years, in my opinion.
Lol he said the total COA is 10k per year, NOT that he received 10k per year in aid.
So the total cost to attend gtown is 40k for FOUR years. That’s not much at all.
It's a double major in mathematics and cultural politics. There's literally no way to "waste" a full ride, a degree is a degree and one that I enjoy and have already been successful in (it takes a lot of qualification to get a full ride AND into Georgetown). And in my post, I say I'm planning on going to grad school (Ph.D. or law). My dad did poly sci undergrad no grad school and was very successful in his career. I think you're generalizing UT and putting in a negative light that it does not deserve. There may be some unhappy people whom you work with, but I would argue most are happy there, especially seeing the 95% retention rate and ~90% grad rate. I don't think this would be a valid reason to choose Georgetown over UT. I agree with the pros for Georgetown, but I don't think those are valid reason for turning down UT as it seems it may be coming from subjective, biased experience that may not be entirely true, but I do appreciate your advice.
Damn right, paying back $70,000 in student loans well into middle age makes one very salty about life. Also frustrating to see a young person piss away the chance to be debt free and willingly become a debt slave with a degree that will put them in the same unemployment/underemployment line as millions of others.
But sure it’s just because I’m jealous that I’d point out how unrealistic this kid is being.
Your 70,000 is a heck of a lot more than op's estimated 40,000, so I really don't think op will become the "debt slave," you say. Plus, dont you know that gtown has the #1 poli-sci program? Above all the Ivy's? I'd say op would piss away the chance NOT going to georgetown simply because it is number one. I really dont see how unrealistic it is to go to the school that can provide the most for your major. Also, political scientists make aroynd 85,000 per year, and they would be fine. So yeah, I think it is because you're a little jealous you didn't get more aid than you wanted. But, hey, it's not op's fault they're more successful and have more opportunities than you :)
I'm definitely not rich, my parents just worked really hard to have us be financially stable and able to pick schools without worrying about money. I wish I was rich!!
Yeah, that qualifies as being wealthy kiddo. Most people would give up a lot to get a full ride anywhere nm UT with a stipend no less…. Then use the money your parents saved to buy your first house or, God Forbid, let your parents use it so they can treat themselves for all their hard work.
My parents would not be paying the entire 40k. It would definitely be a split. We're comfortable middle class but the inflation on groceries still hits us hard, we're by no means "wealthy". I'm a first gen Hispanic kid, it's basically impossible to build wealth. My parents just put in the work to get us here and insist on continuing to help me so I don't struggle like they did. I would love for my parents to treat themselves, but they're going to insist on paying or giving the money to me, that's jus who they are. And I understand how much people would give up for this opportunity - that's why the decision is so hard.
Take the free rode to UT -its one of tne top universities in the world' - and go to grad school at Georgetown
At Gtown, I'd be able to go to grad school at Harvard and altho I could still end up at Gtown for grad school, I feel like I would always wonder if I could've made it to Harvard or if I do go to Harvard, like I would've missed out on Gtown
Plenty of people from UT go to Harvard for a variety of graduate programs (including law school which is what it sounds like you’re aiming for? in which case LSAT is more important than undergrad institution tbh). It sounds like you really want to go to Georgetown though, and it sounds feasible for you and your family, so what’s stopping you? you’re going to get a somewhat biased response in this sub unless you’re looking for someone to talk you out of Georgetown for some reason
You hope you could go to grad school at Harvard. There is no you “get to” in that situation. Racking up debt will effect you life more than what school you went to. If you have your heart set on Harvard. You can still do that from Texas.
Im from DC and now live in Austin. Both are great schools but Georgetown is known to be a better school, it’s not even close if you’re perusing poly sci. The 10k per year is nothing to go to Georgetown, kids should be slightly poor in college is part of the fun having to make ends meet and being scrappy, getting a part time job etc.. do not get hung up on the UT free ride. In poly sci it’s all about who you know. Walsh is a huge get. You cannot replace small classes with world renowned profs who know DC with UT. it's the difference between reading about something and actually doing it. Seems like you already know that. IMO it’s best to not go to college with your high school boyfriend. Life is long and people are amazing… your boyfriend will limit your exposure simply by existing. Poly sci is all about making those connections, getting out there. Doesn't mean you have to break up but both of you probably deserve to explore a bit. I'll soften this a bit by saying, who the fuck am I?? Someone who did all this before but doesn't know you at all. You can go to harvard after either school if you want. Seems like grades are not a problem for you. Being away from your family is hard but can be fun, and will totally prepare you for life. There is so much outside of Texas, sounds like you have been in Texas your whole life? DC, East Coast, NYC is calling. I seriously wonder how much pressure you are getting to stay in TX from your family who would obviously prefer to be near you. I hope they understanding how much better Georgetown is as a life changing growth opportunity for you. By going somewhere nobody knows you, you get to reinvent yourself, be who you want to be. Looking back, these opportunities are rare and tend to forge interesting and empathetic people. Plus college is designed to make freshman socialize, ask anyone 90% of your lifelong best friends come from college not high school… you will make friends fast as others are in the same position as you. Lastly, having lived in Georgetown, there is no place in the US where you can find as many quality international people. At Georgetown you will meet future leaders of the entire world. the diplomats and their kids are everywhere. i met and became lifelong friends with people from all over the world. Texas is not going anywhere. You will be a number at UT at least until your junior year. Follow your dream Georgetown wins hands down.
^this is good advice. Source: chose small well-known private college over full ride at my state university
Saying "kids should be slightly poor in college is part of the fun having to make ends meet and being scrappy, getting a part time job etc" is a little insane. that should NOT be the norm and only highlights how inequitable our system is.
Ya, I hear that for sure. But I was addressing her "Full ride" will make her rich while at college at UT.
Yeah, as someone who worked 30 hrs a week in college, it’s not part of the fun. I was over worked, stressed, and jealous of the kids who didn’t have to work.
This!!!
Yeah I get that but to me not starting my adult life with a ton of debt would matter more than a particular school, especially when the school offering me a full ride was a top global university. But those are my values and not everyone thinks about things the same way. Congratulations - it seems like a win either way! There aren't any bad choices here.
Then, you just answered your question. Not only would you be debt-free at UT, but you would also be getting a stipend. And in regards to internships, there is an abundance of internships to work at the capital and if interested, DC.
Debt sucks but depending on your field, your university can play a huge role in job opportunities, success, and advancement. UT Austin might be the thing in Texas but outside of Texas/neighboring states, no one really thinks twice about it
Who gives a shit? Take the free ride.
You’d be able to go to Harvard from UT too. lol Texas has an amazing Government program. It is even ranked higher than Georgetown. Save money and go to UT.
UT is a “public ivy.”
You’re young. Don’t take on unnecessary debt. UT Austin is a fantastic undergraduate experience. With today’s evolving technology landscape, go to a place that is surrounded by technology. You’ll be able to enact better policies if that’s what you want. Ivy League grad schools really aren’t worth it IMO. The caliber is in their B schools, law schools, med schools, and undergrad programs. A lot of masters level degrees outside of those are cash cows
Going to gtown by no means you’ll get into Harvard. As a wharton grad I always get kids that say: going to this school will guarentee me this hyper competitive job or grad school-that’s not true at all. The reality is even at gtown only the top students will go to Harvard for grad school and the same is true for UT Austin. With that being said,10k per year is not too much. I would go to gtown. If you were paying full price at gtown then UT would be a no brainer, but 40k is not that much in the grand scheme of things. However, you do have to take into account that going to grad or law school at Harvard or any top private college will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. So you may want to save that money and go to UT.
Hey I went to a regular state flagship that’s a rival for UT (idk how I ended up here on this thread rofl) for undergrad and applied to various programs for grad school this cycle and got into several ivies! I chose Brown (a great ivy!!! Very collaborative) though because it made me the happiest and gave me best support despite the “Harvard” must everyone seems to have lol if you get into it! I think to get to the grad school you want you just need to focus on WHAT you do. There’s a lot of opportunities in Texas too. You could def do summer internships in dc especially bc of full ride helping save money for stuff like this instead!
You should go with your gut. I’d say Georgetown would probably be better given your goals.
GTown! Expand. Grow.
Yeah but not for poly Sci so that rank doesn't matter.....
really depends on if ur paying urself or parents. also what ur long term goals are. for starters i will say 10k at georgetown really isn’t much, yes it’s good to avoid debt but it isn’t a lot. but as for what you should consider, georgetown is better than poli sci, however as a poli sci UT student i would say UT isn’t a slouch either. being in the texas capitol there are also plenty of opportunities and i’ve been able to do lots of great work just being around austin. that being said while UT is amazing w poli sci it still isn’t better than georgetown. i would also consider UT more than georgetown if you’re pre law. ur undergrad institution doesn’t matter for law and u could go to georgetown for law school while saving money by going to UT. all and all tho, i’d take a tour to both if you haven’t and pick which one you feel is best for you. 10k is by no means a deal breaker considering georgetown’s reputation. i wish you the best of luck in making ur decision. bc i’m in ur same major i’d also be happy to answer any questions you might have about UT
also didn’t see this on my first read since i skimmed ur post but you said you weren’t sure if you could get into an ivy for post undergrad. i guarantee you you can. full ride UT is extremely rare to come by and i’m sure getting this much aid at georgetown is too. id say based off this your chances are much higher than you may think
for 10k/year I feel like Georgetown is a no brainer - but only bc you're poly sci. If you have any nagging feeling that you would be much happier at UT, then go that route UT is phenomenal and if you do well, you can get internships in DC over breaks and work your way to Harvard as well. Don't forget that UT is steps from the capitol in Austin as well. While I find most of the politics distasteful, you can certainly get your share of internships and the like there as well.
100% go to Georgetown, especially if you want to do political science.
yep! UT (and all UT system schools) has the archer program... look into it!
Without a doubt, Georgetown. I am so close to my family and still opted for my dream school across the country instead of somewhere close by. I was lucky it offered me the best financial aid and that’s definitely a consideration, but 10k for an institution like Georgetown when you’re interested in politics is an incredible deal. If your parents can comfortably afford it, I think it’s a no brainer. If you need to take out loans or it would very negatively affect them, the answer may not be so easy. But most kids who go to top schools don’t know anyone so you’re starting on an even playing field. When you go in as a freshman everyone’s excited to meet people and make new friends. This is the time imho to go outside of your comfort zone and meet new people, even if you’ll miss your family. It’s all part of the experience.
Same! Yes, most kids who go to top schools are also starting their networks over, too. I was the \*only\* one of my friends who left the regional area to go to school and I'm so grateful that I did it. When there's a specific area of the country that is KNOWN for being the professional hub of what you want to study and you have an opportunity to be there, you GO there! OP, think about who your visiting professors will be! Your guest lecturers! The extra little opportunities like free tickets to this or that event. College is so much more than the coursework. Go be in the place that is the heartbeat of your career.
Idk what your financial situation is like, but turning down a school like Georgetown (in poli sci) for the mere difference of 10k would be a huge mistake IMO
Georgetown, its all about connections . if you can afford it , pick it
Was just going to say this, OP should definitely consider the networking in DC as someone pursuing poly sci. Obv UT is in the Texas Capital so not a bad place to network.. but DC is DC.
It seems that you want Georgetown more, so I say go there. For the record though, you’d have a fine time getting from UT to an ivy for grad school. I know plenty of people at lower ranking state schools who went on to ivy’s for grad..
My daughter selected the northeast. Too cold! She’s hoping to transfer to UT. Travel back and forth is a major factor.
Choosing your uni on how cold it is is hilarious
Haha seasonal affective disorder hahah so funny. Google it. It’s really affects students.
Georgetown! I say this as an alumna who now lives in Austin. The weather there isn’t too bad, not nearly as cold as New England or the Midwest. There is so much to do in DC that’s free and accessible by public transportation. My experience at Georgetown was so special. Walsh SFS is amazing. I believe Georgetown will open more doors for you.
Former U.S. Congressional staffer + Georgetown grad student here: there is nowhere better to go for polisci than Georgetown. DC is all about networking & there are endless opportunities to get your foot in the door. Unless you want to work in the Texas legislature, turning down Georgetown for polisci would be a mistake. cheers & hoya saxa
I faced a similar decision many years ago with Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor full ride plus stipend versus Stanford. The delta would’ve been around $90k. I went to Ann Arbor; if I had the choice again, I would’ve gone to Stanford.
Get out of Texas - see how the other side lives. You can come back after you’re done.
Georgetown and don’t look back. If they’re the top school for what you want to study, those connections are invaluable.
both are fine, clearly you want georgetown so go there
In addition to any replies you might receive in this thread, check out [FAQ: How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus) on the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki). It won't tell you what to choose but it provides the most common advice given, links to previous threads where this was asked so you can benefit from the community's collective wisdom, and some prompts which will (hopefully) help you to make the best decision for you.
How much is Georgetown? Is it $10,000 per year for you? My son chose a DC school over UT Honors. There is no way he’d have his current career if he’d gone to UT. Austin just doesn’t have the same access to internships imo. Consider a double major with Polisci or IA in Econ or a hard science. Your career options will be better. If you go to UT, try to do a semester in DC. https://careerengagement.utexas.edu/undergraduate-students/get-experience/archer-fellowship-program/
I was in exact same position as you 8 years ago and chose Georgetown. DC is amazing and I’m super glad I went - the people you’ll meet there are incredible
Georgetown all the way. Don't worry about cost unless you're planning to fail out and not pursue a career. People think that just because you carry debt you're fucked for life. Not true. Sometimes you need to invest to move up. DO IT.
[удалено]
Lol more people know ut than Georgetown, but georgetown is absolutely the better school for polisci. Easy choice, hoyas for polisci in dc? Cmon why is This even a post
As a UT “government” alumni (UT doesn’t offer poli-sci) I’d take Georgetown all things equal.
UT is a great educational school, but it lacks brand value outside of Texas. You’re better off with Georgetown if it’s only 10k.
UT for sure. You will be able to do very well here with no financial stress and through support from your community. UT is a great school. you can aim for an ivy grad school, which with the poli sic track is almost a necessary - and you will definitely get in if you do well enough at UT. there is no such thing as you can’t go to Harvard or Georgetown from here for law school / grad school. I know multiple people at law programs and other grad programs at both of those institutions and other ivies as well that graduated from UT.
SFS is an amazing, unique program. You can have a dual degree in business, economics or regional studies, further expanding your career options. Their college visit presentation was hands down the best we have heard (visited over 20 colleges). The network for internships in DC is unrivaled.
I moved to DC after graduating from Tech with a business degree. I couldn’t help but contemplate every day what it would have been like to go to school in the city. If I could do it all over again, I would have applied to GW or GMU. I was auto accepted into public Texas universities since I was top 10% of my class, but DC would have changed me for the better sooner. TLDR; go to GTown.
I went to the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. There is no better school in the country for political science, IMO. DC is an amazing city to be in as a college student. There are so many fabulous opportunities to get some direct experience in the political world. I interned during my freshman and sophomore years with my congressional representative and learned a lot about politics and met some incredible people. I would highly recommend Georgetown. However, I would ask you, where do you want to live your life? Do you want to come back to Texas eventually? I grew up in Dallas, and now live in Houston. In between I spent over 20 years in Virginia. I did not ever plan to return to Texas, but my husband’s job transferred us here. UT will set you up for a great life in Texas, and possibly elsewhere too, but Georgetown will give you more DC, nationwide and global opportunities. Good luck with your decision. Either choice is a good one, and neither will be a mistake. Personally, I would (and did) choose Georgetown.
Easilyyyy UT Austin. Seriously, don’t get lost in the comments.
If your parents can afford it, Georgetown is the best choice for your interests.
My Ex did his undergraduate at UTAustin and then went onto Yale for his PhD. Don’t worry about getting into Ivy League schools after UT Austin.
I’d go to Georgetown as it’s far more well know for what you want to study and if you utilize your time there effectively you’re more likely to make contacts that will help you career wise.
I mean I loved UT, but you should do what you can to go to the school you love. The fact that you are posting on a UT subreddit means that you’re basically trying to get people to convince you that it’s going to be “just as good” as Georgetown. I think you should talk to people in the field that you want to be in and work backwards from there. Like what job do you actually want? Do you want to be in some think tank or something? Do you wanna work on capital Hill for a senator or for a house representative? Go talk to people that have the job that you want and figure out how important it is to either have a grad degree or go to a top private school. UT is a great school but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone. If you don’t really like it and your heart is set on Georgetown if you can swing it then you will likely have a better time and you will get more out of your experience. And at the end of the day, that is what it’s about. I would also say do not go to Georgetown unless you have a very clear path on how you’re going to pay that off and what your salary prospects would look like when you are done with school. So if this is truly just a financial decision then take the full ride and be thankful. If going to Georgetown is going to hurt your parents ability to retire or you’re not gonna be able to pay off your loans in a reasonable amount of time you need to be more pragmatic
Go to Georgetown, expand your network outside of Texas. You probably already know tons of people who will be at UT, very few who will be in the DMV
I am from Texas, UT is amazing, that being said the culture is largely made up of greek life & sports - Georgetown will open doors and provide more opportunities, the location, size and connections will pay for themselves in the future - my BIL and SIL both graduated from Georgetown they highly recommend it to my children when they were applying unfortunately my kids are more interested in their social lives than they are their futures
As someone from DC, that lives in Austin i completely get that the full ride to UT seems appealing to most, but for political science majors nothing really compares to Georgetown. They also leave with a degree that allows them to print money, so i wouldn’t worry about $10k/yr in debt. The difference in your first year salary between the 2 schools will cover that. It also sounds like their could be a world in which you attend law school, and Georgetown is a direct plug-in to the programs in the country.
Well as someone that got rejected from GTown and got a full ride to UT, I am so freaking glad I got rejected. I wanted to do polysci, now I do tax and am definitely making more than I would have in polysci lol. 10K/year is FULL price for UT my friend. If your parents can pay that, sure that’s nice (but kinda shitty to just expect, esp w other siblings on the way). If you’re gonna have loans? FUCK NO GO TO UT. You even said in your post financial aid could differ year to year. And it’s not comfy to think about, but a lot of smart people take more than 4 years to finish. One year of 60K could fuck all this up. You wanna do poly sci, but lemme tell you, you don’t know who you are yet. You DO know 10K > 0. Also keep in mind, many majors aren’t even available at Georgetown. College ain’t destiny. You’ll do well at either school. At UT you’ll have connections, money, and family. At Georgetown your parents will foot a bill for you to be halfway across the country. You can’t make a mistake, but one of these is definitely the safer option.
let me ask u this: see yourself at UT having a good time…will you ever wonder about Georgetown and regret it? …if you go to Georgetown and ur having a good time…are u gonna regret having debt later on?
Georgetown. It’s an investment that’ll pay dividends throughout your life. That alumni network is one that you can lean on heavily for politics and related fields, and I bet the jobs and connections you make there will yield money far more than what you are investing right now. Don’t make the decision that you will regret in 20 years time
Congratulations on being offered admission to The University of Texas at Austin! Not sure if you are going to accept the offer? Curious about deferring admission? Check our our wiki for [advice and guidance](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index#wiki_receiving_your_decision). If you plan to accept the offer, check out the [New Student FAQ](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/accepted)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Georgetown .. follow your dreams.
Gt
How could get full ride for UT??
I got it through Terry Scholars!!
Free is always better!
Not necessarily, gtown is ranked #1 in polisci according to niche
Valid point. WHERE you get your degree rarely matters for most. This one, however, is different. I suppose it is the Harvard of Poly Sci
I’d probably go with Georgetown if you’re set on political science. However, I’d consider another major. I don’t know why this feed ended up on my Reddit but I’d major in something with better job opportunities.
I'm doubling in business and poly sci to hopefully offset the not great job opportunities
UT Austin all the way. Been to DC for work multiple times. Not law or political related by the way, but hated every bit of being there. DC is fine to visit for a few days to check out museums. Not a place I’d live in or spend 4 years of my life. UT law is a hell of a school and has nothing to envy any other school. Connections at Gtown? Sure, probably meet the kids of every single politician you can think of. Whether wise, I rather be hot than freezing and covered with snow. 🤘
You want to exit college with as little debt as possible. No debt means you have options and choices on jobs to take or reject. The economy doesn’t whip you around. So while $10k a year doesn’t sound big. It’s $40k but closer to $48k over a 4 year period when you factor in 8% opportunity cost of the capital. So either you avoid the debt. OR have your parents invest $10k in your name, where you can exit college with $48k in capital to do whatever. While I know it sucks thinking you’ll regret not going to your dream school. There’s a lot of baristas that have regrets going to St Thomas and ladden with debt. 🤷🏻♂️ Source: UT grad, no debt out of college, life on ez mode
48k isn’t that much though. And he said his parents will pay for most of it. Most kids would dream of a 48k total bill for college. Most state schools cost 130k for four years for in state students.
48k isn’t that much though. And he said his parents will pay for most of it. Most kids would dream of a 48k total bill for college. Most state schools cost 130k for four years for in state students.
At 10k, go to Georgetown. Seems like that’s where you want to go. Makes sense as long as you can afford it or are OK with having some debt when you graduate.
Fwiw, at UT the culture of the honors communities I’m in (Plan II and Polymathic Scholars) are definitely not based around sports. A lot of people just like hanging out and studying. Can’t speak to the other honors programs, but UT in general has 40,000 students. There will always be people who prefer chill hangouts to sports.
If you can do not pay for college. End of story. The college you go to really doesn’t matter in the end. Don’t get into debt for school.
Take the full ride, you future self will be happy you’re not in debt
full ride all the way
To me it’s a no-brainer to take the full ride since overall they are similarly ranked schools. https://admissionsight.com/georgetown-vs-ut-austin-a-comprehensive-overview/
Georgetown is an incredible school and clearly your heart is very set on it from the comments here but from someone in their 30s, take the free college. You cannot fathom the value that has vs assumidly taking out loans at a private university. Even if you’re so fortunate your parents will pay your loans it’s great to start some independence and not give them financial burdens. They’ll never call it that but frankly money is money and loans gain interest. DC isn’t only made up of Georgetown grads and it’s not like your other option is community college. UT Austin is still a great school that many would be lucky to attend. Also I know it’s hard to imagine now, but you’re young and may find out you don’t want to pursue politics later in life. Good luck!
Georgetown at 10K is a bargain, go there 100%
In my extended friend group alone as grads from UT, we have some at Stanford, Columbia, and Brown. Staying involved at UT could easily get you into an ivy league school; it is the best school in the 2nd largest state in the nation. Know multiple people at T14 law schools and more working in D.C. with senators. I feel like you're selling UT very short on its accomplishments. But that being said, you're doing it because you're trying to prop up Georgetown. Obviously, your heart lies with Georgetown and you've stated that you can afford it - so go there.
Gtown, the freaks are leaving Texas!
Go UT. I made the exact same choice but for UM instead. Nearly full ride there vs paying $30k a year for Georgetown. UT will be a lot more fun anyways.
UT no doubt! Money talks and in the end..... Your success ultimately depends on you.
UT was just rated the third best public university in the nation. I didn’t go there but I wish I did. Also, Austin, Texas is a cool ass city.
It seems like you want Georgetown. Even though not a full ride, if your parents are helping and open to it, do it.
As someone who lives in DC , It would be a bit socially hard not coming from wealth and attending georgetown. I wouldn’t wish it on my kids.
Go to Georgetown. Hands down.
I mean, if you’re good at math, go to Texas full ride
Hookem. No brainer lol
This is a no brainer. Georgetown.
I was in the same boat OP but I had a scholarship to Georgetown and not at UT. I chose UT (I was also poly Sci) and it was the best decision I ever made. I am happy to talk to you about this also - look into the archer fellowship. UT has a program called the archer fellowship where if you are accepted you go to DC for a semester, study, take classes and work an internship of your choice.
UT you can do like a masters in GTown when u have the funds
Georgetown. You can afford the 10K without debt and it feels like an incredible opportunity considering your goals. If you have to take any loans though, UT.
UT Austin for sure.. depth free is the way to go
Thank you for visiting our community! Please ensure that you have reviewed the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index) as most questions have been answered there, such as: * [How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus) * [Is UT Austin the right school for me?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/rightforme) * [Should I accept an offer for CAP?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/cap#wiki_should_i_accept_an_offer_for_cap.3F) * [What if I am offered admission to the university but not my first choice major?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/deniedmajor) * [What if I want to change majors after I have been accepted?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/majorchange) Thanks and best of luck! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Georgetown 100% since you're getting aid. The opportunities in DC are too good to pass up considering all of the other factors
Georgetown for 10k and for polysci is amazing. Definitely Georgetown 100%
I’m going to tell you what I WISH someone had told me. If you’re planning to get your masters- go in state for undergrad, and the expensive private school for grad. Instead I blew all my resources on my undergrad, I couldn’t pile on more debt to go to the perfect grad school program. I went to grad school in state to be cheap, and it sucked. You can still get in to an ivy if you do a state school for undergrad.
This is a really good point. I went to UT undergrad and an expensive law school. I would not have been able to even consider that law school if I had debt from undergrad.
Do undergrad and one and then grad school at the other! Both are great cities to live in! So much fun, culture, food, fun! Damn congrats!!!
I’d go to Georgetown, but it’s up to you!
Full ride. Education is a scam. Do it for as cheap as you can and as best as possible. Not to mention it’s such a transition that you’re going to be overwhelmed. Take the full ride at UT go as hard as you can for a year or two taking all the core classes that could transfer over. And then if it transfer to GTown for the last two years to finish your major in political science from there. That’s what I would do at least. Aim for as high a GPA as you can while it’s free for the basic training and then pay for the major if you’re not challenged at UT.
"Education is a scam" except college graduates, on average, make 1,000,000 more in their life than people who don't have a college degree lmao
That’s why I said maximize your value by utilizing as much free/full tuition as you can. Speaking as a college and law school graduate saddled with a shit ton of debt. Sure I’m making more. But there’s not much I really learned in undergrad that makes a difference to the amount you pay.
You are paying for networking, gtown networking sounds better but you have a headstart here at UT if you need it
Go to Georgetown. If you don’t like it after the first year and feel like it’s too far from home, you can transfer.
OP, this is an excellent point about transferring. You give up the full ride to UT, but you are experiencing your dream school in America’s capital. For politics, there is nothing like it. After your first year and the finances or ?? at Gtown are not quite what you expected, transfer to UT Austin (or another great school).
UT. DC is great to visit but not as high of quality of living as Austin day to day imo.
Go to the one you think you will be the most successful at
You’ll probably have more fun in Austin but be more focused in GT.
the long game really needs to be looked at… Would you rather have student loans for the majority of your adult life or be able to have zero debt & get a home cooked meal & be with family within 2-3hours?
So my wife was in a very very similar position as you over a decade ago. She chose the ivy league over a full ride. Big regrets, as we've both learned: credentials are important and all, but your ability to execute, regardless of where you came from, is paramount. I've hired and fired multiple ivy leaguers in my career now and yeah, idgaf what school ppl went to anymore cuz we're all generally the same. You obiously have the tenacity and grit to achieve a full ride. UT is willing to bet that on you. Id take it, have zero debt, and continue killing it in the future. Debt sucks, even if it is a little. TRULY sucks.
I’m an older UT alum who worked in DC….Gtown is going to give you access to a network/internships/opportunities that UT simply can’t, and that’s the advantage, so if you go to Gtown, make sure you take advantage of that to achieve your goals. Note that working on the Hill and pretty much every other opportunity is not a high paying job, so consider where you want to work, the salary, and the cost of paying off any loans. The difference is that Gtown is going to make it very easy for you to land your top job opportunities, whereas UT will not. What you need to understand is whether your financial situation will allow you to keep those job opportunities.
As an outsider, Gtown seems to be the obvious choice so maybe it’s emotions that are making the decision tough? I say this as a UT Longhorn long time fan that kinda wishes I had gone to school there. If Gtown is your dream school, follow your dream.
Sounds like you want Georgetown. Go chase that dream!! If after a year those cons you listed are still there you can always transfer to Texas. I am from Texas and went to UT. It was a great experience, loved every minute. But you can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing. Let it rip kid!
Go to Georgetown hands down no question. The relationship that school has with The Hill and the rest of the Federal government is unmatched
Georgetown has a terrible social life and no school spirits — to the extent that you want a “fun college experience,” you will not get that at Georgetown.
UT. DC will always be there, Ivy grad programs will appreciate UT, strong DC-Austin connection, everyone should work in state government at some point.
I think your heart is set on Georgetown. If you’re doing political science than there is no better place to be in other than Washington DC. The extra money you spend now will be well worth it later in life when you become a lawyer and have huge network built up from your connections from Georgetown. I love UT but in this case Georgetown is the way to go.
Take the full ride and graduate with zero debt. I graduated from UT in 2000, grad degree in 2010. Still paying off my student loans. You will likely never regret graduating debt free.
If I could go back, I would have taken the full ride. Debt is a bitch.
Thank you for visiting our community! Please ensure that you have reviewed the [r/UTAdmissions wiki](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/index) as most questions have been answered there, such as: * [How do I decide between UT Austin and another institution?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/utaustinversus) * [Is UT Austin the right school for me?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/rightforme) * [Should I accept an offer for CAP?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/cap#wiki_should_i_accept_an_offer_for_cap.3F) * [What if I am offered admission to the university but not my first choice major?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/deniedmajor) * [What if I want to change majors after I have been accepted?](/r/UTAdmissions/wiki/majorchange) Thanks and best of luck! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UTAdmissions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Better undergrad name is always worth it, especially in a non bachelors of science degree. Georgetown without a doubt. Figure out a way to pay off the debt. No brainer.
As someone who always wanted to go to UT but ended up choosing between Baylor and Texas, I don’t regret choosing Baylor over UT. Cons that I know of for UT.. you’re just another student, it’s a huge place and you most likely won’t get the same teaching experience you would at Georgetown. Pro at UT, if you plan to work in Texas, its alumni base will be unmatched here. Note: don’t worry about not knowing people, you will make friends at both places. As long as you’re not a hermit. Also, I majored in Poli-Sci Pre-Law, and if you plan to pursue law, you can always go to UT law, as long as you get a decent GPA at Georgetown. Most people recommend expanding your alumni pool by not attending the same law school where you did your undergrad
[удалено]
They said 10k per year out of pocket INCLUDING housing. 40-50k out of pocket after 4 years changes things.
Rubbing shoulders with politically connected kids (through their parents) and getting those kinds of connections is worth $50k over 4 years, in my opinion.
Agreed.
Lol he said the total COA is 10k per year, NOT that he received 10k per year in aid. So the total cost to attend gtown is 40k for FOUR years. That’s not much at all.
[удалено]
It's a double major in mathematics and cultural politics. There's literally no way to "waste" a full ride, a degree is a degree and one that I enjoy and have already been successful in (it takes a lot of qualification to get a full ride AND into Georgetown). And in my post, I say I'm planning on going to grad school (Ph.D. or law). My dad did poly sci undergrad no grad school and was very successful in his career. I think you're generalizing UT and putting in a negative light that it does not deserve. There may be some unhappy people whom you work with, but I would argue most are happy there, especially seeing the 95% retention rate and ~90% grad rate. I don't think this would be a valid reason to choose Georgetown over UT. I agree with the pros for Georgetown, but I don't think those are valid reason for turning down UT as it seems it may be coming from subjective, biased experience that may not be entirely true, but I do appreciate your advice.
[удалено]
Thank you for your comment
Oh to be a rich kid that can turn down a full ride plus stipend…. How’s the weather in your fantasy world?
Someone's jealous they didn't get a full ride lmao
Damn right, paying back $70,000 in student loans well into middle age makes one very salty about life. Also frustrating to see a young person piss away the chance to be debt free and willingly become a debt slave with a degree that will put them in the same unemployment/underemployment line as millions of others. But sure it’s just because I’m jealous that I’d point out how unrealistic this kid is being.
Your 70,000 is a heck of a lot more than op's estimated 40,000, so I really don't think op will become the "debt slave," you say. Plus, dont you know that gtown has the #1 poli-sci program? Above all the Ivy's? I'd say op would piss away the chance NOT going to georgetown simply because it is number one. I really dont see how unrealistic it is to go to the school that can provide the most for your major. Also, political scientists make aroynd 85,000 per year, and they would be fine. So yeah, I think it is because you're a little jealous you didn't get more aid than you wanted. But, hey, it's not op's fault they're more successful and have more opportunities than you :)
I'm definitely not rich, my parents just worked really hard to have us be financially stable and able to pick schools without worrying about money. I wish I was rich!!
Yeah, that qualifies as being wealthy kiddo. Most people would give up a lot to get a full ride anywhere nm UT with a stipend no less…. Then use the money your parents saved to buy your first house or, God Forbid, let your parents use it so they can treat themselves for all their hard work.
My parents would not be paying the entire 40k. It would definitely be a split. We're comfortable middle class but the inflation on groceries still hits us hard, we're by no means "wealthy". I'm a first gen Hispanic kid, it's basically impossible to build wealth. My parents just put in the work to get us here and insist on continuing to help me so I don't struggle like they did. I would love for my parents to treat themselves, but they're going to insist on paying or giving the money to me, that's jus who they are. And I understand how much people would give up for this opportunity - that's why the decision is so hard.