University of Michigan. They’re that good?
Well, it seems so, according to the 2007 Best Social Science Doctorate Programs by Yahoo! Education.
And I’m seriously thinking of considering them for my Master’s in Political Science, after I graduate from Bishop’s University, since they are rated third in the United States for that program. The first two are, obviously, Harvard and Stanford. Surprisingly, Political Science program ratings at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor are better than Yale, the university I’d like to attend most, which stands at fifth position, which is, after all, not to be scoffed at.
But the fact remains that the University of Michigan does incredibly well for a state-supported school. And this university is much easier to get in than other Ivy League institutions: While Yale, Harvard and Princeton admit roughly 10% of their applicants, UMichigan admits a whopping 57%. And Ann Arbor seems a very nice college town.
I want to do my MA in Political Science in the United States (better for getting jobs there when I graduate) and possibly a doctorate too. I was, of course, considering Yale, Princeton and Harvard for the U.S., and will apply there, but I needed some more, shall we say… realistic choices. I would also apply to McGill and/or Concordia as my safety school. But I needed something in between. So when I discovered UMichigan, with an admittance rate of 57% and still generous financial aid packages, I was pretty thrilled. They will be getting an application form in 2009 or 2010 from me that’s for sure.
And for those who have been brainwashed into thinking only rich people have access to an education in the United States, and that Yale and Harvard really cost $40,000 a year to attend, well let me tell you this. The latter is true, but only if you can afford it. That’s right. Out of roughly 3,655 full-time students enrolled at Harvard in 2005 that applied for aid, 3,288 were judged to have a need, and all of them had their need fully met. The average financial aid package at Harvard hovers around $30,000 a year. And that’s not all. For a university that supposedly charges 40k a year to attend, the average financial debt amount that Harvard graduates have to pay back is no more than $8,769. Pretty good for the best university in the world. Pretty darn good.
So if I do get in Yale or Harvard, the sky’s the limit.
But it’s getting in that’s the trick.
P.S. If you guys know of any well-renowned universities in the U.S. or Canada that are moderately easy to get into, not too expensive and that offer a quality Political Science program, please, let me know!
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Sources:
The 2007 Best Social Science Doctorate Programs by Yahoo! Education
For Political Science, you cannot leave out the University of Chicago.
But don’t look into those rankings too deeply. Find the professor under whom you wish to study and go to that school. UMich culture is different from Yale culture. And college at Princeton is no doubt different from grad school at Princeton.
Also, while the figures you list about Ivy League financial aid are correct, keep in mind also that that kind of aid and at those numbers is only available to undergrads. The policies of each university may be different for graduate students.
Comment by J — June 21, 2006 @ 1:49 am
Queen’s University has an amazing international affairs school if your interested in foreign relations.
Btw, what do you plan to do with you grad degree in Pol Sci?
Comment by -dikweed- — June 21, 2006 @ 8:39 am
Hi there guys, thanks for your comments.
@J: I had heard about the quality of the PoliSci program at University of Chicago. Now that you mentioned it, I don’t see why I left it out. Chicago seems a cool city too. Never been there, unfortunately.
You seem to know well what you’re talking about. Can you please explain to me the differences between the various college/grad school cultures? (I will start my undergrad studies at Bishop’s (B.A.) this fall, but it can’t hurt to know, can it?). And I’d also like to know the differences in financial aid between grad school and college, if you want to.
Thanks for the heads-up!
@-dikweed-: Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll consider it if nobody wants me in the U.S. (which WILL probably happen…) But I’d like to focus either on North American comparative politics (Canada-USA, maybe Mexico too), or American politics and internal domestic/foreign policy in the U.S. Maybe both. I’m not sure I would like foreign relations because I’m not that much of an internationalist…
My degree in PoliSci will either be a M.A. or a D.S.Sc (Doctor of Social Sciences) if I make it to the doctorate. There’s no way I will quit school with just a B.A. in hand. Too risky for my future. I’d love to get a doctorate. My dad did in Neuropsychology, so it’s doable by people, and I don’t believe I’m any less intelligent than he is.
Upon getting my degree (probably even before that), I plan to EXTENSIVELY search for nice high-paying job opportunities in the U.S. (40-50K a year for starters, Political Scientists’ median annual income in the U.S. hovers around 90K a year, with experience - Canada’s more like 55-60K CDN, Québec is even worse) If I find nothing in the U.S. (or if no one wants me there) THEN I’ll consider working in Canada, but absolutely definitely not in Québec as there are virtually no opportunities here for Political Scientists, it’s “inhumanly” cold in winter, and we are too taxed. I’d possibly consider Alberta, BC or Southern Ontario.
But I’m really hellbent on aiming for the States FIRST. That’s why graduating in the States would give me MUCH MORE visibility there (especially if the grad school I graduate from is any good and/or renowned) for jobs and I would already be physically present in the country for interviews and stuff. For example, Yalies and Harvard students are so in demand that the University posts their résumés on their website for potential employers to see. When they graduate, they’ve already got a nice job. That’s exactly what I’d like to happen to me. And it’d be a real bonus to me if I could relocate to one of these regions where I’d love to live: The Mid-Atlantic Seaboard (Southern NJ-DE-MD-DC-VA-NC-SC), Connecticut-Rhode Island-Long Island NY (a bit cold though but 100 times better than Québec), Texas (Houston, DFW or San Antonio), Arizona (Phoenix), Colorado (Denver) or California (L.A. area, S.F. area or San Diego). But I’d really go anywhere a nice job waits for me. Maybe not Alaska though.
Jobs that I’ll be hunting for when I graduate: either U.S. government-related (I know, I have to be a citizen, that sucks.) or in the private sector (consulting firms or the media - I’d love to be on one of the major U.S. news networks explaining politics to the American people and the world…) If I make it to the doctorate, maybe I would also consider teaching politics in a university. But I’m not sure I’d like that. Maybe later in my life, after another career in the private sector or something.
But while I have all the motivation I can muster, I’ll also need money for my studies, and an AWFUL LOT of it. And it’s the only thing I’m lacking right now as my grades aren’t too bad, and I’m really eager to start.
Hope I’ve got what it takes, because for now, that’s the plan.
As you can see, I’m a pretty ambitious kind of guy, but I’ve found out that my dreams, as ambitious as they might be, really do fuel my everyday life and motivate me to go on and attain them.
That’s pretty much it. Hope I didn’t bore you to sleep or anything.
Comment by Xavier R. Dubé — June 21, 2006 @ 11:57 am
Jesus thats quite the road map! Yeah, the states have got the jobs for Pol Sci. I still have one more year to go on my Pol Sci program but I’m already knee deep working in provincial politics. I hope to continue with the PC Party here in NB after I graduate until my girlfriend finishes then I’ll do an MA. Im looking at U of Calgary, but now im def going to be looking into Michigan!
Comment by -dikweed- — June 22, 2006 @ 7:48 am