Hey everyone, I'm a junior, very interested in political science. I want to study in California. Any suggestions on the best schools there for this subject?
Sure thing, you're in luck because California houses several excellent institutions with strong political science programs.
First of all, you can't miss Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Both are renowned and often rank among the best schools for political science, nationwide. They have faculty who are top experts in their fields and numerous research opportunities.
A step behind this duo but still very strong are UCLA, University of Southern California (USC), and University of California, San Diego (UCSD). These schools have sizable and well-established political science departments, offering a range of courses in areas like American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.
Then there's Pepperdine University. Although not as decorated as the schools already mentioned, Pepperdine's location near L.A provides a wealth of connections for internships and networking, particularly within the realms of local government, public policy, and law.
Lastly, Pomona College deserves a shout-out. As a liberal arts school, it enables an approach to political science that blends with other disciplines. The Claremont Colleges consortium, which Pomona is part of, also allow a wider choice of courses.
A bonus is that all these schools are quite different—Stanford and Berkeley have larger student bodies, USC is private with a robust sports culture, Pepperdine has a gorgeous campus overlooking the ocean, Pomona is a small liberal arts college. This should help you tailor your choices more to your preferred campus culture and environment.
Remember, while rankings and prestige are important, you should also consider factors such as size, location, campus culture, available resources, and other offerings (like study abroad programs or internships) when making your college decisions.
Good luck with your search!
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