From Georgia Tech to NC State

Okay, screw Georgia Tech.  Waaay too focused on the whole political science, governments are great and shouldn't-we-all-work-for-the-DoD-if-we're-good-Americans thing.

Moving on.

NC State's program isn't bad, appears to be highly customizable, and not as based in the bureaucracy as GT's.  There are no courses which focus on Africa, obviously an area of importance to me.  They have requirements of living overseas for at least 12 weeks and a foreign language proficiency, both of which I've fulfilled.  Again, like Pitt, the courses seem fairly run-of-the-mill, and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's certainly not a point in their favor.

Tuition: here is where NC State really shines.  It's only $3000 per semester for residents, and only $9000 for non-residents.  Taking the time to establish residency would be well worth it, but even still, it's cheaper than any of the others so far.  With a program of 36 credit hours, we're looking at between $12k and $36k.  At least half the price of Pitt and Claremont.  So that's a benefit, should I have to pay for school.  Though paying out-of-state tuition really bugs me - states' rights and separate regulations are ridiculous in this day and age.

North Carolina is also home to some of the happiest people in the country, not counting the pot-heads in Oregon and the oxygen-starved in Denver.  Beautiful place, cheap living.  Definitely a point in its favor.

So far, I'd rank them Claremont, NC State, Pitt. GT's not on the list.