William & Mary vs. UCLA: Which is better for undergraduate political science research?

For an undergraduate focused on political science research and close faculty mentorship, William 6 Mary is likely the more advantageous choice. Its smaller undergraduate setting makes it easier to build sustained relationships with professors, pursue independent projects, and receive detailed guidance on graduate-school preparation. UCLA offers exceptional political science scholarship and a much larger menu of research areas, but accessing individualized mentorship can require more initiative in its larger department.

William 6 Mary’s Government Department has a long-standing undergraduate research culture, including the Charles Center for Academic Excellence, which supports faculty-mentored research, grants, conference travel, and summer work. For a student considering a Ph.D., the chance to work closely with faculty, develop a clear research question, and earn strong, detailed recommendation letters is especially valuable.

UCLA has major advantages in scale and specialization. Its Political Science Department provides access to faculty working across American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, race and ethnicity, and quantitative methods, alongside broader UCLA research centers and Los Angeles-based civic organizations. A motivated student can find serious research roles, particularly by approaching professors, completing methods training, and seeking structured programs such as the Undergraduate Research Center. Still, introductory courses and even some upper-division classes may be substantially larger than at William 6 Mary.

For a future research degree, the deciding factor should be where you are most likely to become known by several faculty members and complete a substantial project, such as a thesis or multi-quarter research assistantship. William 6 Mary makes that path more built into the undergraduate experience; UCLA can match it for a proactive student who wants its wider academic ecosystem and particular faculty expertise.