IRGrrrrad

I was at the GW Open House too! It took me setting foot in DC to realize that Fletcher, though a great school, is really dinged by being located in Boston. I don't think I want to position myself for a PhD at this point and you can't beat the professional orientation of GW's cirriculum. I'm sold!

Hey GoIr, I'm in the same boat and was wait listed too. I interviewed with Fletcher prior to applying however, and believe that it made the difference that ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the wait list over the lesser desired option . The interviewing style is somewhere between professional and informal. That being said, you should remember that its really a forum for conveying anything that you feel didn't come across in your application. Sometimes being able to explain your goals without a word limit can help shed some light on you as a candidate. You need to bring a resume before your interview so that your interviewer can review it ahead of time. The dress code is "relaxed formal". (for example: I wore slacks and a a button down shirt without a tie). Fletcher prides itself on its relaxed, eclectic atmosphere and diversity. Show them how bringing you on will help add to that mix. i.e., why are you Fletcher material -think personality not academic horsepower.I was asked specifically about interesting points and experiences on my resume (i lived in China for 4 years, taught English, studied Mandarin, etc.) Make sure you convey what you want to do professionally and how Fletcher can take you there. Think of the interview as an expanded personal statement opportunity without sounding like you rehearsed. Hope that helps, I'm off to Elliott's Open house tomorrow. Good luck!

Okay, looks like I'm gonna have to take the $$$ at GWU and hold my breath that Fletcher (no $$$) gets back to me before I pack up and head off to D.C. Is it worth walking away from a fellowship though? Does anyone else feel crazy for not jumping at the money?

Is anyone else torn between waiting to hear back from their first-choice and taking the finacial aid package at their close second or third.

Thanks for all of the great responses everyone. In trying to write my Fletcher wait list acceptance letter, I have again stumbled into the question surrounding the value of "prestige" vs. solid professional preparation. I have seen on many occasions two separate lists of schools sorted into "academic" and "professional" categories. The "prestigious" schools (WWS,SAIS,HKS,Fletcher, SFS) all make the "academic" list, and schools such as Elliott,Denver,AU SIS, and Pitt are placed on the "professional". Is there a clear division between "theory and practice" when it comes to these schools? Are the Think Tankers and PhD's going to one set with the FSO'S and USAID workers going to another? Keep the responses coming, we only have a few more days to decide.

Some might argue, and I believe already have, that schools heavier on quantitative studies like SAIS, WWS, and SFS are significantly different from schools identified as having deeper liberal arts resources like Fletcher and Yale.This may help us organize the programs, but does that ensure the graduate with one school's name will get the job over another? Harvard's niche is thier development focus, but Fletcher and AU SIS's track record in that area has been long-established and beat-out HKS hands down. My original post asks the question, does the name matter if the school has already established itself in the eyes of professionals within the IR community as being reputable?

Hey everyone, I have been silently benefiting from your many interesting threads all during this application, waiting, and decision-making process. Now that the time to choose which institution to attend this Fall has arrived, I wanted to ask the forum whether or not the many differences we point to when differentiating one program from another really translates into any noticeable difference professionally after graduation? I have heard people trash quality programs and wax philosophical about over-rated brands-name schools. I was accepted at KSG, denied at AU SIS. :?: Waitlisted at Fletcher, Accepted at Elliott. Accepted at Georgetown, rejected at SIPA :?: . I'm wondering if we are giving this stuff just a little too much thought. Once you nail a top 10 IR program, does it really matter what's on your degree?