Pinaman

Not necessarily better. Its what I would have done if I were in your situation.

I feel WWS has a better attitude towards public service than HKS. I mean just consider their reason for giving full funding. In your applications, which school ever cited that as a reason?

Again, in the absence of a B-school and L-school, WWS students are the kings on the hill. No ego bruising and stuff like that. I believe they get the necessary attention and respect and do not play second fiddle to any school or program.

You may wish to speak to piquant777 or fenderpete, current students of WWS.

I agree that fletcher is on a different level than elliott.
 
However, I think you overestimate the importance of being in boston. So fletcher students get to "interact" with MIT, HLS, HBS students. Ok, so what? I guess you can take classes there, but you won't get to enjoy the main benefits of their career services, access to recruiting and jobs, etc. And you probably won't be able to attend most of their company presentations and other events either.

I agree with biscuits. Although the harvard name brand is huge, we're talking about policy programs here, not harvard business or law school. Think VERY carefully about amassing $100K+ debt before going to a policy program. They charge outrageous tuition, are stingy with funding, and provide little economic value to the students in return. It's sort of a pseudo-scam in this regard where the HKS people are using the overall harvard name to trick you guys.

There are recruiters from banks, consulting firms, NGOs and everything in between on SIPA campus all the time. Comparing it with B school just doesn't make a ton of sense. Really depends on what you want to do.

I've worked in Policy research almost 10 years - before, during and after SIPA. I feel like I must have worked w an MBA person at some point but can't think of any. Probably because there are always economists around who tend to view an MBA as an expensive networking opportunity and an overly generalist education. It's called policy school for a reason!

Not trying to be a dick but revolutions advice is not accurate in my experience

Calm down chief. I applied to both mba and policy programs in hopes of doing a joint degree since my interests are at the intersection of the two.

brooklyn11,
 
Thanks for the very informative and honest post on SIPA. I think everyone found it very useful.
 
What you said corroborates what I've heard from alums and students as well. You're really going to have to hustle hard to get a job you want since career services is so awful.
 
You mentioned that you shouldn't rely on career services or degree alone to get a job. While that is true at a general level, the on-campus recruiting at a top b-school such as Columbia is SUPERB. From the moment you step foot on campus they really prepare you to get a great job since their very reputation depends on it. You are inundated with campus visits from top companies throughout all industries, and it really becomes an embarrassment of riches. I guess this is where policy programs fall short; there is virtually no on-campus recruiting or visits by private sector companies, so someone who's interested in that space has to spend 2 years hustling like a chicken with its head cut off, just to land interviews.

I applied to mba programs as well and waiting to hear back from them.

My god man, I don't mean to be unpleasant or turn this thread into the cesspool of negativity that the HKS thread has become over the last few weeks, but so far as I can tell you have contributed absolutely nothing here or in the other threads other than to complain about how crappy/awful/pointless you think an IR degree is versus an MBA. If you really think an MBA is better, why did you even bother applying to programs like SAIS or HKS? Why not apply to some business schools, since that's clearly what you're interested in? I'm just confused as to why you would apply to IR schools if you're so intent on slagging them off. Look, we realize our earning potential is probably lower than someone with an MBA, and that attending a program like SAIS is a huge financial decision. You may notice we've all been talking about just that. Please realize some of us are in this not to make the most money possible in our careers, but because we have a genuine interest in international relations. Furthermore, not all of us are interested in what an MBA offers. I, for one, am interested in a field that has nothing to do with business, and would not be well served at all by a business degree. Again, I apologize if I'm being rude, but you've really become a broken record and its very tiring. Try being positive sometimes!

Ready to officially change my name to Bumpus Bumpus if that is what it takes to get accepted

My friend go for the MPhil. You already said a PhD is your ultimate goal. So MPhil is the way to go.
 
Plus its full ride.

GTown GHD came in today, or yesterday depending on which continent.

GTown GHD came in today, or yesterday depending on which continent.

Schools Applying/Applied To: WWS,HKS, GSPP, Maxwell, WSFS, ESPA, Trachtenberg

Schools Admitted To: n/a
Schools Rejected From: n/a
Still Waiting: All

Undergraduate institution: Top university in Ghana
Undergraduate GPA: 3.51
Undergraduate Major: Accounting

GRE Quantitative Score: 160
GRE Verbal Score: 158
GRE AW Score: 3.5 (yuck!!!)

Age: 28
Years of Work Experienc: 5+
Describe Relevant Work Experience and International Experience: I currently do not have any full-time direct experience in development policy and administration. But I have plenty of volunteer experience both during college and working. I worked with a Big 4 audit firm after college before moving into banking. I've travelled well in Africa and Asia, and currently working in Singapore.

Languages: English + native (fluent in both), basic knowledge of German and Mandarin

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have no direct experience that I can rely on to demonstrate my commitment to public service. So what I did was to talk about my volunteer experience both past and present, my international travel experience and essentially my reason for switching careers from accounting and banking to public service. Yes, I know, it took me five years to finally come to terms with the fact that that's where I belong.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have two strong professional recommendations from one supervisor and one talent manager. They were very enthusiastic about my decision and even encouraging regarding the expected switch in career. I'm not too sure about my academic recommendation though.