nason

Sorry for the confusion. If you have any requirements that you need to take before school starts they will be listed in your admissions letter. If you letter does not state anything specifically than I wouldn't be too concerned.
 
To break this down in a mini-chart:
 
Minimal economics background -- in some cases you will be required to take an introductory-level course so that you are prepared to take (intermediate) micro and macro at SAIS when school starts. There is also a math bootcamp available, too. Note -- SAIS does not call the classes intro or intermediary -- just micro and macro.
IDEV -- must take (intermediate) microeconomics during the summer. Counts toward your core requirements.
If you want a "head start" to free electives -- you can take micro or macro. I believe you can try to take trade theory or monetary policy (the other 2 required classes) depending on your background.
Waiver exams -- if you received a B- or higher in any of the 4 required courses than you can sit for the waiver exam at designated dates. You can only take the exam once. Trade theory and monetary policy are offered in the Spring only.
 
A typical student's schedule will have micro and macro in the fall; then trade theory and monetary policy in the spring. Note that micro and macro are pre-requisites for monetary policy and trade theory. After those 4 classes are complete you pick 2 electives. This is the minimum, many people take additional courses in one of the advanced tracks.  
 
This SAIS page should answer your questions: http://legacy2.sais-jhu.edu/academics/economics/ma-requirements/index.htm
 
If anything I wrote is wrong, please let me know so I can edit or delete this post. And, yes, I found the SAIS requirements to be a bit confusing because the class is so diverse in terms of backgrounds.

Anyone interested in joint-degree information, here you go:
SAIS has formal programs with Wharton, Tuck, and INSEAD. The upside is that it's less of a hassle negotiating what credits count twice. You can apply to a MBA program during your first semester at SAIS; or vice-versa if you are already in at a MBA program. You have to do a full year at both institutions; the remaining year can be done in any order.  SAIS will generally accept "ad-hoc" arrangements with most high-ranked MBA programs. HBS and Darden do NOT allow you to do a dual-degree with schools outside their institution. If HBS is on your radar it will take 3.5 years. SAIS folks have done joint degrees with Stanford, Columbia, Sloan, Kellogg, Booth, Yale, and others. Strongly suggest you contact the MBA programs you are interested in to learn more about their policy toward joint degrees with outside institutions. It is generally smarter to do your first year at SAIS followed by 3 semesters at the MBA program to take advantage of the MBA recruitment season and summer internships. IF you are pursuing more of a private sector career.  Attending SAIS, to my knowledge, does not particularly help or harm your chances of acceptance at a MBA program. Wharton caps the # of dual-degree students at around 15, most years. Most schools accept the GRE, but I strongly encourage you to take the GMAT if you have the time or money to do so. GMAT math is considered much more difficult than the GRE, and includes "sentence correction" for the verbal portion. General wisdom is you should aim for 80 percent in both math and verbal; although a score of ~680 generally puts you in the running for top programs. That's it off the top of my head. Message me if you want more specific details. Also -- you need to be able to make a strong case on why you need both degrees; what each program is going to offer you; and, a clear sense of how you want to divide the curriculum so that you're not wasting money taking the same class twice.

Yep - they discussed employment rates...93% for class of 2012 6 months after graduation.  Talked a lot about career classes and workshops and that they have 17 'treks' around the globe to meet with potential employers.  As has been talked about extensively here, there was mention that the big 3 consulting firms don't really recruit on campus, but a good number of graduates find work in more niche consulting companies.  If I heard it right, 47% of 2012 class reported a job in the private sector, 19% non-profit, 18% public, 12% in intl organizations like EU, UN, World Bank, etc.
 
There was some talk about internship opportunities as well -- students are discouraged from interning first semester regardless of campus.  After that, Bologna is more of an "academic city" so few have internships off campus, but some DC students do find outside work.
 
Hope that helps.

Yep - they discussed employment rates...93% for class of 2012 6 months after graduation.  Talked a lot about career classes and workshops and that they have 17 'treks' around the globe to meet with potential employers.  As has been talked about extensively here, there was mention that the big 3 consulting firms don't really recruit on campus, but a good number of graduates find work in more niche consulting companies.  If I heard it right, 47% of 2012 class reported a job in the private sector, 19% non-profit, 18% public, 12% in intl organizations like EU, UN, World Bank, etc.
 
There was some talk about internship opportunities as well -- students are discouraged from interning first semester regardless of campus.  After that, Bologna is more of an "academic city" so few have internships off campus, but some DC students do find outside work.
 
Hope that helps.

Yep - they discussed employment rates...93% for class of 2012 6 months after graduation.  Talked a lot about career classes and workshops and that they have 17 'treks' around the globe to meet with potential employers.  As has been talked about extensively here, there was mention that the big 3 consulting firms don't really recruit on campus, but a good number of graduates find work in more niche consulting companies.  If I heard it right, 47% of 2012 class reported a job in the private sector, 19% non-profit, 18% public, 12% in intl organizations like EU, UN, World Bank, etc.
 
There was some talk about internship opportunities as well -- students are discouraged from interning first semester regardless of campus.  After that, Bologna is more of an "academic city" so few have internships off campus, but some DC students do find outside work.
 
Hope that helps.

All I've seen you do on this board is complain. I seriously feel bad for your future classmates, colleagues, and coworkers. 

LOOOL, when you come from an underdeveloped country and your mother never even attended middle school, and your parents did their best to give you a great education even though your country was undergoing war, it is a great feeling to be accepted in a Program like SAIS!
 
When I applied, I thought the only schools I had a reach at were American University and SUNY-Albany, given the stats of those who were admitted. I ended up getting in GPPI, GW Trachtenberg, American SPA, SUNY- Albany Rockefeller, Carnegie Mellon Heinz College and now SAIS with money from most of them, I think I have good reasons to be excited even though I will unfortunately only attend one But Yayyyyy ))

Congrats to everyone who got in and good luck to those who are still waiting to hear from SAIS

you see some of us actually care about IR and PP and didn´t just apply to these programs as an easy way to have an MBA, therefore we are excited, go and have your dinner.

Good luck this week everyone! 

Hi guys, current GHD-er here   Just wanted to clear some things up -
 
 
Yes, it is in SFS.  Also, for our electives, we can take courses from any of Gtown's programs - so you can take classes through GPPI, the business school, the law school, and obviously a lot of us take straight-up SFS courses (GHD also has its own electives that we are guaranteed spots in and which have been popular this semester with students from other programs). 
 
As for the fellowships, I can't really say for sure.  There are some to apply for (I am applying for FLAS as we speak).  Some people have jobs (I currently have a paid internship at an NGO, that I got thanks to our program) and I think a couple have scholarships outside of GHD.  I can't say for certain because we don't really talk about money amongst ourselves.  This is definitely where it would help just to email our program heads, as they are very upfront about everything, and they would be able to tell you best what your options are.
 
 
The program is staying at 20.  I imagine when you were speaking with someone and they said 40, they probably meant something along the lines of the program in total having 40 people once the new cohort gets here.  (this is something we talk about, as it will be strange to have a new cohort soon! haha)
 
For experience, everyone in our program now has at least a year of development experience.  Most have more, or at least some other kind of work experience.  I'd say beyond development work, at least international experience is a must.  Frankly, it makes our classes a lot better because we've all worked in the field in some way, so you come into the program at least with a basic understanding of how these concepts and such work in the real world. It's been pretty great learning from other students' experiences as well.
 
Please feel free to message me with any questions.  And congrats to all who got in - all of us in the current cohort are super excited to meet people!
 
**EDIT - we can also take classes at any school in the DC Consortium, such as American, GW, Maryland, etc.  http://www.consortium.org/consortium/index.cfm **

the bluntness of the blog is somewhat comforting to me... at least i knew ill be put out of my misery one way or the other by next week

Astute as most of you are, you're probably aware of it already but the APSIA website have a new list of scholarships so for those unaware, its a good source.

http://www.apsia.org/find-fellowships-scholarships/

Think Kadisha and I got to the bottom of it...interview is required even for US students if doing MAIA full 2 years in Bologna.  If US student applying for MA and spending just the 1st year in Bologna, seems the interview is not required.
 
Hope that's accurate/hope it helps clarify.

Poli sci with a concentration in international relations, but then worked in finance for 4 years...making my way back to the international affairs arena