JFactor

Thanks for the preliminary info on the math requirements. I'll let you know if I get a useful response from them regarding the content/difficulty of the waiver exams etc.

If I end up choosing SAIS, I'm also thinking of studying on my own and taking the micro-and macro exam in May/June as I was also an econ undergrad. However, I'm not a math wizard by any means so I'm wondering how extensive your knowledge of calculus has to be in order to pass these exams and what's the format of the exams etc. I'm definitely going to ask for more information on the exams, but based on the list of books and topics that you posted in this thread earlier, I have at least one of those books from my time as an undergrad and the topics didn't sound too challenging. I'm also thinking whether it would be feasible to take the Theories of International Relations waiver exam in the summer as well. All three could be too much so perhaps I'll just do one econ waiver and the IR theory exam and complete the other econ course during pre-term in Bologna. But if choose SAIS, my plan is definitely to get as many of these courses out of the way as possible so I have more room for electives.

This is exactly how I feel. Of course some of it is intentional trolling/hyperbole, but if he is not at all who he says he is, then he's really committed to his "craft" and I must say that is very impressive although a little absurd/pathetic at the same time (who keeps wasting their time like that?). Nevertheless, it's been entertaining.

Fair enough. Didn't mean to come across as saying that the forum has been completely biased or anything like that. Sometimes some voices are more prominent than others but you're completely right, this is a very good added resource but obviously not the only one people should use. And yeah, SIPA's cost is really high and it's rightly criticized for its stingy financial offerings. I'm actually quite shocked how they can get away with that. Must be the NYC experience and the Columbia name.

I think I have him figured out pretty well. He's telling how he really feels when he's speaking about his feelings of inferiority and insecurities (all his MBA buddies partying and getting smart and hot ladies and having this transformative experience etc.) but then he plays it up because he knows he's getting some attention. So all in all it's pretty interesting/entertaining/sad.

Biking in the snow is feasible but you really have to know when there's ice on the road and when there's not. Depends how used to and comfortable you are with snow. Just as a sidenote...

Well put. SIPA was also one of my top schools when I was applying and I was very surprised about the negative impressions here. But when I went beyond gradcafe it was clear that SIPA is very competitive in terms of career/earning potential, academics, and even financial aid with other top IR programs. I got waitlisted at SIPA so it doesn't matter to me personally anymore, but it's a good point you're making. It's true that even though this forum can be very useful, it often offers only one point of view that is obviously skewed based on the interests and impressions of people who post here. That's just life. Good luck with SIPA, hopefully you'll figure things out.

Congratulations to all who got good news. I'm slightly bummed but overall my application season went better than I expected. Now it's going to open houses and decision time.

Waitlisted.

I checked your stats and it seems that we are very similar in terms of our background and interests. Quantitative methods are very important for me as well. I'm going to ask SAIS these questions a little later when I know about all my decisions and when they're probably a little more available, but if anyone has any info about the waiver exams sooner, don't be afraid to share!

Thanks ivydreams. Yeah, not a lot of full time work experience but grad school is definitely the right next step for me given my circumstances and I was just hoping that the other factors in my application would be strong enough, and I guess they were. Hopefully you'll get some good news soon!

Congrats! I'm still waiting...it's brutal. If I get in, it's going to be most likely SAIS versus SIPA debate for me.

Thanks Goose, hope you get some good news! I see you've heard from SIPA, congrats! I'm still waiting to hear from them and I have a bad feeling about it since the majority here seems to have got their decision already...

I'm also not considering Fletcher. Main reason is the money that they offered me which is not competitive with what I've been offered elsewhere. Also, I feel that in order for me to choose them, they would have had to offer me not just the same amount but more money than SAIS for example in order for me to attend simply because of the location that is not so great. But don't get me wrong, I was really excited to get admitted into such a great school as Fletcher and I'm sure it's the right choice for a lot of people here.

Just got an email saying that I got in! Very, very surprised! However, my official admission letter with all the scholarship info isn't ready yet and they said they'll send me an email when I can view that on the Apply Yourself portal.

If I end up choosing SAIS, I will try to pass the waiver exam for at least one of those in the summer and I'm also wondering if it's feasible to take the exam for one of those cour courses (IR theory class comes to mind) by studying independently for the exam in the summer. Like you, I definitely would like to have more space for electives.

Wow, you are an interesting troll. You put this much effort into trolling an obscure discussion board? Because I just can't believe you're serious. But if you miraculously are serious with this stuff, seriously buddy, I'm sure you're a nice person and all, but you really need to think about your values and perceptions of life (including finding a mate). That last sentence is so funny and sad at the same time that I don't know what to say. If you truly are serious with this stuff, you must have a huge inferiority complex and a lot of insecurities. There's no other way to put it. I'm no psychologist and I don't want to be and this isn't a place to discuss some random poster's "issues" but that last sentence is just so...mind-blowing. Sir, you are either an excellent troll or a dude with a lot of issues (and with a warped idea of attractive well-educated women).

Revolution, I understand many of the points you're making. And the way you talk about MBA programs (it's clear you have a lot of friends who did an MBA) shows that that's what you should do. SAIS isn't going to help you. It's going to make you miserable. You're a finance guy with experience and you just absolutely love what MBA entails so if you don't get into an MBA program this year, apply next year and in the meantime keep working (if possible in your circumstances). SAIS or a degree in IR in general isn't for you. You will be much happier at a business school. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks and good luck to you as well! Perhaps our paths will cross next year in Bologna.

flyingjellyfish-sure, no problem, I don't see the harm in revealing these things (it's not like people can identify me and even if they could, I wouldn't really care) and that's why my signature has all the info. I got $20k for the first year in Bologna and only $10k for the second year in DC, so it seems like you got a financial package a step above mine. Congrats, that's a great offer! That being said, I still completely share your worry about the cost. I'm gonna get about $20k in other sources for the two years but still the debt is going to be a little bit above yours. However, I know that I need the MA, I know what I want to study and that SAIS is excellent for that, and I have really no other options to be honest (getting a full-time job with just a BA is very difficult in my circumstances - I need someone to sponsor me a visa in the US and in the EU where I'm from, just a BA is basically worthless). It looks more and more that I'm going to make my decision between SAIS and SIPA (if I get in).

Thanks for your response. I'm also interested in what you said here because I'm going to focus on international trade as well and checked out the classes focused on trade that SAIS has to offer and they seem to be excellent and much more in depth than what most other IR programs have to offer. But I haven't researched Elliott in extreme detail yet. I also got about the same amount of money from both Elliott and SAIS so I'm definitely leaning toward SAIS. But I understand that if you have to work full-time Elliott makes more sense, though I've heard that doing part-time work/internships while in SAIS is feasible too which I am planning to do.

Can I ask CalSeeker why you chose GWU over SAIS? Was it the scholaship money or something about the degree structure?

Don't worry about that guy, it's obvious he's a little lost in terms of what's a good next step for him in his life and how to evaluate graduate programs. The evaluation criteria he is applying is often quite juvenile but I wish him all the best nevertheless.

I'm also (most likely) attending the Open Houses at SIS, Elliott, and SAIS.

Still nothing for me. But like Taidan, I have very limited experience after undergrad so I'm not expecting to get in (and MSFS isn't even one of the best suited programs for me to be honest)