123seekay123

Not for IR at all!
I'm deciding between SAIS and Tufts, myself. But if I had to choose between NYU and GW, I would go GW 100%. I don't even know if NYU is ranked for international affairs, while GW did make the list for Foreign Policy's IR schools. I only applied to NYU because at the time I wanted to stay in NY.

Looking forward to it! Can you believe we'll be in Italy soon? I bought my plane ticket last week.., so exciting!

Quick tip- I used studentuniverse to book my flight and got a really good deal. I used to use it back in undergrad when I studied abroad a couple times. It was satisfying to get the student rate again!

So what was the result of this?

oh yeah, and admissions said that you can change your concentration anytime during your first year.  second year you have to get it approved   So whatever you decide now wont matter toooooo much

Don't look back! Fletcher is a great school and I think  a lot of these schools are similar! As for the Ivy League thing, who cares.

I think you were awarded the money I gave up at SIPA . They tried to induce me with big scholarships and access to special programs, but in the end I chose Fletcher. It is a much more flexible program, overall higher quality (in my opinion), a more engaged alumni network and a tighter community.
 
The only area where SIPA conculsively beats Fletcher, in my personal opinion is the name. I admit that this is a big one - and thinking about that doesn't make you a shallow person. My parents and some friends seem disappointed that I chose Fletcher over SIPA, mostly because they wanted me to go to an Ivy League institution. But if you look at things objectively, outcomes at Fletcher are just as good, if not better, than at SIPA. I for one know that I thrive on a more personalized environment, thus the Fletcher choice over SIPA.
 
I admit that I will question a bit whether I should have gone to the Ivy League - but I feel that I will have a better time, less pressure and a similar outcome at Fletcher (for one thing there is no mandatory 3.4 in order to maintain a scholarship). IF, however, you think your outcome for some reason will be better at SIPA or you just feel better there, then you should go there.
 
I am a firm believer that you should go where you feel most comfortable unless there is a question of outcomes. In that case, I don't care how much I would torture myself over the next two years - I would go where I know the ultimate career result will be the most beneficial for me. That is really the whole point of this exercise anyway, isn't it?

I empathize with your situation Dani. That's a tough one. I'm sure you'll have a better idea of what you're going to do after visiting NYC/Columbia and talking to some people. Everything has pretty much been said already: SIPA will be a little bit more expensive than Fletcher (and more stressful in terms of financing because the second year funding is a little uncertain), although the internship at the USUN negates that somewhat. And the internship seems like an awesome and interesting opportunity, I would be all over that myself if I was American!
 
I'm sure there will be a little bit of a difference between the atmosphere at Fletcher and SIPA, but I also think people (myself included) often have a tendency to draw general conclusions based on individual random things. Sure, there are differences in location and that will impact how people will interact (SAIS Bologna: a European bubble, SIPA: big city and big university creates more of a "detached" atmosphere that people often bring up here, Fletcher: an American and more academic bubble, less people super concentrated on networking etc.). However, I also think that at the end of the day, all of the top MA IR programs will be quite similar in terms of the student body and the overall atmosphere. As you've noticed here on the forum as well, the same people are considering the same top programs and while obviously the sample size that the forum represents is very small, I have a hard time believing that all of us are divided into different schools based on our personalities. It's the money and the academic fit that almost always comes first with people; location is obviously important, but I don't think it's the fundamental factor that leads to more "fun" people going to one school etc.
 
So I guess what I'm trying to say is this: grad school is what you make of it and I'm pretty confident people can find friends who they share a connection with regardless of the program that they choose. But this doesn't mean that the emotional component doesn't play a role at all. On the contrary, I think it reveals something quite big about what you are subconsciously thinking and what you value. So flyingjellyfish is right: after you visit SIPA and you compare the experiences, really pay attention to your inner dialogue. When you think of going to Fletcher, are you trying to force yourself to go and is there a small voice saying no? How do you feel about the choices? I personally believe it's hugely important that you go with the university that you feel the most comfortable choosing; we are all smart people here and we all take into account the financial factors, the career prospects etc. so I think these are all integrated into your feelings already. So at the end of the day, you have to go with the one that you feel the most excited about, because then you won't have regrets. Obviously it has to be an informed decision, but I'm sure you know what I mean. The decision you have is very close and either way you go, I don't think it's going to be a disaster. So after evaluating all the pros and cons, if it's still very close (and it most likely will be), just go with your instincts. You can use the old trick of throwing the coin in the air etc. Some might say that's no way of making a decision, but after rational analysis, trusting your instincts and the subconscious is a very valid (and "rational") strategy.
 
Ok, I'm rambling haha. Anyway, that's the best advice I can give at this point. And congrats about the SIPA offer; it's causing you more headache now, but it's an awesome problem to have.

Yeah I think SIPA's social scene is definitely a pro for you. Lobsterphone is right in that no matter where we go, we will spend a lot of time at the library hah.
 
When they brought in Blitzer it was so funny; the lady who was speaking got a note and she read it, kind of a like a President getting an extremely important note in the middle of the speech. And then she was like "I need to stop for a moment because we have a very important guest here" etc. And everyone started turning around and Blitzer walks up to the podium from the back of the room. I just found it so dramatic that it was funny. Also, I'm not a huge fan of what Blitzer does on CNN but I think that's just because of the restrictions CNN has in place (always emphasize Twitter and social media, repeat the same talking points every three minutes so new viewers know what's going on because they have to be treated like idiots etc.). I thought he came across as pretty intelligent and I think he could be a much better journalist if CNN gave him more free rein.
 
Anyway, yeah it sucks you couldn't attend the SAIS open house but since they didn't give you any money your decision was pretty easy (like mine with Fletcher who only gave me $5k).

Hola! I didn't actually have a tough time providing the connection. Most of my work experience, although in the humanitarian sector, deals with providing assistance (either emergency or development-type) to victims of armed conflict. I wrote about how military/security objectives around the world have an impact on delivering humanitarian services (access constraints, partiality to 'terrorist' groups or unsavory governments (whether actual or perceived) or 'Western' political agenda, etc). At the same time, certain humanitarian solutions play a role in assuring/compromising security in volatile areas: refugee camps, for example, have been identified as potential recruitment sites for armed groups. I basically just drew the links between the two fields in my statement of purpose to show why knowledge of the security landscape is invaluable in fulfilling humanitarian objectives. I don't think of studying security as a career shift from humanitarianism, and I tried to let that come out... as much as 500-750 words lets you do, anyway.
 
I'm certain you could do the same with your energy background. There are courses on the relationship between energy needs and security that I've seen, although they don't solely deal with renewables (this one comes to mind http://courses.georgetown.edu/?CourseID=SEST-594). Nonetheless, it doesn't feel like a stretch of the imagination to link the two convincingly. I did a quick google and this came out: http://www.globalissues.org/article/595/energy-security; it looks like the sort of thing you could build a case on, especially if you can integrate lessons you've picked up personally from your work. Looks quite interesting actually... Hope this helps! 

My stats aren't all that impressive. In a nutshell: 
University: International student from south-east Asia, 3.2 cumulative GPA, double degree at a school that's highly regarded where I am but doesn't break the top 100 internationally (Major GPA something like 3.6 for one and 3.7 for the other).  GRE: 168 Verbal, 158 Quantitative, 5.5 Analytical Work experience: I'm getting into security from a humanitarian-type background. I've had two internships: one at the Save the Children regional office in Bangkok, and one at our country's embassy in DC. I've been working for over a year now at another major international humanitarian organization. Languages: English and the national language (both fluently), and French (C1-ish reading/oral comprehension; B2 writing/speaking). My French drastically improved while studying abroad at SciencesPo Paris. Much of my current work is in French since I focus on operations in francophone Africa although I'm based in Asia.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input. I ultimately decided to go ahead with Georgetown. Don't want to knock Denver, but I feel that I'll get more stretched at GU than I would at Korbel - whether by the faculty, fellow students, or by the DC environment. Money-wise: I'm currently debt-free, my parents are willing to help (potentially the remaining half of my tuition), and with an RA-ship or other on-campus job my debt burden should be minimal. It's a risk, but I think it's a good one. :-)
 
*Edit: Since I'm an international student, I need all the help I can get to build a strong profile to be able to work in DC and abroad. Realistically, I can't rely on the mileage of my undergraduate degree anywhere outside my own country. Georgetown fills that resumé gap a lot better than Korbel does. 

Honestly the decision isn't obvious to me at all, though I didn't apply to either school. Maybe one program has something that really attracts you more than the other. Maybe you REALLY want to work in DC, then it would be obvious.
Either way I think you have great options and you can't really go wrong - good luck!

That's not an obvious choice. Personally I would choose Georgetown because I feel the location, the brand name, and the alumni network is probably worth it. But Korbel is a great school as well and I've got the impression that their International Security program is their gem and the highest quality concentration by far that they have at the school. So in terms of the quality of the courses/education, I don't think Korbel is far behind at all. Can't really say more than that. You just have to weigh the pros and cons and really think what you value but like seekay said, either way you will be fine.

I think you're selling yourself short. You got an amazing offer from SIPA so you must be an exceptional applicant in many ways. So I'm sure you can handle the course load of five classes (which many people are doing at many universities) and I'm confident you can also handle the quant requirements. Seriously, I think you will regret it a lot if you don't go to SIPA. Your hesitation seems to be related to your fear that you won't do as well at SIPA and I think you just have to go for it and believe in yourself. Like others have said, you can study languages at SIPA and it's doable.
 
The bottom line is that you have to choose a program that makes you feel the most comfortable, so if NYC/SIPA environment for whatever reason is not appealing to you, don't force yourself to go. However, if it's a question of just the things that you've talked about this in thread, I'd say that take the challenge and go to SIPA and enjoy the amazing two years. Don't let that great offer to go to waste - I'm sure you've earned it and you can definitely excel at SIPA.

Regarding Blitzer, I also think his work at CNN is kind of a joke but I believe it has more to do with the limitations CNN has (newstainment and all that) rather than the guy itself. He seems to be quite knowledgeable (and also seems to have been born to be "a salesman" of sorts) but then again, an appearance by him or anybody else shouldn't really affect your judgment of the school. It's just part of the show.

Revolution, have you decided?

Very well-said. What matters is a program's prestige, name brand, general network, and job placement. The fact that a famous alumni came to speak should have ZERO impact on one's decision to attend.
 
 

Well, here's the thing: no matter where you attend school (undergrad, law, business, teacher's college, IR, etc.), becoming an extremely high profile person has a lot more to do with individual talent, timing, opportunism, and a little bit of luck than not. It's not like any school's career services will funnel people into anchor jobs at CNN (lol). The Harris School, for instance, had David Axelrod come come speak, but I imagine that that was just an appointment in his calendar rather than his self-driven passionate plea to get people to invest in the Harris School, a program he was probably made aware of a year ago when being courted to start the Institute of Politics. These kinds of guest speakers are gimmicks. The only thing say is that the school has enough cred in the speaker's particular field that (s)he and/or his/her aids do not think it is a waste of time or embarrassment to speak there. That's about it!

What "rate" are you talking about? Just as many are accepting as are declining, the same as other programs. Yields for public policy programs are also so unpredictable that it's silly to say "most people on the waitlist are bound to get in."

 

I feel as though with the rate that people are declining, most people on the wait list are bound to get in. 

Whose Dionne or Blitzer? who is better on TV? I can see Blitzer being funnier and Dionne being more profound? And yes I am embarrassed about the bathroom incident but how was I to know? 

Agreed I had no idea who the guy was (also international student here) and in fact I thought that although he was entertaining and obviously a very cool person he made it sound that luck, rather than SAIS was the reason he had such a succesful career lots of "a guy told me to apply as a correspondant and it just so happened this was 5 days before the Gulf war started" type of quotes, when I contrast that with E.J. Dionne´s (also had no idea who he was an embarrasingly enough I asked him where the bathroom was) appearance at GPPI who basically said "they allowed me to pick where to teach and I chose GPPI because ti is the best" the second one wins! 

Turning down SIPA now to accept a place at SAIS! hope my spot goes to someone else asap and good luck!

Turning down SIPA now to accept a place at SAIS! hope my spot goes to someone else asap and good luck!

Turning down SIPA now to accept a place at SAIS! hope my spot goes to someone else asap and good luck!

Go away, Revolution.