goodcat

I understand, Bcoconn. Today's SFS chat was helpful in that the MSFS folks were very open about comparisons to other schools. But the folks who originally posed the question had asked why SFS over SIPA or SAIS, and were thus satisfied by "location, size." SIPA's in New York, SAIS is too big. Got it. But what about Fletcher? Initially current students and alumni alike fell back on "location." But I pointed out that most graduates of any of these schools could get jobs in DC (indeed, many MUST do time in DC at some point in their careers) if they wanted to upon graduation, and therefore the DC advantage proved short-lived or even unnecessary. MSFS chatters basically said, "Okay, true." They then also conceded that Fletcher had an extremely tight-knit student, faculty, and alumni community, with one chatter going so far as to say that Fletcher and MSFS did some outings together, and that the student bodies tended to agree that they were two-of-a-kind amongst APSIA schools. In the end, they said to go to both admitted student open houses, and see which student body seemed a better fit. They all emphasized that they felt the right fit, and that they appreciated the opportunity to intern DURING the semester instead of just summers.

Just echoing what everyone else is saying -- this is a tough decision. Bcoconn says Fletcher's rep trumps its location outside DC, but then says the reputations of all three programs are equal. Since SAIS and Georgetown ARE in DC, which he implies is a strength, one of these statements can't be true. But being outside the beltway for a couple years as grad students doesn't seem to have hurt members of the Fletcher mafia serving Uncle Sam. Also, IA+Math's contrast of the MIB and MALD is a little misleading. Fletcher's MIB curriculum is possible to mimic as a MALD; MALDs simply aren't FORCED to spend a lot of time doing quant stuff your first year fulfilling an international business field. So I'm not sure it makes sense to say "MIBs say you should get an MBA instead, but the MALD looks great," because even MALDs and MIBs designed not to have any overlap still have more in common, thematically, than either do with an MBA. Sure, the first year of the MIB is a lot like an MBA core curriculum. But if you want an MBA, or want a job that requires one, you should get one. Presumably folks applying to schools of international affairs do so understanding they aren't getting an MBA, but DO get to study a whole lot of stuff an MBA wouldn't allow them to spend time on, let alone develop serious analytical depth.

Still no word on the money side of things. Has anyone had an aid award posted to MyAccess?

The timeliness and clarity of Georgetown's communication with its potential students leaves something to be desired. Yet SFS is supposed to be so small, intimate, personal. What am I missing?

@clfergus georgetown's office of financial services can be reached at finfront@georgetown.edu. They're currently sending automated replies acknowledging receipt and saying it'll be 24 hours until you get a formal response.

@WinterSolstice I know European programs don't offer much funding, but their costs are generally lower, right? LSE/Science Po dual degree seems almost irresistable..

Admitted earlier this morning. Same as everyone else: no e-mail, only the link toward the bottom of the ApplyYourself page. No word on funding, so I called the Office of Financial Services, who claim there is still money in play for those of us who didn't hear anything in the initial acceptance letter. If there isn't, not sure it's worth paying to attend SAIS, SIPA, or even SFS. Fletcher is making this decision easy.

Even another day's wait isn't clear. Results to a similar program were posted last night around 20:30 eastern.