WinterSolstice

The only tangible benefit (apart from prestige, I guess) that I've noted is that it can give a minor bump in terms of qualification standards for government positions.

Pretty much spot on advice. OP, it also wouldn't hurt to cast a wide net. You probably have a fixed idea of what you might want to do, but don't be afraid to look a little more broadly too. Any experience helps. The IR community is tough to break into, because there are always a lot of interns, plus a lot of research spots are taken up by masters students, but there are still other options. For example, I have a friend who ended up at a law firm as a paralegal, but sought out work at the firm dealing with asylum cases and managed to find experience that way, which helped when he was applying to IR grad schools. If you're persistent, there are definitely options. I just wouldn't run to grad school because the job market is tough. Grad school is an expensive investment, after all

@Arabiatta: Here's a JHU SAIS blog post I found relating to your question that you might find helpful http://admissionsatsais.tumblr.com/post/34855344022/the-application-process-the-analytical-essay

I second that you should check directly with the school. For example, Gov2School says they were told to specifically NOT treat it like a paper with WWS. However, when I had a similar question for the admissions office regarding my JHU SAIS important issue essay last year, their answer WAS to treat it like any other academic paper. For that particular essay, I did include footnote/citations (and I'm guessing the admissions person's advice was indeed accurate, because it didn't end up being a problem). But I also chose a topic that I had direct experience with through work/past research, so the citations weren't by any means extensive. In short, this is exactly the type of question that should be sent to the admissions office, because it'll most likely vary by school.

I wouldn't worry too much about the letter-writing thing. All of my professors/bosses writing recommendations had a general letter they kept on file that was easily customized depending on whichever school I was applying to. I actually applied to grad schools twice plus independent fellowships (once straight from undergrad, once after 2 years of working), so I actually had them all send out a bunch of letters twice, and with a year and a half in between. They said it was easy because the letters were on file, and they didn't seem bothered by it at all. Just be sure to communicate with them, and at least write them a thank you card after the fact to show your gratitude for their time and efforts.

My guess is that the board you linked is more pro-admissions consultants because it's a uniquely business school thing (just from my impression). I've never heard of anyone I personally know ever using an admissions consultant (regardless of whether they were applying to an MBA or an MA), but it's always been my impression that they're more frequently used by those applying to business school, or med school I guess. Me personally? Yes, I do think they're a scam. But I've also had decent scores and grades. I imagine these sorts of consultants could be useful for anyone looking to build an attractive application despite very low scores. Or perhaps for an international candidate applying to a US school, and they're unfamiliar with the process. But for the vast majority of cases, I feel the grad school application process is only so complicated and possible to do solo/with resources widely available for free online. I mean, if you need someone to look over your essays, how hard is it to have a friend or family member read it over? If you're unclear about the process, you can just ask the admissions office. To be blunt, I've never met anyone who was ready and committed to grad school (at least for an MA program) ever needing to rely on a for-fee service in order to get help with their applications. *minor edits for clarity

This was pretty much what I took away from the application process too. While applying, I was kind of hesitant that I was only applying to highly ranked schools. But at a certain point, I had to be honest about the fact that I probably wouldn't be happy going to the other schools I was looking at. And like you, I was also working at the time, so I figured if I didn't get into a program I was interested in, I could easily re-apply the next year. I definitely couldn't have managed more than the 7 programs I applied to (and only 6 schools, really, given one of the programs was a joint LSE/Sciences Po program). I personally wanted to spend more quality time working on the applications, than a cursory amount of time on 10-12 applications. I think for me, it made more sense to make sure the applications themselves really shone, and I wouldn't have been able to do that with a large number of applications.

I think GRE requirements will vary by school, but for an example, this is from SAIS's website: (emphasis mine). Obviously GPA is important, but if you have other things balancing it out, it would probably be worth it to at least apply. You also didn't mention your major or your reasons for your GPA. If you came from the "hard" sciences for example, and have now decided that you want to go into development, that would account for a lower GPA. I assume admissions committees would look at the transcript, as well as the GPA. Additionally, if you have extenuating circumstances that contributed to a low GPA, then that's something that could be addressed in a personal statement. As for the emails, I don't really know what prompts them, but driving up admissions numbers is obviously a factor, because they're essentially advertising their school. That being said, if you have a strong GRE score and a strong resume, then I don't see why you shouldn't at least apply. And the easiest way to start a conversation with the admissions office is of course, to call or email them and say you're looking for information.

Judging only from your post, it sounds like you don't know what you really want to do yet. That, in my opinion, is the biggest reason to wait before applying to a Masters program. You say you can't choose a "right job" so you're taking the time to do a Masters and figure out what you want to do. Figuring out what you want to do should ALWAYS come before an MA program, not during it. In my opinion, you should wait to apply until you have a clearer idea than a "career track where [you] can solve problems and innovate". But to answer your questions, yes, it is generally favorably looked upon to have some kind of professional experience. I do know some people who have gone straight through from undergrad and have gotten acceptances, but they generally had some kind of unique selling point on their resume or perfect GPAs and GREs. Regarding GREs, yes, they are important. It has always been my impression that they are given a lot of weight in any MA program, and SAIS is no exception. I'll admit I didn't have perfect scores across the board and still got into SAIS. I scored in the 95th percentile for the verbal, a 5.0 on the writing, but only the 60th percentile on the quant section, which is a bad math score. I was anticipating having to take it again, but I was accepted despite the low score, thankfully. So it is possible to get into a highly ranked program despite not having perfect scores. That being said, I would have been a much better candidate for funding with better scores. I was given no aid by SAIS, and 10k/year by GW, but only during second round funding. So the scores are a big part of what you're being judged on, both for admission and funding, but it varies by school and concentration. I highly doubt I would have gotten into the SAIS IDEV program with my low math scores, for example. I think that addressed most of your questions, but my biggest advice is to wait until you have a clear picture of what you want to do. It's good to be flexible and open to being influenced by what you learn in the course of a master's program, but if you don't at least have a clear general idea of what you want, it could end up being a substantial waste of money.

Exactly. @vdad88, just to echo this, the schools you mentioned can be incredibly expensive. Don't take the debt without knowing at least a specific focus area you're interested in, not only in terms of school, but in terms of career. Judging from your post, you still seem unsure about whether you would focus in strategic studies or asian studies. I would caution against pursuing your master's until you truly knew what you wanted, and what kind of career you envision yourself in afterwards.

There's nothing wrong with applying from undergrad if you're 100% sure it is what you want to do. The only thing that gives me pause is that you stated you "need a little help planning out your life". A lot can change in just a couple of years, especially fresh out of college. What you think you want to do can change very easily, and the last thing you want is to get locked in to a career and a large amount of debt and realize a couple years in that you actually wanted to do something a little bit different. I originally applied straight from undergrad, and realized I needed more time. I worked for two years, and then re-applied after having a better perspective on what I wanted to do. I have a much clearer picture of what I want to do, and I think having the additional experience made me a more attractive candidate.

Edit: This info will mostly be helpful for those going to GW, as Georgetown will be tricky given there are no metro lines out there. I have some friends who go to Georgetown now and I'll ask them what their thoughts are. Edit 2: Oh, duh. Just remembered the Key Bridge. If you can't find anything in the outlying Georgetown areas, you should look into VA. You could literally walk across the Key Bridge from Rosslyn and be in Georgetown. --- I can speak to this, as I currently live in DC (though this is all only my opinion -- other DCers will probably have a different take on things). So first thing to note is that yes, Foggy Bottom is crazy expensive (though you can manage to find deals, if you don't live in the city, it will be very difficult for you to snatch these up). So you're left with a couple of options: 1) pay the crazy rent prices, 2) live very far out on the orange/blue lines (foggy bottom is on the orange/blue) or 3) live in a developing area that is not on the orange/blue. So option 2: One option, which is a semi-popular one, is to live in virginia. However, the parts of virginia you'd actually want to live in will also be somewhat pricey (but definitely less than foggy bottom). Clarendon is popular with yuppies. Another option is to live on the orange/blue in the other direction around eastern market or capitol south (or "the hill") which are very nice neighborhoods, kinda expensive, but it's possible to find deals, especially if you're able to go in on a place with friends. A few stops beyond that, you start getting into SE DC, which is considered a kinda dicey neighborhood. I wouldn't put it on the same level as some parts of NE DC, but it's not the best. However, you could find housing deals there for sure. Now, with this option, it's important to remember that in DC, the cost of riding the metro increases the further you go. It's not a flat rate like it is in NYC. So bear this in mind when thinking about commutes! Aaand, option 3: This is the option that I, and most other people I know, pursue. Developing neighborhoods, like SW DC and Columbia Heights are prime yuppie hotspots. SW (whose metro stops are SW Waterfront or Navy Yard) is right by national stadium, close to the water, and is having a bunch of money poured into it for development. So you could snag a decent-priced apartment in this area. Columbia Heights is also a developing area, but has a best buy, target, etc. which is super convenient because DC itself is small and those kinds of stores are a rarity. If you have roommates, there are great deals to be had here. Columbia Heights itself doesn't really have nightlife to speak of, but it's right by U Street, which has good nightlife. Both Columbia Heights and SW are on the green line. Also an option you might want to look at is Woodley Park, which is by the zoo. It's further up on the red line, but you can always take the red line to farragut north and walk 10-15min to campus. Woodley Park is a nice area - I wouldn't even call it a developing neighborhood - but rent prices probably haven't caught up to it just yet. I have some friends who live up there who have good deals on apartments. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head. As always, having a roommate will cut down on costs. Especially if you happen to find an apartment whose layout is a "true" one bedroom, but can be converted into a two bedroom using partitions, screens, etc. When I moved to DC, I found a true one-bedroom apartment, but the living room was so easily converted into a bedroom, because the main hallway had a big alcove, which became a tiny den. This coupled with living in a developing area and having a roommate in the converted bedroom, I pay $650 a month and my commute to downtown DC is around a half hour depending on how trains are running. As for where to find apartments, I used craigslist or padmapper. Hopefully this was helpful at least a little bit! If you have questions about DC, feel free to ask.

This is actually what I did. I applied straight from undergrad to gauge where I was at without professional experience, and got into a handful of mid-tier programs and Elliott, waitlisted from top tier programs. It gave me a decent idea of what areas of my application needed work. With that knowledge plus professional experience, I got into the schools I wanted when I applied last year.

Just a heads up, there's a whole thread dedicated just for these kinds of posts, the 'am i competitive' thread! You might be able to share ideas with others in similar positions to yourself. That being said, you definitely have a strong application, but my general attitude is to always get as much professional experience as possible before going to grad school. In general, I would say admissions committees look very favorably on candidates who have a professional background in tandem with a strong academic record. As for schools, it'd probably be easier to give you advice if you provided the list of schools you're looking at and what it is you're looking for in a school.

Some current students I've talked to recommend that method as well. That or working enough extra courses that you can finish a semester early (I can't even imagine what the workload for that would look like though). Also when you say 2 courses in the summer before first term, do you mean pre-term or actual classes?

Yeah. I mean, I guess my potential debt burden is pretty high, but there was no way I could justify taking out the entire price. Some people do it, and I guess they make it work. But I feel like with that much money, you'll be stuck in consulting/private sector work for the rest of your natural life. That or chained to IBR jobs while making full payments for 10 years. But that being said, they know what they can handle more than I do. I'm also hoping to test out of a language (French), which I should be able to, given I used to live there. I was hoping to take Arabic as well though, and I'm a little concerned about the time commitment for that, especially when I would like to do well enough to get access to second year funding. But congrats on being able to defer. I feel like SAIS makes it very difficult to get deferment approval. I was so nervous they wouldn't accept mine! I'm so happy it was approved. Anyway, enjoy fall term! I can't wait until next fall when I'll be starting!

I did end up sending in my deposit to SAIS. As for price, I am worried to an extent, but I have a couple of things working in my favor, in that regard. For one, I was granted a deferment for professional reasons, which will allow me to get more experience, save up some more money, and apply to outside fellowships and aid. So while I do have to pay full-freight, it won't be uniquely on loans. If I am very unlucky in securing additional funding, and if I receive no second year funding, then I am looking at around 83k. Which, to me, is a lot, but taking out loans for an MA degree is the unfortunate reality of education in the US at the moment. In an ideal world, I'll find more funding, and/or receive substantial second-year funding, but I'm prepared to take out that amount of debt if I can't. For me, I wasn't prepared to take out more than 85k, especially because I still have some undergrad loans. Some people have a higher debt tolerance. Some people do go to SAIS completely on loans, but that wasn't a price tag I was willing to do completely on borrowed money. Everyone has a different attitude about it though. I think this board can have a pretty condescending attitude about how much debt other people take out. But I figure if you've put in the work and come this far, you've earned the right to decide for yourself without being judged for it by people who don't know you or your life goals. So it really depends on what you truly think is best after weighing all the factors, including when you want to have a family, what field you want to work in, etc etc.

Thanks for the info! Just one quick question, if you don't mind. How are the questions timed? Are you given a certain amount of time for the exam as a whole, each individual question, or can you go completely at your own pace?

Ah, yes, that is true. But I guess my general take on it was that I would rather spend those courses adding to my general scope of knowledge as opposed to taking classes I had already taken in college. 2 years is a pretty short timeframe, so I would rather put in the time for higher level courses to learn quantitative skills that would make me more competitive career-wise. Because while it's true that everyone has to take a certain number of econ courses, I know I do want to take a higher level course at some point. Taking it as an elective outside of the econ requirements means it's another class from, say, my concentration, that I won't be able to take. Or maybe I'm being a little too fatalistic. But in terms of the exam, I wouldn't sell yourself short. If you did econ in undergrad, I can't imagine the exam giving you too much difficulty. Not to mention you were accepted into the IDEV program, which is more competitive, so the school itself obviously feels that it isn't anything you can't handle!

Yes, but if you don't pass the waiver, then you have to take the class. Which is why I'm a bit apprehensive about taking the waiver exam. Everyone regardless of concentration has required econ courses. Taking them earlier (in pre-term for example) means you free up class slots for other courses. Which is why people are strongly encouraged to do pre-terms and waiver exams, etc. And I was admitted to International Law and Organizations, but I may end up switching to a regional concentration instead. I was granted a deferment in light of a professional opportunity. The extra time to save money and apply to outside fellowships is a bonus though.

Exciting! And like you, I do plan on taking the Micro waiver exam. I took both Micro and Macro in undergrad, and I still have all my notes, homework, and tests from the classes. So I'm going to review all of those. @Bunsen Honeydew linked to some really great resources as well. I'm lucky in the sense I have quite a bit of time to prepare, but I'm nervous about taking the waiver exam. I really do not want to do micro and macro in pre-term. I hear it's hell to do both.

I received an email maybe a week ago asking me to respond if I was still interested so I could remain in the pool to be considered. I'm not really sure how far along they are in that process though, because I never followed up after accepting my spot at SAIS

Hi @KevinDosi. I was actually in same spot a couple of weeks ago in struggling with my decision. I ultimately opted to put in my deposit to SAIS. If you want, I'd be happy to talk you through my decision-making thought process.

Okay, so I know on this board we all spend so much time analyzing these schools to the greatest extent we can. So this may sound like such a "fluff" thing to say, but: go with what feels right. I know it sounds so lame to say 'go with your heart,' but in this case that's all you can really do. These are both amazing schools that will give you the credentials to go wherever it is you want to go. They each can give you connections, a solid educational foundation, and the name brand recognition you need. I think at a certain point, analyzing it to this level of scrutiny only makes the decision harder. You've put in all the work to get to this point, and you'll probably continue putting in all the work you need to be successful at school, and after. Yes, SAIS may be slightly better for econ (but you can still get what you need from MSFS), and yes, MSFS probably has better career services attention because it's a smaller campus (but you can still get what you need from SAIS). There are pros and cons to everything, but you'll be able to make it work for you. So instead, potentially try and look at the big picture: where you feel comfortable, where you think the people you'll fit best with are, where you'll ultimately be happy. These are amazing, killer schools. And MSFS and SAIS, in particular, are incredibly strong schools that jockey for that top spot in rankings. So at this point, I think you can stop worrying about which is "better" and focus on which one you want. Best of luck! Edit: And yes, I will probably leave it to the last minute too, but I didn't receive funding, so I have longer. For the record though, I am 99% ready to send in my deposit to SAIS.

Thanks for your thoughts @cmoz01, always useful to hear another perspective. I was just hoping you could clarify something for me. You said in your post that most grads go to the private sector because the government isn't hiring. But you also mentioned that schools like SAIS couldn't really help you for private sector. Could you possibly speak more to what SAIS truly offers in terms of employment outcome then? SAIS may be playing with the numbers when they say that most grads go to the private sector, but you and many others have said that they generally do go to the private sector, so I'm not sure how to assess SAIS employment outcomes.