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chelaylay

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  1. In the immediate future, I'd like to work internationally (or based in the US but on international issues) within international development. But I could see myself working on education or other social policy issues in the US later in my career. I know public health types do this but not sure about others. How easy is it to go back and forth? Does having a public policy degree with a domestic focus typically (and some international concentration or classes) or a international affairs degree with a focus on these policy issues, facilitate this better one way or another? I'm planning to start a degree at Georgetown in the fall but am wondering if I'm looking at needing another degree down the road if I wanted to be able to shift back later. Functionally the skillsets I'd learn in an MPP or a international affairs degree are incredibly close though...I just wonder if an employer would be able to recognize that for the latter. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who's done this at all in their career.
  2. I think smaller program -> fewer alums. I thought this too when checking out organizations I'd want to work for. I might see one Gtown grad to every 2 or 3 HKS or SAIS grads. But there are more SAIS grads to begin with! Have you tried checking LinkedIn? I've had a lot of success reaching out to alums and current students asking for input that way.
  3. I definitely want to work again afterwards - there are a few different types of organizations that appeal to me, but there are a handful of think tanks that are interesting, maybe a development bank, but most likely a NGO. I expect I'll work abroad again but on and off and for US orgs or UN, which are US based connections that I'd make anyway. I am sure I could show up in rural Tajikistan or whatever and people would know the name and reputation of school B, but I don't know how much that matters, honestly, even in international development, other than being a way to establish you're a smart and legitimate professional by proxy. I'm trying to iron out the financial details at both schools so I know more black and white what's available. I guess I'm just having a hard time letting go of the fear that turning down an Ivy League grad degree at B that's financially feasible (even though the other program is also considered as good or better in this field) is going to come back to bite me some day when I'll wish I could tap that network, or make a lateral move to domestic work. I guess I'm still a bit starry eyed by the idea of that name on my resume. I feel like networking and making connections with professors and going to all the events and workshops, etc, plus having strong professional experiences in a capstone and internship are all really important. I know I can get this at A. At B it's available, but I think I might be so overloaded on classes, and in a larger program, that this becomes more difficult. My path will also be laid out from day one, and I'd like to leave some flexibility to take other courses and explore what interests me. I have clear goals for post-grad school, but I don't want to completely limit all opportunity to change and explore new ideas. On the other hand, I'd have an RA and fellowship which is a nice thing to be able to say you did. That being said, I don't think a hiring manager particularly cares what classes I took, just if it was a well regarded program and if I have applicable skills as a result. I don't want to discount the education and I value that in and of itself personally, but I have also talked to a lot of (maybe slightly jaded) alums from B who said the only thing that matters are connections you make and the brand you buy, basically, and I think there's some truth to that too. Kind of just thinking out loud here...thanks for the words of advice!
  4. I'm in the lucky position of having been accepted to both "School A" and "School B"'s policy programs with funding, and am now having a very hard time making a decision. My situation is unique at both programs so to avoid outing myself I'm not going to name them but they're both reputable US schools. School A's offer is generous, but I'd still need to take out about $32,000 in loans (2 year total). B offered $10K, renewable, with a research assistantship and some required classes. But I'm also nominated for a FLAS at B, which would be a holy grail of full tuition + $15000 stipend - as long as they get their federal grant. If I get the FLAS, I have to take one language and one area studies course each term. It's not a particularly useful language but language study is fun so that's fine. The FLAS is a one-year award so I'd want to keep the RA as a back-up for year 2. But then to meet all these requirements, my schedule will be almost all required coursework (not in my focus areas), really no flexibility in electives, etc, and the ability to cross register at other programs at this university was a big draw. So alternately I could drop RA and class requirements, but then I drop that award too, and could end up with no funding in year 2 since I have to reapply. If I keep that award and at least have the FLAS one year, school B will be cheaper than school A by about $10k. If I drop that award and don't get the FLAS twice, than it'll be the same cost as A. Seems like I should choose B as a result, but I'm leaning towards A. I liked the cohort size, close engagement with professors, opportunities in the city where it's located, career services (really impressed by that), and the fact it's focused specifically on my interest area. I felt a little lost in undergrad and really want a program where I'm in small classes and have a lot of close interactions with professors. It feels almost like a PhD program in that way. But B has a bigger name. Both are considered "prestigious" but B would be better known internationally. It's a larger program, with a wider network. When I mention both schools, people are wowed by the idea of B, even though they're equally selective. So even though I think A would be a better personal fit and allow me to explore my interests better, I wonder if I should choose B because of the value of the name and the potentially lower cost. I'm trying to negotiate with A but I don't know how much more funding, if any, they'll be able to offer. Am I crazy to pay more for fit, even if the other school would be considered a better brand?
  5. So I originally looked at all these programs and know alums for all but Vandy! But I spoke to some alums there when I was searching. I got the sense it was academically stronger, but they were also less experienced going in. So the program helped them get into the sector as professionals. The HGSE alums I know like the name but one said she'd have considered doing a more traditional two year MPP if she could do it again. The other was at Harvard a second year working so had more time to build a network. They also had experience going in and could use the Harvard name/credential and existing connections to get their next job I think. The Penn students I've spoken to have been really happy with it but they only recently graduated so it seems too soon to tell their long term opinion. This seems kind of like the best of both worlds given you get time for an internship too. It's a newer program though. I guess for me it would depend on how much you think you need to learn, and how much you need a degree to check the box. If it's the later, do the one year, get in and get out, and network the hell out of Harvard while you're there. If you're in it for the content, Vandy would probably be stronger. Maybe you can defer a year and save more money to offset the cost of Harvard if that's your choice? If you're not getting a scholarship anyway they may let you do that.
  6. I similarly got into IHEID. But I've spoken to a few alums who came back to the US after and 3/5 said they'd have picked an American program if they'd had some funding available. On the other hand they also had the fact they'd been in Geneva for 2 years quite well received despite the fact that people didn't know the program by name.
  7. I'm guessing this is a no...but has anyone ever successfully negotiated more funding at HKS after having received some? I was offered one of the Belfer IGA fellowships, which sounds really cool, but it's only $10k a year - barely makes a dent in the overall cost. Worth trying or will I be laughed out of the financial aid office?
  8. I'm struggling with this. To the extent I seriously weighed deferring and applying to a couple mid ranked programs. Right now I'd be about $46K in debt after so I'm trying to knock off another $5-8k to get to where I'd be comfortable. I am not of the opinion that it's okay to take out up to your expected salary - but that's because I want to be able to pay it off in less than 10 years and sock money away for more fun things (if you can call it that) like a mortgage or retirement or child care. That being said I have a fully funded offer, in Europe, for a program that is dramatically different from any of the schools in the US I'm considering, that I expect to turn down. There's already a high opportunity cost to getting a two year degree - in the scheme of the next 25 years of your career, you better be 100% sure that you're going to get what you pay for, not just in money but also in time.
  9. I guess I should get more specific - what about reputation and name recognition of European vs American schools? I'm accepted at Harvard, Gtown, Fletcher and SAIS, but Fletcher and Gtown are the only ones that are even close to financially feasible w/the aid packages. On the other hand I could go to the Graduate Institute in Geneva, which is well respected (to my knowledge) in Europe but I don't think most people have heard of here. That would be free. No question the alumni network and career services are not comparable to the US programs though, putting aside the differences in the educational approach at the school. I would have no problem turning down Harvard or Georgetown for example to go to Fletcher or SAIS because I think they're pretty comparable programs. But I am leary of going to the "no name" that's unknown on this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps wouldn't matter for field positions like beefmaster said, but I don't want to be in the field forever. More broadly, I'm hoping to make a lateral move within the sector after graduation, away from the fundraising/ops side of things and more towards programs/ops. So I have experience in the sector, but not all of it will be applicable to future roles.
  10. I remember reading something a year or two ago about how there were more staffers in the Obama administration with an Oxford degree than a Harvard degree. So I think it can definitely get you places when you come back, and there probably is a network of US alumni! I went to GW undergrad so I can say that the Elliot school has a few places it's not outstanding - career services is one of them. Perhaps it's different for Masters students but I remember being significantly underwhelmed. I hustled on my own to get jobs/internships. I think whether or not it's a "good" program depends on what area you're studying. They are stronger in Security studies than other areas (and that's coming from a professor I'm still in touch with there). My opinion though is that location matters more than program to a large extent - being in DC will make a bigger difference than going to GW vs Gtown likely. You'll have the same opportunities those students have.
  11. I connected with some alumni in my area last fall before applying and they said that the administration could be a bit disorganized, generally friendly, but just not always responsive. Similarly said the career services office hadn't been very helpful and you should plan on finding internships/jobs on your own. But these are hardly things unique to the Institute, plenty of universities (including my undergrad alma mater) have the same problem.
  12. I was just accepted today, MA Development Studies, and received a full scholarship and generous stipend. Was pretty set on going to a US program but this makes the decision much more difficult since I could go here basically for free versus lots of student loans staying in the US....hmm. Any other Americans considering the program? I don't have European citizenship so I'm a little worried about coming back to the US where there isn't much of an alumni network and finding jobs afterwards. Have also gotten the sense the degree is more theoretical than some American graduate programs. Does anyone know if the Institute is going to organize alumni/admitted student events in other cities? Anyway, those of you that were waiting can probably check for your scholarship decision now!
  13. I'm trying to gauge this, because from my understanding of the government and nonprofit sector, it doesn't too much. Do the larger NGOs care? Do think tanks? The development banks? Consulting firms? I am interested in int'l development and I know people who have gone to schools ranging from Minnesota to SIPA to random British programs I've never heard of, and they all are doing well professionally. If you already have several years experience going into a program, that seems to count significantly more than any degree when you come out. When I ask older professionals mid or late career, they basically say everything in that range would be good, just make sure you get a internship, learn an extra language, and master the quantitative skills available and you'll be fine. Who and where are the employers who will for example, pass over the Ford grad in favor of a SAIS grad, assuming they have similar professional backgrounds?
  14. For anyone curious, I asked SAIS for more funding (have about $10k more at Gtown). Got a reply from finaid today that said 45-50% of second year students get funding and there'd be an opportunity to apply for more then, based on academic performance. Oh well. I didn't like econ that much anyway.
  15. This sounds a little concerning! I have heard not all flattering things about the administration at the school from alumni. Hmm.
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