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Hopster

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Posts posted by Hopster

    HKS 2011 Application

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Anyone has the other essays topics in particular the MPP/MBA dual degree? As I am not sure whether I want to apply to a dual degree or to the MPP alone

    Also are your applications considered separatly for a MPP/MBA application? What if you get rejected from one of them?

    guess I'd better ask the admission dept...!

    Self-ranking policy programs

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    I did a little ranking exercise for myself recently and I thought I would share my 'methodology' and results with everyone here, as I think it may prove to be useful to others who are having some trouble choosing a best fit program for themselves.

    I took the top 8 schools that I have been considering (for PhD someday, maybe) and put them into a matrix and marked each school on a point basis with various criteria that I felt were important.

    Here's my 'data':

    matrix.jpg

    As you can see, I took each category and rated it on a 1-5 scale (5 being best). It's a cumbersome measure, and extremely subjective (and not always well informed, I'll admit), but it has at least helped me get a better picture of what I'm looking for. Just to clarify, the categories are (in order): Rigor - qualitative but especially quantitative rigor; livability - as I see it, based on climate, urban area, etc; career - how much will that program help me get a good job that I like; fam/fri - do I have friends or family nearby?; admission - how likely am I to get in, relatively speaking? (higher is better); prestige - in relative terms, how prestigious are each school's programs?

    Taking the quantum for each school, the results were surprising:

    1. Sanford (24)

    ---Heinz (24)

    3. Harris (23)

    ---UMD-CP (23)

    5. UNC (22)

    ---WWS (22)

    7. Rand (21)

    ---KSG (21)

    I arranged the rankings according to their score and, in the case of ties, according to whichever one I had a better 'feeling' about.

    What I really liked about this exercise was that I had begun thinking that my 'first' choices were the usual: KSG, WWS, and Harris. The others were programs that I had seen as good (ok, VERY good) alternatives. But now, I'm actually really thinking that Duke or CMU may be much better options (assuming they don't laugh at my yet-to-be submitted application) than a place like Harvard, even if I could get in. I was surprised at how low Rand ranked on this list, because I was recently starting to see it as one of my preferred choices, but I'm reassessing that right now.

    A few qualifiers. Obviously, this is not much more than a back-of-the-envelope methodology (which means it's only slightly better than US News, haha!) and there are many problems. First, as I noted, it's very subjective. I have scored schools here in ways that many others may disagree with (many people, for example, would much rather be in Boston than the Triad region). Also, and I think more importantly, there are areas which I think are more important than others. I'm thinking about updating my methodology to include: 1) more specific categories, like quantitative rigor vs qualitative rigor, climate, key faculty, and maybe a cross tabulation with the US News rankings (for the hell of it); and 2) to weight categories - I think I might make some categories a 0-10 range while keeping others 0-5, etc.

    Obviously, this is hardly perfect, but I think it's a neat way for anyone trying to rationally categorize their preferences and sort out their decisions to possibly clarify things a bit. You shouldn't use it as your guiding star, but I think it can help.

    Welcome any thoughts, ideas, and feedback. :)

    Hey, what about Sipa?

    I noticed that an increasing number of people tend to mark it out of their wishes/rankings. Any ideas why?

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    For those of you considering SIPA, I thought I'd share a link to a class offered at SIPA that you can watch in its entirety (10 classes) online. The class is Conceptual Foundations of International Politics, offered by professor Lisa Anderson. It's a good way to test-drive the teaching and material in program before enrolling!

    http://www.academicearth.org/courses/conceptual-foundations-of-international-politics-graduate

    thanks batignolles, very useful for those not able to go to NYC

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Hopster,

    It sounds like you are planning to defer for half semester. Do you know if this will affect fellowship application during the second year as I am thinking about defer as well? I did not get $$ for the first year so desperately rely on 2nd year fellowship but not sure if deferral for half semester will affect my chance of getting funding or not?

    Hey grad2,

    I haven't sent the application email yet and didn't get funding neither. I guess it wouldn't be fair if sipa wouldn't let us apply for fellowships just because we started 3 months after the others. I guess that could be a good question for the admitted student message board!

    Btw, I sent u a PM.

    Johns Hopkins SAIS or Columbia SIPA

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    This is proving to be a tough decision. SAIS or SIPA. I have no funding at SIPA, and I'm yet to receive any funding info from SAIS. I've seen people rejecting either one for the other. SIPA receives bad press from every college, for some strange reason, even though its just as expensive as any other school. Here's what I've managed to gather myself.

    Facts and Assumptions

    1. SAIS seems to be more 'revered' academically and professionally and a lot of it is in part due to a notable alumni base and well known people in the faculty.

    2. Theres nothing between the two in terms of curriculum content. I think SIPA's IFEP is just as good, if not better than anything SAIS will have to offer.

    3. The SAIS student community seems to be more well knit. I've been spending a lot of time reading their newsletters, SAIS observer, morningside post I'm not sure about SIPA on that front. A large class size, well ..

    4. SAIS seems to put in you a strong position for World Bank, IMF jobs etc. SIPA doesn't do too bad either, with the UN office nearby. I'm really not going to read too much into average salaries here. I really think its level of significance is wrongly overstated.

    5. At the end of the day, New York is New York. I'm guessing DC is just as expensive as New York. And maybe a New York budget is more flexible.

    6. Columbia is more revered internationally at the end of the day. I've already tried explaining Johns Hopkins to a lot of common folk here and they do inevitably ask about the medical school connection.

    Open Questions

    1. I'm of the opinion that domestic students might favor SAIS a little more, which leads me to question what international students would prefer ? I've yet to talk to an international student from SAIS. From what I've seen SAIS has a strong US perspective in their policy studies. SIPA has a more international faculty base. Also, does DC - the location work for just domestic students, or is it equally good for international students. For now I'm tending towards the former.

    2. What is the average debt at SAIS ? SIPA has been quite vocal about its second year scholarship and the full year tuition seems to be really appealing. How about SAIS ? Except for a few instances of $10-15K scholarships, I haven't seen people receiving aid ( I'm yet to receive any info myself ). Do SAIS students at least get a sizeable amount during their second year ?

    For now its even stevens, if anyone has an honest opinion, feel free to answer/add to this

    From an International Student perspective, Columbia is better known than SAIS, just because it is Columbia. In the field, even if SAIS is known, I am not sure that people really see the difference between the 2 in terms of academic excellence. It is likely that in 10 years all what your work connections will have in mind is that you have done "Columbia" at some point in your life, which is better known that SAIS (at least from an International Perspective, it depends if you want to work domestically in the US or abroad?). 

    That's the way I see it, and it's one of the main reason why I did not apply to SAIS.

    Fall 2010 Admitted/Rejected Thread

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Program Applied To: MIA

    Schools Applied To: SIPA (the only school I really wanted to get into) Likely to deffer to jan 10 even if I got admitted for Sep 09.

    Schools Admitted To: SIPA

    Schools Rejected From: none

    Still Waiting: 

    Undergraduate institution: One of the top French business schools) I also hold a master's degree in finance from another top French Business School. I have studied in London in a top 10 Uni. TOEFL: 107/110

    Undergraduate GPA: 3.6-3.7 equivalent

    Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): N/A

    Undergraduate Major: International Business Management +Finance

    GMAT: 620/800

    Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2

    Years of Work Experience: 3

    Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years as Management Accountant in 2 Investment Banks in london+several other internships including one for an International Court working as intern in the cabinet of the registrar

    Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Really worked a lot on it. Took me more about 18 months between the day I became interested in applying and the day I submitted the application. I had the SOP plan ready, but I wrote it down only a few days before the actual deadline.  

    Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): one is the CEO of my former Inv Bank (I was working with him), another one is the director of the International Court (stayed in touch with him) and the last is a finance teacher. 

    Other: My advice would be to really think of what you want to do, and more importantly, think about something different you could bring to your application. Something not many people are likely to think of. Saying "I want to work in Central Africa for a Microcredit NGO" won't get you far I think. But also, don't undervalue yourself, bear in mind that not everybody who's 24-26 at the time of the application has climed up Everest or worked with Nelson Mandela!

    I'm a native French speaker. I also speak fluently German (900/990 at WIDAF) and English (Toefl 107/120)

    Good luck to next year's applicant!

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    I would say it is likely at this point. I've been accepted to NYU, GSPIA, Korbel, and SIPA (with a SAIS rejection) but the choice for me really is between SIPA and Korbel. I was offered a full-ride at Korbel and thanks to the 20k SIPA offered along with an outside funding source SIPA will be for free as well. So money is a wash. I'm security studies and Korbel has a very good program in the latter which makes the decision harder. I'm going to be attending both student days and will have a better feel afterwards hopefully. It will be hard to turn down two years fully funded (including living expenses) at Columbia though.

    Nah really don't!

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Another SIPA acceptance here.  Just got it now.  Also got offered 20k in fellowship money so for all those who haven't yet heard back don't get discouraged; it may just mean you're up for some money.  Now if I only could figure out why SIPA offers me 20k and I get outright rejected from SAIS.  Those crazy adcommsblink.gif

    Congrats! You're the first to officially receive funding! Are you likely to attend? 

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Just heard from Sipa too: got admitted, with no funding though... Im happy, but in the same time quite worried about how to pay for it. I'm waiting for a Fulbright reply, if not I think I'll take on a loan in euros to pay for the school!

    Good luck to all those remaining. Wensday should be the day funding notifications will be out!

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    I'm in the exact same situation as you, Minerva473.  Anyone care to comment on the likelihood of situation A vs. situation B?

    Well given the fact that already 60% got an admin answer, and approx. 10% get 1st year funding, I guess the likelihood to receive a scholarship is 1/4. Not bad knowing we had only 10% chances at the beginning of the process! 

    No, don't ask me, I HATE maths, it's just that sometimes it's useful to try to distress!

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    From the Admission blog:

    The Admission Committee continues to move right along in finalizing decisions.  I just wanted to provide quick update and state that over 60% of our decisions have been made.  In addition, I can let you know that decisions will be posted well into next week.  So hang in there, we still have a way to go but are working as quickly, and accurately, as we can and appreciate your patience.

    20% more... Anyone got a reply yesterday or today from the admission committee?

    Also, did someone contact SIPA to find out when those possibly receiving scholarships will be notified? 

    SIPA Admission - got it

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Hi - I have a similar concern with respect to SIPA as well as other related schools (including Fletcher).

    Can somebody shed light on this? Are there any good scholarships available where I can still apply?

    Thanks a ton for all your help.

    As for the funding issue, I think it seems to be kinda late to apply for most of the major scholarship programs (fulbright, UN, WorldBank...) so maybe you can try in your home country and see whether they offer funding there? Also see with your local UNESCO commission.

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