irapplicant1776

I got into SIPA and other good schools, and I think my quant was lower than yours. Given your profile I wouldn't rule out any school; the question will just be funding.

Certainly GW and Georgetown and the other elite IA schools are excellent, but how many tens of thousands of dollars more in debt are they worth? Getting into massive debt for a graduate degree at a fancy school is not a requirement for working at places like State or DOD. They actually emphasize this in their recruiting. Of course the schools in DC give you the advantage for networking and working/interning while going to school, and their reputation is helpful. But it's not get-into-debt-for-the-rest-of-your-life helpful.

I imagine not to the same extent as the government, but I'll let someone from the private sector answer that question.

Couldn't have said it better myself. These programs are not worth 80k, let alone 100k. The US government is just as happy to hire someone who got their MA from a cheap state school, and in any case that much debt will hinder your ability to get a security clearance.

I would try to leverage SIPA's funding to get a better offer from HKS. If HKS doesn't give you an offer I'd go to SIPA no question.

My first priority would be funding, as I don't believe it is worth it to get heavily in debt for an IA degree. My next priority would be living in DC, as there are so many opportunities here. If I were you it would probably be between SIS and Elliott. I chose SIS and have been very happy with my choice. If I had gotten a competitive offer from Elliott I may have gone there and probably would have been just as happy.

Maybe not even practitioners - it's mostly academics I believe. I spoke with one of the survey respondents (who coincidentally convinced his friend to put the survey in Foreign Policy years ago). He unsurprisingly listed SIS, none of the other DC schools, and four other schools he liked.

Hmm do you have any specific questions about the program? I can tell you that I've been happy with it in general. The professors are more than willing to help you advance your career outside of class. There's been some professors I've really loved, and a couple I'm not so happy with. I do wish some of the courses had less long papers and more practical writing. My first semester I completed a public diplomacy internship at the Embassy of Peru. I took over the position from someone a year ahead of me in the program. Last semester I was hired as a Program Associate at US-China Education Trust, an international exchange non-profit. I was actually interviewed by a woman who got both her B.A. and M.A. from SIS, and the professor I work for as an RA at SIS recommended me to the president, as they are friends. I work here part time now, and will work full time after I graduate.

Congrats! I'm finishing up the SIS USFP program this semester.

I wouldn't really call an internship or volunteering somewhere in NYC international experience. There are many opportunities to get experience abroad, including teaching English, or serving in the Peace Corps, or both. You just have to be willing to leave your job and "take the plunge," so to speak. Living abroad for an extended period will give you language skills that you can't acquire living in the U.S., more career/grad school funding opportunities, and of course experiences and memories that you'll never forget.

If you say that because you support dependents then I can understand. However, I think a lot of people tell that to themselves because they see Peace Corps as something getting in the way of career advancement, or too big of an opportunity cost financially. In any case, the Peace Corps does not cost have any direct costs besides the work that you give up while you are volunteering. There were quite a few people 30+ years old in my cohort. For me it led to a full ride at AU and a job working in international exchange with China thanks to the experience and language skills I gained living there. That being said, I would certainly never recommend serving in the Peace Corps just for the career benefits.

"I also don't have the luxury of spending two years on some foreign adventure with the Peace Corps to teach children in remote parts of Africa English, or help people in Rural Mongolia dig a well, as much as I would like to do those things." Why do you say that?

The USFP program in general is quite rigorous, with both practical and more theory-based classes. I want to work as a Foreign Service Officer, and there are two former ambassadors in the faculty, plus at least one former public diplomacy officer. One of the ambassadors and the public diplomacy officer helped me immensely with my personal narratives for the State Department after I passed the FSOT. I like being here in general. If you haven't visited, the SIS building is a really inspirational place to study and take classes. AU is definitely very liberal, although I do know some conservatives. DC is great, but EXPENSIVE. But you can always meet people to network, see top government officials speak, go to conferences, etc. It's also just a beautiful city with lots of distractions from grad school.

I can't really speak for the the Bush School's reach in DC, but one advantage to note with SIS and other schools located in DC is that as the classes are in the evening, most students spend at least some semesters (not just the summer) interning or working at government agencies, consulting firms, or think tanks during the day. Also, at AU you would be getting an MA in International Affairs (not MIR) with a concentration in GGPS or USFP (I'm in USFP). Happy to answer other questions!

First I would try to leverage your offer. Being in DC cannot be understated.