MAPLE90

Thank you for the replies. Given the standardization of SFO hiring, the relative unimportance of the name on your diploma is not all that surprising. Beyond the foreign service however, does anyone have insight into how hiring in other branches of State works? For instance, within the Bureau of Arms Control Verification and Compliance (AVC), or the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). Are most people employed via lateraling into these positions after gaining work experience in other agencies? Also, does anyone have insight into the hiring practices for policy positions within the DOD? My sense is that for these employers, there is a bit more subjectivity when it comes to the hiring process. However, it is not at all clear to me whether an MA from a highly regarded state school (think UCLA, UW (Washington), UW (Wisconsin), UT, etc) will be limiting. Georgetown MSFS, HKS, and SAIS certainly place well. But it could be that these students are arguably more qualified for such positions (be it through internships, work experience, language proficiency, published research, etc). Also, when you put a bunch of students with similar interests/qualifications all in one program, you are bound to have high job placement into high level positions of a given sector. Where as less professionally oriented programs, tend to house a cohort of students with much more diverse interests, and job aspirations. Any comments will be appreciated.

What role does school prestige play in the hiring process for security related jobs in in federal government, in multi lateral organizations, and with international relief organizations (I know that for capital hill and the public sector, it has significant influence)? I have narrowed my my options down to Georgetown SSP unfunded (70k in tuition + living expenses), and a west coast “public ivy” state flagship university (with a fellowship that covers tuition, and includes a full living stipend). The state school is not UCB, or UCSD, but I do not want to be more specific than that. The difference in price between these two programs ranges anywhere from 80k-110k, depending on my ability to cover DC living costs at Georgetown. Both Georgetown and the state school in question, offer a solid curriculum on my exact subject of interest. Also, the state school, though a very small program, has a history of placing students into that field. Money aside, Georgetown is the obvious answer, but 80k+ is a life changing/limiting amount of debt. So I pose the question to the grad cafe community, for the public sector (State, DOD, DOE), multilateral organizations (NATO, UN), or international relief organizations, how much value do such employers place on prestige? Or are the courses you take, the papers you publish, research you undertake, internships, language abilities, and experiences living abroad, much more significant factors in the hiring process?

Thank you for the information you have provided. I have been living in asia for the past few months, so I was unable to attend the admitted students day to get a sense of the SFS career center. Obviously what is holding me back is funding. A have received a full ride and full living stipend at a west coast state flagship, which has been incredibly difficult to justify turning down. This is especially the case, given that the critical language I have been studying in asia is not offered in DC, while it is offered at the west coast option I mentioned. My understanding is that with a couple of these programs, they only take entering MA students, and not students already enrolled. However, I will make sure I interpreted their eligibility requirements correctly. I will be sure to pass on this information. Cheers

I have been admitted into Georgetown SSP, however I did not receive any funding. The program, due to less required credits, is about 30k less than Georgetown MSFS. However 70k for tuition over two years is still difficult to swallow. For those familiar with similar programs (including SAIS, HKS, Fletcher, GWU, etc.), what are the best external funding sources available to students in their second year? I have also heard of people gaining employment with a federal agency in their first year, and taking advantage of programs that pay for your remaining year in exchange for an employment commitment. Which IR related agencies/organizations offer this program? For those of you attending school in DC, what about attending school part time (Georgetown SSP offers classes primarily at night to allow for this)? Are internships generally paid, and what are the wages like? I have minimal work experience in the security sector, and thus I am concerned that most employers will only offer unpaid internships. Thank you for any comments/recommendations. I was hoping to attend SSP, however I am unwilling to take on debt to cover both tuition and living expenses (tuition is bad enough), and am thus hoping to at least cover my COL in DC.

Thank you for the replies. My understanding was also that your remaining balance on 10 year PSLF is not taxable as income, but it is on PAYE for 20 year forgiveness (lets hope most people borrow wise enough not to need the second of these two options). It is good to know ahead of time that the mentioned organizations do not qualify for PSLF. I am a prospective Georgetown student, and because only about 20% of students receive school funding, Georgetown flouts PSLF as a possible solution to the debt burden their program requires. The issue is that PSLF is not properly integrated into the language of loan promissory notes. So while it is more than likely that current graduates with be grandfathered in, should any changes to the program be made. There is just too much ambiguity surrounding the question of what will happen if the program is altered before one graduates, and begins to make qualifying payments.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), I would consider banking on loan forgiveness while deciding on a graduate program, to be not the wisest of decisions. Especially because many jobs that you would traditionally associate with the federal government, are now being outsourced to contractors. However, out of curiosity, do the following organizations qualify one under PSLF, given the current guidelines? NATO? The U.N.? World Bank?