TemujinAmbition

Nobody should be expecting "oh I will definitely get money, 100%, no problem, there is no uncertainty." But if your numbers are reasonably higher than the average admitted student, and your application is fairly strong (assuming you have good self awareness about quality of your application), then I don't think it is totally unreasonable to think you might be able to go to top school with low debt. Of course, it's rare to have everything free, even Marco say he only has 90% covered, so you'll probably have to borrow something. But a lot of the people on gradcafe (though not all) are type A people that exceed the average qualifications of admitted students. So I'd say, don't feel like you are entitled or will definitely get money, but definitely give applying a chance if you have good credentials. You might not get big scholarship, but it certainly doesn't hurt that much to try and apply (other than a little bit of time and paying the application fee).

I see. Well it seems like you enjoy working for yourself, so I hope it works out for you and you don't need to use your "insurance policy." best of luck!

I agree she's too late for university recruitment that is done primarily prior to MBA graduation. But that's only one way to break-in; the other is experience hire. I believe she is able to apply under the "experience hire" category, particularly for firms that do a lot of government consulting like Deloitte and Bain. Her MPP and experience would be valued in such contexts, yes? a bit harder path than just doing university recruitment from the beginning, but still feasible, yes? no?

Because Brandeis degree will probably take American further in their own country. Just like Heidelberg would probably take you a little further in Germany than Brandeis.

At least you have that HBS degree to fall back on. Can't you fall back on finance or consulting if you were in a money pinch? HBS is like a golden ticket, it's a special luxury to have as back-up that most other non-dual degree policy grads don't have

Wow, why didn't you say you were Kennedy Peace Corps volunteer. You will be a shoe-ins for many good IR schools, assuming of course that your undergrad transcript and other application components are decent. If mom and dad are willing to pay for two degrees, then you have no problem. Pursue your current path as you laid out. HOWEVER, if mom and dad will only pay for one degree, i.e. either Master's or MBA, but not both, then you should think very very very hard before pursuing your path. You don't want to incur extra debt for the second degree if not necessary. To be honest, you probably don't even need a Master's to get a somewhat decent, non-administrative job in DC if you finish your service. I'm not sure if you realize this, but Peace Corps is very powerful in Washington, it's almost like being a soldier veteran (though not quite, but still comparable). Just by being PC, you will be given special preference for government jobs, for example. So if parents will only pay for one degree, consider that you can go straight to semi-decent job and might not need Master's. This way, save up that precious money for the MBA. So decide very, very carefully whether or not you need both degrees. If you do, that's fine. But if not, just stick with one. Again, disregard that last sentence if mom and dad are willing to pay for both Master's and MBA. If that's the case, I would recommend doing the Master's first; it can't hurt you really and it will make you somewhat more competitive for jobs, plus you'll learn a lot. I wouldn't worry too much about the opportunity cost of not going full time job, as I said before, since you will be investing in your future by going to school

If this this is the case, then he should wisely consider which degree or degrees he needs. He should not be blowing his saved-up money on MIA and then taking out loans for MBA if it so happens to turn out that he only needed the MBA all along. Truthfully, if you are paying out of your pockets, I think he should think very long and hard before applying for two graduate degrees instead of just one. And if they are paying cash for their degree, then which one they pay in cash and which one they pay with loans is arbitrary since both MBA and MIA/MPP tuition are roughly similar. Ubermensch specifically say money is not issue for MA, which is why he assumed he had a scholarship that was only specific to MA. However, if it is like Doctor MD says, then you should reflect deeply before you commit to dual-degrees. It would be a shame to take out extra loans for no reason

Interesting. What type of residency will you go for?

If you plan on doing both degrees separately, then you can't be looking at joint programs at all, including Hopkins and Insead or any other program. This is because joint degrees are, unsurprisingly, completed jointly. Plus, since you must gain admission into both programs, and you are not competitive applicant for B-School, you will likely be rejected outright by the joint programs. So you should stop considering these for the immediate future. Since both an MBA and MIA require work experience, you would probably be best served by working instead of diving nose straight into school. Truthfully, you have no choice, since very few people are ever admitted without work to MIA/MPP programs (with occasional exceptions, one of my fraternity brothers was in at Hopkins straight from undergraduate, but he was international and had strong foreign experiences). And with B-Schools, it is literally impossible to get admission in USA without working experiences (unless you are Mark Zuckerberg type applicant). After some time with work, you will be stronger applicant, and then you can apply to joint program. Plus, you will have added boost of having better idea of what you want to do. Maybe you realize you only need an MBA, or you only need an MIA. Maybe you realize you need both. Who knows. If you really want, you can do degrees separate as you say. Normally, I'd advice to think hard before going to school and losing lots of money. However, since your degree is free, I give you unique advice and say that it probably wouldn't hurt so much for you to go do MIA. Really, the only loss is the opportunity cost of not working full time for 1-2 years. However, I think you would gain benefit from having a versatile degree like MIA/MPP in your belt, so the pluses outweight the minus. No matter what tho, you need to have some work experience before applying, unless you have some uniquely exceptional international/government experience like my fraternity brother. Btw, how do you have a free masters but not a free MBA? Did you win a government masters only scholarship like pickering fellow or something?

Correct, if your plans involve working in the US, you would probably be better served at a comparable American B-School than at INSEAD. Not to criticize INSEAD, it is still top school, it's just that Americans will know better the colleges in their own country and would be more comfortable with their own top-notch B-Schools. Ubermensch ought to specify what country they want to work in after finishing. Btw I like the nietzche reference

INSEAD is one of top 5 business schools in the world. It is right up there with HBS of Harvard and Wharton of UPenn. Maybe it seem like scam name to Americans since they don't know many schools outside of USA, but it is elite and has comparable placements/salaries as the American elite business schools. However, I would personally prefer an American joint program; as MD's unawareness demonstrates, INSEAD isn't as well known in the US as the top american schools if you intend to work in USA. Dartmouth tuck and Harvard kennedy have a joint degree program, for example. They are two different degrees, but they could serve harmonious purpose. For example, you would be more attractive for management level positions at NGO or for certain federal government jobs with both MBA and MIA/MPA. However, you would not be making as much money as your B-school classmate buddies who will be making big dollars at Bain consulting, so you should keep that in mind. Really, you should consider your career goal before undertaking the joint program and where you want to work. Then measure the cost and benefits. Does it boost your career goal, and is it worth the cost? SAIS and INSEAD would be solid, and would work well abroad and even in US. But I think an even better option would be to do joint in USA, since you will have recognition of degrees both abroad and in US. Basically every ivy school that has both business school and policy school runs a joint program (e.g. Harvard, Columbia, even UPenn has policy school exclusively for joint degree students), so I would look into those in addition to SAIS Insead

Interesting. Aren't there joint programs that let you do this simultaneously so you don't have to do one degree after the other (like for example I believe Harvard and UPenn might have them)? So one day at work, you will hang up your lab coat and yell "I don't want to do this doctor stuff anymore, I am now health policy expert!" Hehe it's funny image in my head. Do you think implementation of ACA will still be relevant by the time you finish practicing as physician? Seems like it would be long time from now with internship, residency, specialize, etc.

It say you do MD and MPP under your cut the rope creature. Out of curiosity, why you do this? Will you be working for Doctors Sans Frontieres or the WHO or CDC or something else like this? It is interesting combination.

Princeton Wilson has explicit policy of funding students and not incurring debt for students. You should not have debt from Princeton. I've also heard that it is possible to incur little debt at Yale given small size of program. Did you actually attend either of the specific institutions you referenced, or were you just using them to refer to elite universities in general?

This seems a bit excessively contemptuous. What's on your mind, brother?

1. Sorry if not making clear, I was referring to this: http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/03/top-twenty-five-schools-international-relations/ I am not meaning exactly top 10, since number can change a little bit any year. But I do mean most highly-reputed programs, and this list roughly correlate with that. 2. I am not confirmed in what I want to specialize in, so I am thinking top # school might be help in private sector if I decide on that path. Plus, top # school is BIG deal in my home country of origin. It provide boost in job search. I am not sure why you try and convince top # is not top #. Why should I not apply to top # place? 3. Sorry, I am not seeing where it say this thing on this thread? It mostly talk about places with scholarship, like Yale, Princeton, Duke, Tufts, NYU, UCal, plus Georgetown. Can you elaborate in your response comment?

Thanks for providing your information. I am thinking that basically all of the people that I remember going to IR school without having many relevant working experiences were from foreign place. I think it gives a plus that you have real international experience growing up that many American don't have. This is good for foreign guy, not so good for American applicants, since they are needing more international experience to compensate haha.

Wow you the lucky guy. Did you consult for Deloitte? I hear they got the big grad school sponsorships.

How did you get the full funding if you don't mind me ask? Both Duke and Columbia political science website say they are not funding the master's. Did your employer sponsor your degree?

I am wanting to know response to this query as well. Would average DC employer know about LSE or Sciences Po (outside of British and French embassy)?

Wow man, that is super cool! Georgetown is the #1 program! If you do not mind the prying, can you tell what your stats and background are for to get such nice funding from top school?

Wow, that is awesome! I am thinking I will definitely apply to Yale now. Is this full funding in future a rumor or set plan? How quickly will they implement? I am thinking I will apply to there after few more years of work, so I am hoping to God that they will have adopted this plan by the time that I am applying to there =) I do not mind teaching assisting the undergraduates, I think it would be fun experience. Do they usually have enough TA positions for everybody that wants to do it, or is it like other colleges where only select few get the TA job?

Yes, but Princeton has more chance of giving ME money if accepted. Ceteris paribus with regards to applicant qualifications, I do think a college's generosity is important factor to know. No one can predict with certainty who will give money on individualistic basis, as you point out...but I am certainly more inclined to send application to schools who are having more reputation of aid and higher probability of giving money support to students. Sorry I am having to disagree on this point.

Yes, this is exactly what i have seen from Tufts: they give many students something in range of 20-30 thousand scholarship...but still not enough to offset 50-60 thousand cost per annum. So student is still left with taking out 30 thousand loan each year.

Wow, is it common for professional schools to try to "poach" students from other schools? I was thinking the professional grad programs are more about making money and so have less incentive to give good aid to poach students (like undergrad schools trying to boost ranking). Do you need to be a California person to get good rate from UCSD? I got into NYU undergraduate and they were not very generous from what I recall. Good to hear their grad program is more affordable, how generous have the NYU offers been from what you have seen? Congrats dude, Jackson only lets in roughly 35 people, yes? I would love to go if I get the acceptance. I know they have reputation for selectivity, did not know they gave good aid. Could you elaborate on what kind of award they give and perhaps what kind of award you get if it's not too personal of question? Like do they normally give half tuition, full tuition, stipend, etc.? By elite I am thinking good global recognition of university brand, higher ranking on FP or US news, and extremely strong network both for the IR/policy program and the university as a whole. Would you say school like Berkeley with a TA position have comparable total price as other schools of similar caliber with scholarships? Many of the better Tufts offers I see on graduatecafe are like 30 USD...which is looking nice until realizing that even with 30 award per year, one must take 60 USD in debt for just two year degree! US schools very costly, which is why I asking this question. Duke has good ranking and decent global reputation, so I call it elite. Michigan has good ranking too, but not as big reputation as Duke