[SIPA vs SAIS vs SFS vs Hertie]

3 hours ago, went_away said:

IMHO, no other region can hold a candle to the quality, drive, and sheer resources of a U.S. professional graduate school. +other countries, including/especially Europe, don't have the tradition of letting people reinvent themselves like we do in the U.S. +trying to get a work permit or build a career in the EU is a fool's errand, IMHO.

That sounds like little more than blind nationalism to me. 

[Georgetown MSFS vs. Fletcher]

25 minutes ago, AdvancedDegreeAlumnus said:

I am assuming you are a Brit? Do you want to stay in the US after graduation? If yes, go to Georgetown...the simple fact you are in DC gives you proximity to internships/consultancies that can ease your path to a post-graduation role that does not require visa sponsorship (i.e. World Bank, IFC etc.). 

Also, I know you say you are ignoring the finances, but I cannot emphasize this enough....go to whatever school is cheapest.

Thank you for your advice! I'm very fortunate in that a visa isn't a concern for me as a Green Card holder, and I will of course go to the cheaper school. At the moment they look like they will cost about the same. 

[Georgetown MSFS vs. Fletcher]

So this is my current choice too. Can anyone chip in? I'm ignoring the finance side for now as I've a few things in play. 

I've been really impressed by Fletcher so far, and I've enjoyed their events. I hadn't really been considering SFS too seriously until this week. I like the small cohort and close community at Fletcher. 

From what I've read, SFS is also small but is also quite cutthroat. Is that correct?

[Georgetown SFS - Fall 2021]

Similar question. How much is Georgetown MSFS worth compared to other DC programs at GWU, American, SAIS? And Fletcher?

I'm really not sure I can justify the expense. 

 

[Tufts Fletcher 2021]

Just now, d2ear said:

I'm still waiting on the FA info, would you mind sharing how you heard about your FA package? email or portal? 

I got an email earlier from student services with the details. It is all starting to get real! 

[Tufts Fletcher 2021]

Is there a group or something I should be in on Facebook etc?

I got offered Work Study in my financial package and I have no idea what that looks like in reality. Any thoughts?

[2021 Decisions]

It's nearly decision time, people!

What are we thinking?

[Financial Aid Negotiation]

2 hours ago, ajak568 said:

Yup. I would still negotiate and explain that your cost of attendance at the other program would be lower. Worst Target School can do is say they don't have the extra funds.

Thank you so much! I'll let you know how it goes. 

[Financial Aid Negotiation]

I have a question - does it matter if the scholarship offered from another school is lower if it makes their program significantly cheaper than your target offer? 

I.E> Target School offers 30% tuition (say $15k)

School B offers 50% tuition ($10k). 

So the competing scholarship offers less money, but it is proportionally more significant due to the lower tuition in the first place. 

Can I still negotiate from that position? 

[Tufts Fletcher 2021]

3 minutes ago, francophile_1 said:

Fletcher is charming their way into my heart between the funding and the outreach from their students and faculty for sure. 

I'm pretty set on Fletcher at this point. 

I got in to GWU, American, Georgetown, and SAIS - but none of them have hit the level of Fletcher so far for me, in terms of funding or outreach. I'm increasingly excited about the coming year! 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

5 minutes ago, ladiesman217 said:

Rejected - but full rides to Yale and MSFS... interested in State Dep or Intelligence world. Seeing as how we been through this ride together, hoping you all could help me out one last time. Which would you choose? To make things harder, GF is in DC...

For your career aspirations, surely MSFS! You've an amazing offer from there! Congratulations

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Just now, sd9000 said:

WE DID IT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! IM GOING TO HARVARD!!!

WHAT? For real!?

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Wow. We're in the Wild West now.

 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Just now, MPPNYC said:

I wonder how much they follow this forum on the day of release, just to see how frazzled we've all gotten. 

'Just a few more minutes. They haven't quite suffered enough'... 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

I had a SAIS interview on the night of the Capitol incident. This has been a CRAZY cycle. 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Just now, sd9000 said:

I used to wonder how people fall into Qanon traps on the internet until I started reading this forum. Now I am putting all my faith into a guy named "MPPapplicant69" and his unverified sources. 

Hahahaha that's gold 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Right now we are Schrödinger's applicants - neither accepted or rejected. I'm kinda at peace with this purgatory. ?

 

Is anyone doing a Grad School result reaction YouTube video? Is anyone brave enough to do it for HKS? 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Just now, InternationalStudent said:

I wonder if the high amount of replies in this thread is a result of a high number of applications from grad cafe users, or if HKS's system just leads to a lot of speculation that inevitably generates discussion. 

This is already the the thread with the most replies on the Government Affairs front page and decisions aren't even out yet.

Isn't it the most popular program, generally speaking, that attracts people from a variety of fields? Last year there were 35 pages of discussion. The 19th last year was insane. 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Just now, mpp_app2021 said:

I can confirm the change happened this morning - I took a screenshot of the MYFAID page last night to know when it was going to change ? and the advisors weren't there. 

My anxiety right now ??

 

That is some next level detective work. They should admit you for that alone... That has to be worthy of a Belfer Fellowship or something!!???

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

If results really do come out today, then I think Matt experimented with his slightly evil side this year. There's good Matt, who informs the world, and bad Matt, who keeps everyone in a minor state of cardiac arrest for weeks. ?

I'm just so glad I don't work in admissions. 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

1 minute ago, 2021mpamppwait said:

Would financial aid and fellowship Decisions come out with acceptances?

Last year I think they were either in the same email or on the same day, I can't remember exactly. 

People were posting 'I'm in with a CPL Fellowship' etc shortly after 3pm. 

[Harvard Kennedy MPP 2021]

Last year's results came out at 3pm ish, I think in the past they've been more 12:30 - 1:00pm. 

Everyone was freaking out when that change happened to MYFAID. Maybe today really is the day? 

Someone buy Matt some more coffee to manifest this  

Perhaps you were right, @CAKHKS79

[Tufts Fletcher 2021]

30 minutes ago, Emrada said:

Anyone on this morning's Fletcher info session? Deans Kyte and Sims Gallagher are rockstars in energy/climate (my field), so it's awesome to hear from them.

It's been interesting so far!

[Got Accepted to the Security MA programs at both George Washington and Georgetown - unsure which to go for future in intel.]

GWU Elliott has some of the best Africa faculty in DC, but GTown has a Africa certificate option right? I'm in a nearly identical position with similar interests, except I was admitted for MSFS.

[Georgetown SFS - Fall 2021]

3 minutes ago, howyagoing said:

SFS is approx. $85K USD

Oxford is £25.9 GBP (approx. $36K USD)

+ living costs 

Is the Oxford course one year? 

I think the Oxford name, cheaper price, and the international experience of being in the UK might be a good thing. 

I understand that Georgetown is a really attractive program though. Have you asked Georgetown if they can offer any funding? Even a few thousand dollars might help take the edge off it.