trains

Cost of living in D.C. isn't exactly cheap either. I don't know anything about the program at NYU, but as I've been accepted to SAIS and done a lot of research I can tell you it seems like SAIS does well in placing graduates at organizations like the World Bank and IMF. From what I've read, the economics background at SAIS is very attractive to employers.

I'm having the same thoughts - I did a "Global Careers" virtual session today with SAIS and came away pretty impressed. I'm sure every other school has a significant career services department but SAIS did a good job marketing theirs. It's tough to put a number on the value of simply being in the "hub" of everything international. Good luck making your decision! I'm leaning toward SAIS. I'm really intrigued by the economics requirements. I studied poli sci and economics in undergrad so I can definitely understand how additional quant-focused courses would make SAIS graduates more marketable to potential employers, even though they aren't always the most fun for me.

Accepted to American SIS but didn't get any information about financial aid. Any thoughts?

Received notification last week that I was accepted to both SAIS for MA (DC campus) and Texas A&M Bush School MIA. I haven't heard back from GU or AU yet, but I feel confident. Is going in to a significant amount of debt to attend SAIS or Georgetown SSP, assuming I get in, worth it? Those are my top two choices. My interests are in national security/intelligence and the curriculum for both really excite me. I didn't receive any fellowship funding at SAIS so I would be funding it on my own. The alternative is A&M - still a very good program from what I can tell and I received a fellowship which would bring cost of tuition to 6k per year. When comparing to 47k per year at SAIS or 35k at Georgetown, this seems massive. Not to mention the cost of living in D.C. vs. east Texas. All this to ask, is the instruction, relationships, etc. from being in the top programs in D.C. worth the additional debt I would incur? Thanks in advance!!