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Anyone else accept a spot on the waitlist/hear anything? I'm on the list but haven't heard anything (they did say decisions would not happen until July though). In the mean time it's looking like I'll be putting my deposit down for Georgetown SSP.

Important consideration: will there be free lunch??

No email for me. sigh. It seems I won't be recieving any other sort of fellowship or funding beyond loans either. I am seriously starting to consider deferring (either GTown or GW) for a year, and doing a teaching job in Iraq. I wonder if I'd be allowed to re-apply for Pickering then?

Thanks for that input, it does help think things through a bit. My problem is that I'm really not totally sure what I want to do after graduation yet, but I'm thinking US Foreign Service or Congress. A consulting job for a bit is a little appealing too. But I'm still not sure if I want to keep my options open to do something more in the business realm as opposed to strict security issues. I also did not receive any funding (from anywhere it seems), so that makes things more difficult as well. Have you decided on a concentration? I guess I would be between international security or US security policy. Not sure if it matters all that much though.

When did you find out about SSP funding? As far as I know, I didn't get any. I was waitlisted at SAIS which is my top choice. I'm leaning towards thinking that SSP is not worth it for me at this point. Too much money and I just don't think the program is at all comparable to SAIS. I'm still weighing my options (and I'm quite fickle) but I'm leaning towards putting grad school off for a year and trying again for SAIS later.

Just thought I'd add a little update. I was in touch with one of my professors from UVA and he though Eilliott was better because they have better professors. I was also in touch with someone from the World Bank, whose SAIS summer class I took last year, and he said that in hiring they consider SAIS, Georgetown and GWU to be all roughly on the same level and that they were more interested in what the candidate did at school, rather than the school's name. I think I still like GWU's program better, but have to say I'm still a little hung up on the Georgetown name.

Anyone have any idea just how selective it is?

Anyone else apply/hear anything? I haven't heard anything from them since before I submitted my applicaiton.

Is the Georgetown brand name even really that good? It's kind of shallow I know, but that's the only reason I'm really considering it over GW.

Similar situation for me...between Georgetown SSP and GWU. Definetly no funding from Elliott, and not sure about Georgetown yet. I'm leaning towards GW because of the convenient location, and because of their study abroad exchange (I want to go to India for a semester). That SSP is only 1.5 years is also appealing though.

I wish I was in your position! Just got word that there's no funding at GW for me. I had been leaning towards GW (over Georgetown SSP and American) because of the strength of its study abroad program (I want to do a semester in India) and its convenient location. I guess those are my big reasons for liking GW - still trying to decide between there and GTown (where I haven't heard anything about funding yet, but I'm assuming I won't get any).

I got the email yesterday. What do you all think of the SSP program? I was also accepted at American, GWU, and waitlisted at SAIS (my first choice). Though I guess Georgetown might have a better name (and it's nice it's just a 1.5 year program), I'm leaning a bit towards GW because of the convenient location and the strength of their study abroad program (I really want to do a semester at Jawaharlal Nehru University). I suppose one of the biggest considerations will ultimately be financing for me - still waiting to hear about all of that. Thoughts?