Hello all,
I'm sorry to be redundant here but I have thought through my options a million times and still couldn't make my mind. Can anyone please help?
Academic Goal: International econ and finance policy, with southeast asia as a regional focus
Professional Goal: World bank, IFC, IMF, or UN in Southeast Asia
Options: 1. SAIS (Bologna/DC) 2. MAIA at SIPA, Masters in Public Policy at National University of Singapore (2 years total)
SAIS pro:
- Italy! - I have never been to Europe before and definitely wouldn't mind the opportunity to live and learn more about the region, DC in second year
- Small class size (an important point for me)
- It appears that alums are doing amazing things (I heard from many sources including this forum and my coworkers who is a SAIS graduate.)
- It appears also that SAIS has smaller but tighter alumni network
- many SAIS graduates get jobs at world bank (true??)
- supposedly the best southeast asia department in the US (although this is only in DC)
- staffs and professors seem more accessible (I cold-called and chat with the associate director of the SE Asia department for like 30mins - no problem)
- may get some funding
- ranked #1 (according to foreign policy mag)
SAIS con:
- may not be able to concentrate in SE Asia because of being in Europe
- small program (= smaller network? and less career resources?)
- separate campus from the main university = less resources such as faculty to share?
- JHU is less know than Columbia internationally
- I'm wary about the quality of the program in Bologna and the cost
SIPA/LKY pro:
- reputation of "Columbia"
- shared resources with business school, political science, law school, and etc.
- large program and large network
- program seems to be more flexible
- impressive faculty
- two degrees for the price of one (National University of Singapore is supposedly a very good university in SE Asia??)
- almost 20k cheaper (due to cheaper tuition in Asia)
- New York City! and Singapore!
- extensive selection of southeast asia classes that I can focus on in Singapore
SIPA/LKY con:
- much larger than SAIS (the school hosts Masters in int affairs, public policy, public admin, and etc......)
- less personal interaction with faculty and career resources??
- alumni network is too broad and not as tight?
- someone commented on gradcafe that he applied to a job in new york only to find out that 50 other SIPA grads also applied to the same job
- LKY school is relatively new and unknown??
- Singapore is less cool (for me) than living in Europe for one year
- i'm wary about an the quality of education in LKY
- ranked #4
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.