Coming From: Arlington, VA/ Washington, DC
Deciding Between:
SAIS ($13,000 per year, total tuition expect to pay ~$80,000) (Additionally accepted to complete the first year at SAIS Bologna, Italy)
Georgetown SSP (No $$ - total tuition expected to pay ~$100,000)
George Mason University International Security program (Measly $1,500, total tuition expected to pay ~$25,000)
Other factors: I'm currently working full time with the IMF with decent salary and benefits and working on a high-level project, expected to last until May 2020 in the institution. If I went to SAIS I would have to quit my position, whereas the other two I could potentially continue to work full-time and go to school in the evenings. Other ding against SAIS is if I left for Bologna, Italy I would have to pay normal rent, whereas I am living with a long-term partner in Arlington with relatively cheap rent costs. (But Bologna would be so cool). Ideal move would be to the Foreign Service upon graduation.
How i'm leaning: I've all but deleted GMU from my mind, as it is my undergraduate institution and I do not want to go back, but it's such a cheap program that I could potentially pay off some of the fees while working full-time while studying.
HELP.
