travelering

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MA IR Schools Applied To: Georgetown MSFS, Johns Hopkins SAIS DC, Columbia SIPA Schools Admitted To: Georgetown MSFS, Johns Hopkins SAIS DC ($$) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Columbia SIPA Undergraduate Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Undergraduate GPA: 3.46 Undergraduate Major: Anthropology GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: 160/169/5.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 6 Years of Work Experience: 7 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Peace Corps, Peace Corps Response, couple internships abroad with UN Partner Agencies Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I conveyed a clear purpose for studying at each school. Spent a lot of time on each essay and mentioned specific courses. Others reviewed and provided feedback. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I know two were very strong, one likely strong. One past professor, one IDEV project supervisor, and one Peace Corps supervisor Other: I think the years of experience in IDEV (particularly education) and a clear reason to study at these schools helped balance out the underwhelming undergrad GPA.

Thanks for all that info! The more I learn about the SAIS IDEV program the more I like it. Georgetown's smaller MSFS cohort size, which I like, isn't all that advantageous when the SAIS IDEV class size is only 25 people. You've got a lot of great options. Good luck with Princeton and UPenn!

Congrats to everyone on getting accepted! I was accepted to SAIS MA DC as well as Georgetown MSFS. My concentration is IDEV for both. It's obviously hard to compare since they're both great programs, but I'm trying to figure out which IDEV concentration is the better choice. I found a decent amount of information about SAIS' IDEV concentration online, but not as much about MSFS' IDEV. From what I've been told by those working in DC, MSFS is the best overall IR program, while the SAIS IDEV program in particular is stellar -- many of those opinions were based on program reputation. Does anyone have any insight regarding each program's IDEV concentration (coursework/preparation, job placement, student body, etc.)?