Noatann

I would say it depends on where you see yourself working. International orgs? Academia? Think tanks? US gov? Another country's gov? NGO? Private sector? Between those, I'd say if you're headed for DC think tanks or US gov, GT might be worth it.

Hi there! I'm making a similar decision this year, and I definitely think there are more benefits to SAIS than just prestige- their program is known for being really serious and quant-heavy, which can help with hireability after graduation, especially in DC. Anecdotally, the one SAIS student I know is also a woman of color. But if you're headed for State, GW or Fletcher are great too! The Diplomat in Residence at my alma mater went to Fletcher, and she's a former ambassador- and a black woman too. Cost of living might also be cheaper, as Fletcher is a bit outside of Boston. I've also heard Tufts has a more community, college-campus feel compared to the more urban GW or SAIS. And GW has hella US government connections, so definitely great for State internships.

As a fellow Georgetown SSP prospective student, I think they outrank GWU by quite a bit, especially if you're headed for any part of the US national security apparatus. Also, if you want to focus on Africa, I'd say Georgetown is more internationally focused than GWU, which has more connections domestically.

As an American, Georgetown is really well respected in DC and the US poli sci establishment, but its reputation is less well-known abroad.

Hi there! I am also choosing between Georgetown and Columbia, albeit different programs. It sounds like the dual-degree option at SIPA is more geared towards your goals, and both schools estimate indirect costs at $25k/year- don't underestimate the expense of living near Georgetown! DC suburbs might be cheaper than NYC, but your commute to school might be longer.

Hello all! I got my final grad school results today, and I feel so lucky to have two amazing options. I applied to nine programs, got accepted to eight, and received merit aid/fellowship offers from seven. Of those seven, I narrowed my list down to two: International Affairs at Columbia SIPA, or Security Studies at Georgetown SFS. Please help me choose! Any input helps. Here are my considerations so far: 1. Money: Columbia has offered $99,000, and Georgetown has offered $20,000. That translates to about 70% of the cost of Columbia ($130k) and 25% of the cost of Georgetown ($80k). Both schools estimate indirect costs at about $25k per year, but the cost of living in NYC tends to be somewhat higher than DC. I have no debt, and around $70k in college savings (thank you, National Merit Scholarship), so either way I have enough to attend without incurring debt, but it seems like Columbia is the better deal financially. 2. Academics: both programs have similar course requirements, as I would be choosing the International Security concentration at either university. Both have incredible faculty. At Georgetown, I could learn directly from practitioners like Madeleine Albright, Chuck Hagel, and other distinguished and well-known figures. Foreign Policy ranks Georgetown's IR Master's programs #1 for a reason! But at Columbia, faculty are more research-focused and well-known in their academic fields rather than in the public eye. Foreign Policy ranks Columbia fifth for Master's programs, but for PhDs, Columbia is fourth and Georgetown is down at #11. If I want to continue my studies either immediately or after getting some international career experience, Columbia might be the better choice. But Georgetown is #1 for getting folks into the Foreign Service, which is where I want to be. 3. Connections: I would make great peer, faculty, and internship connections at either university, they would just be different. In terms of peers, international students make up 50% of SIPA, but only 5% of SSP at Georgetown. However, SSP can be taken part-time while MIA is full-time, so SSP students cover a wider range of ages and career stages, including many veterans and former/current members of the US National Security apparatus. When it comes to faculty, Georgetown professors might help me find jobs in DC/US government more easily, but Columbia professors could help me get published, or get jobs in NY/international orgs. Finally, for internships, it's hard to beat DC's options of Capitol Hill, think tanks, and government agencies. But NYC has the UN, which would be a dream come true to intern for, as well as many other international orgs, multinational companies, and NGOs. 4. Personal and career goals: as mentioned above, I've dreamed of becoming a US foreign service officer for several years now. My plan has gone like this: 1) undergrad at cheap state school (check), 2) intern with orgs in DC (double check), 3) Fulbright grant abroad (check), 4) Master's at a prestigious school, 5) take the FSOT and start my career as a diplomat. Since I settled on these goals, Georgetown has been my dream school. But before any of this, as a kid growing up in Indiana, I dreamed of living in NYC and attending an Ivy League school, and Columbia was my perfect combination. So now I'm picking between a new dream and an old one- a privileged position, I know. 5. Research focus: I want to work at the intersection of security and environmental policy. Yes, I want to travel the world and be a diplomat, but I think environmental security is so fascinating and relevant to all the international problems I want to deal with. Water, natural resources, clean energy, pollution, biodiversity, sustainable development- viewing these issues through the lens of security makes people listen to environmentalists! I want to contribute to research that matters to policymakers, that gets turned into policy decisions that matter to everyone. At Georgetown, I'd be starting from a US National Security perspective and working outward towards other places and people. At Columbia, I'd be closer to academia and international orgs, but further from US policy. I might also be able to branch out a little bit more at Columbia, as the International Affairs degree is more general in outlook than Georgetown's more specific Security Studies. If you've read this whole essay, thank you already! Please comment with your input or well-wishes if you have the time. Thanks again, Noa

Fellow IR nerd starting a Master's this fall here- I'd go with American for financial reasons. Not only because of cost/debt, but also because DC has a (slightly, depending on where you live) lower cost of living plus a lot of amazing IR-related opportunities and connections. American is ranked well and pretty well-known in the field, maybe slightly below Columbia, but I don't think the possible advantage of reputation outweighs the real disadvantage of cost. But obviously that's just my POV!

I have no idea. I'm not an international applicant, and I don't think there was anything unusual about my FAFSA/financial aid info. But it does seem like a good sign, right?

Hello all, I got this email today from Columbia. Do you think it means that I got in? I haven't received an acceptance letter yet, but there's a student ID here, and when I followed the directions in the email I got to a page that said "We are pleased to offer you the following sources of assistance for this academic year." So it seems like I must have gotten in- right? Has this happened to anyone else? Thanks for the help, Noa