d2ear

I strongly suggest going with Yale because the people you meet and bond with in your cohort can have a profound impact on your overall experience. While education is undoubtedly important, it's the memories you make and the relationships you forge that will last a lifetime. Regarding the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) career path, it's essential to take the time to carefully consider this choice before committing to it. On a different note, if you do end up at HKS, please don't worry about housing. It's very manageable, and you'll find that Boston has a lot to offer. Plus, the fact that your fiance can work means you'll have an additional source of income, which is always a plus.

I considered several schools, including Harris and Sanford, but since I was not interested in economics or monetary policy, I cannot comment on those factors. However, I did rule out Harris due to the following reasons: 1. I was looking for a small, tight-knit community, which Harris does not offer. 2. The student body at Harris is heavily composed of international students, and many students seemed to be using the program as a means to enter the private sector through Booth's resources and reputation. This gave me the impression that the program is viewed as a backup option for those who were not admitted to Booth's MBA program, and I did not appreciate that atmosphere. Regarding your plan to pursue an Econ PhD, it seems reasonable to me, but I don't see the need to also obtain an MPP. Instead, you could simply align your studies towards the PhD program. I understand your intention to leverage the resources at Duke and UChicago to find a mentor or PI, but you will need to be focused on identifying the right individuals to work with for your PhD program.

Your insights on both programs are accurate. Fletcher is an excellent choice for the fields you mentioned, but they are primarily focused on the Middle East. In contrast, GW offers more courses and professors with an Asia-Pacific focus. While both schools are fantastic, Fletcher has a stronger sense of community, whereas GW is more competitive due to DC's nature. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your personal preferences. Regarding the previous comment, accessing Harvard is quite simple. I personally know several individuals who conduct research and attend classes there, and the opposite is also true.

Ultimately, your career path depends on your specific goals. Your current list of fields and career options lacks specificity, so it would be beneficial to focus on a specific policy field and build from there. As an international student, it's important to note that working at think tanks may not be feasible due to visa sponsorship issues.

Your choice between IHEID and Fletcher should depend on your desired career path. IHEID's proximity to international organizations offers more internship opportunities in this field, but personally, I believe the quality of education in the US is superior. However, a potential compromise could be the exchange program between IHEID and Fletcher.

Those familiar with Fletcher are aware of its reputation in the field of international relations. It's unnecessary to debate the merits of the program outside of this context, as those who attend Fletcher typically have an interest in IR. Even if students decide to pursue opportunities beyond IR, Tufts is an excellent institution overall. It's important to note that many master's programs, which are not fully funded, may be seen as a "money grab". Additionally, it appears that you may be referring to the MIB program, rather than MGA, as you mention business education. It's important to recognize that business and economics are distinct fields, and Tufts has a strong economics program. While the MIB program is not an MBA, it has its own unique niche which leverages its international relations component. Ultimately, all programs have a mix of individuals with varying levels of intelligence, but overall, Fletcher attracts many intelligent and kind individuals.

Sorry if you felt that way; that was not the intention. What I am trying to say is that paying off students might sound difficult when you look at the total amount that you have to repay, but honestly, it's not that scary once you start working. It won't be a breeze but not as scary as people imagined. And, of course, it's best if one does not have to take loans to attend grad school.

Not exactly, with $175k a year, the person is getting roughly 8k per month post-tax, 401k, insurances...etc without bonus. Paying off student loans with that monthly income won't hurt much.

Honestly, I feel people exaggerated too much about paying off student loans. Indeed, people who graduated 20 years ago are still paying off student loans at 40yrs old, but that's only a tiny portion of one's income when you have a stable job. Not even mention one's income increases over time. Paying off student loans is no big deal imho.

If your end goal is MBB, there is no point in going the longer route and getting an IR degree. You should apply directly to MBA programs. A dual IR/MBA won't help you much in recruiting. Going to M7 or any of the t15 schools is your best bet of transitioning to MBB if you do not already graduate from a prestigious undergraduate institute.

I am seeing the same international student shift. The size of admitted Indian students in my class was double the size of admitted East Asian students (China, Japan, Korea...etc.) The size of admitted East Asian students is about the same size as European students, which is really not that many. I don't have the data of the application counts by regions/countries. But I assumed it's either policy schools accept more Indian students than students from other regions/countries or they are just getting fewer applications from East Asian countries.

You will be fine. I am sure you will get into one... well, at least Watson. If you're still looking for other programs focusing on energy policy, Fletcher is a good one.

Not a decent one. But I already made up my mind and heading to Fletcher. The only concern is whether I should quit my new job lol.

Heard back last week, I'm in!

Would you mind sharing the list? would be interested in knowing the target schools for top orgs.

Anyone applied to the MSISPM and waiting to hear back too?

I'm still waiting on the FA info, would you mind sharing how you heard about your FA package? email or portal?

If money is a huge factor, you should go with the one that costs the least. While I love Fletcher, I don't think it's worth being in debt as the ROI for non-profit is simply too low. Same goes with other top programs, SAIS, SIPA, Georgetown..etc

Anyone heard anything yet about the financial aid or FAFSA from the admission office?

I work in tech, so perhaps I could answer your question about brand recognition. To put things straight, tech companies value skills and experience over "brand," so we do not care that much about where you went to school. It's all about how you performed on your interviews. The interview process usually has 5 -6 rounds of interviews with both behavioral and technical questions. Even if one passed the interviews, the decision still needs to be approved by the hiring committee. We care about how one could use his/her skill in real-world scenarios. So as long as you know how to leverage your skills and applied that to the position, you should be good.

Just curious, I'm seeing fewer people posting their admission results than in previous years. Do you guys think this year's admission cycle is more or less competitive?

Congrats y'all! I'm into the CSPP program at Fletcher, no info on funding yet (or maybe there's no funding?) Fletcher is my top choice, but am waiting for Heinz and other schools.