Grospatapouf

Ah good too hear I'm not the only one. Do you have a preference so far? I read that Columbia could have more reach in the private sector, especially for 'dev-unrelated' industries. But the funding is not the same and it is still not an MBA. I assume that the fact that I'm a foreigner is not going help job research in the US, even with the STEM stamp. On the other hand, SAIS seems to carry more weight in IR, although less focused than SIPA's IFP + Data Analysis specialism. Realistically, I give myself little chances for Wharton or Stanford GSB but Dartmouth and CBS seems in reach somehow - so the tradeoff here is not major.

I guess I am just going to revive that topic rather than create a new one. I was accepted at both SAIS (70k) and SIPA (30k) and I can't really make my mind about it. Since I am currently graduating a BSc in IR in the NL and I have a military background (6 years in an SF unit), I thought it would be safer to stick to IR. However, being more attracted to the private sector and jobs such as consulting/IB, I would rather get an MBA. Now, I could try to defer for a year and try to apply for MBA programs, but that would require me to fill the blank for the next year, and I am not sure this would help any MBA applications. Conversely, I would have to pick a school and then apply to an MBA program (ideally one of the partners of Columbia or SAIS). Regardless of the public policy school go for, I will most likely concentrate in finance and econ. Yet I am not sure what would be the best strategy for me First, to secure a spot in a prestigious MBA program (e.g, is it easier to break into CBS with a foot in SIPA? is it easier to secure spot at Wharton / Tuck / GSB with a foot in SAIS?) Second, to increase my odds to break into in consulting/IB without going to a business school Hope you guys can help me with that!

Thanks for your answer. Indeed, after thinking a bit about it, I feel like deferring is not my best option. If I defer and get admitted admitted to a top 10 MBA school next year, I would probably pass on any IR degree just to save time. Now, I guess my real question is whether to go for SAIS (70k) - and potentially Wharton, Stanford or Tuck - or SIPA (30k) and only CBS. I wonder whether having a foot in one institution or the other would help my applications to their partner business schools.

Received the admission notification for SIPA (MIA) today with a scholarship of 30K. SAIS (MAIR) offers 70K, I'm not sure about what I should do tbh. Any chance the bureau for Financial aid reconsider their offer if I flex my scholarship from SAIS?

Hi, I am a French, 28 years ex-military, currently studying in the Netherlands. I have applied for SAIS MAIR and I was recently notified of my acceptance with 35K of institutional aid renewable to the second year (did not write any optional essay). I am now waiting for Columbia SIPA's answer, for which my preference goes so far (because allows a better focus on Int'l Finance and Quant). However, I don't think they are likely to match SAIS in terms of aid. Initially, I wanted to apply for Harvard and Princeton but I chickened out because I could only produce so many applications in a timely manner. So I chose to focus on my match schools. However, I now consider just postponing my admission at SAIS from a year to give it a shot. Especially since Princeton could give me the full ride, in addition to the sheer brand prestige and the work opportunities that come along. Furthermore, I also want to apply MBA degrees, which are, in fact, my true preference but less consistent with my background. Postponing would be necessary if I want to get into the dual degree between Wharton and SAIS per se. Here is a quick summary of my profile: Background: Former high school dropout, worked as an electrician from age 15. Resumed my studies after 6 years of duty in the military (Special Force unit) Undergraduate institution: Leiden University ; GPA: 8.5/10 Dutch Scale, Cum Laude (US = 4.0) ; Major: International Relations ; Extracurricular and Electives: Honors Track: Science & Society (15 US credits) Overseas experience (work, study and teaching): Korea (2021) => Winter School with courses in Finance and Strategic management (A+) + Korean language (200 hours) + Exchange at Yonsei Uni GRE: 327 - 164V and 163Q + AW: 5 Languages: French, English (C2), Spanish (B2), Korean (A2) Quant: Intermediate Macroeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Mathematics for Economists, Money and Banking, Statistic I, Statistic II (SPSS and Python), Principles of Finance Relevant Work Experience: Human Intelligence and Special Action. Deployed twice on combat operations in Sahel as OMLT twice. Instructor on basic training for 6 months.

Received the notification yesterday. I am in, with a scholarship of 35K/year of institutional aid - and I did not write the optional public service scholarship essay because... I was not inspired. What a dumb ass. Still waiting for Columbia.

Thanks for your feedback, Sir. For reference, I never considered Cornell and, indeed, I chose to remove Georgetown from the list out of the concern that it would be rather aimed at US citizens, in addition to the absence of MBA partners. So far, I was advised to limit myself to three programs, which is why I reduced my list to Harvard (reach/LS), SciencePo and JHU (target). Quite frustrated not to file Princeton.

Hi guys, I could not get feedback the first time so I am resubmitting now with some more info. I'm a former high school dropout and I worked as an electrician from age 15. Later, I served in the French military within a special force unit. I resumed my studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands after leaving the military. I am now 27 years old and I would like to take advantage of this time spent serving my country to apply directly for terminal degrees in public management. Schools Applying To: Harvard MPP, SciencesPo-SIPA (MPA), SAIS (MAIR) Undergraduate institution: Leiden University (1st school of International Relations in the NL, 22nd in QS subject ranking) Undergraduate GPA: 8.5/10 Dutch Scale, Cum Laude US equivalent -> GPA 4.0 Undergraduate Major: Political Science: International Relations and Organizations Extracurricular and Electives: Honors Track: Science & Society Philosophic Considerations: Human Nature and Moral Progress ; Data Science (Python) ; Introduction to Secret Affairs ; Social Science Lab ; Extended Thesis Overseas experience (work, study and teaching): Korea (2021) Korea University Winter School: Principles of Finance (A), Strategic Management (A+) Ewha's Women University (Korea) - Korean Language A2 Exchange at Yonsei University (Korea) Spain and Colombia: Learning Spanish GRE: 327 - 164V and 163Q + AW: 5 Languages: French, English (C2), Spanish (B2), Korean (A2) Quantitative requirements: Intermediate Macroeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Mathematics for Economists, Money and Banking, International Trade, Statistic I, Statistic II (SPSS and Python), Game Theory, Principle of Economics, International Political Economy, Principles of Finance Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0 Years of Work Experience: 6 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I was trained in Mountain Infantry and I later specialized in Human Intelligence and Special Action after passing Special Forces selection tests. I was deployed twice on combat operations in Africa (Sahel region) in a HUMINT and OMLT detachment where we worked on the arrestation of high-value targets, collected and reported intelligence in our area of responsibility, and mentored African troops on shared missions in the 'three-border' region. I also had the opportunity to train a platoon of young recruits for 6 months by the end of my career. Strength of SOP: Moderate, I can tie my previous military experience facing international development and leadership failures in Africa to what I desire to accomplish with a degree in International Policy. However, I am not exactly your typical single-minded guy with a clear thread guiding him since high school, or maybe it is just that I haven't worked that part of my SOP enough yet. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): 1. My Int' Law professor has already accepted to write my letters. I'm pretty close to him from participating in office hours and I obtained outstanding grades in his exams, I do think he will write strongly in my favor. 2. My former commander who supervised our team in Mali. He knows me very well and appreciated my work. He already pulled efforts in that way by getting me a military award for my actions in Africa. That's about it! Thanks in advance!

Hey Céline, I am myself a French senior student of IR in the Netherlands, more precisely at Leiden University; and I am currently considering a comparable set of Master's programmes. My understanding is that Dutch grades translate well in both the UK and French academic systems, so if you are above 8.0 you should get your shots for top schools. The differentiation is then essentially made based on the coherence of your project and your letters of recommendation.

Dude, are you even asking? You look like an absolute machine from here. To the point I am not even sure how these degrees can do any good to you.

Hi guys, I'm a former high school dropout and I worked as an electrician from age 15. Later, I served in the French military within a special force unit. After that, I resumed my high school studies and I'm now 27 and in the process of completing my undergrad at Leiden University in the Netherlands. I would like to take advantage of that time spent serving the nation and directly apply for terminal degrees in public management. But since I would also prefer to work at the intersection between Business and Politics, I'm considering adding MBA applications to these. Could you let me know your feeling about my profile? Schools Applying To: Harvard MPP, Princeton MPA (+Stanford GSB / others ?), Oxford MPP (and 1+1 MBA), SciencesPo-SIPA (MPA), The LSE (MPA), SAIS (MAIR), Georgetown (MA-IBP?) Undergraduate institution: Leiden University -> 1st for PSIR in the NL, 22nd QS ranking (Politics) Undergraduate GPA: 8.5/10 Dutch Scale, Cum Laude (Scholaro translation -> GPA 4.0) Undergraduate Major: Political Science: International Relations and Organizations So far it also includes: Special honors track on Science & Society (additional 30 ECTS) Coursework: Philosophical Consideration: Human Nature and Moral Progress ; Data Science (Python) ; Introduction to Secret Affairs ; Social Science Lab ; Extended Thesis Winter School at Korea University (Korea) Coursework: Principles of Finance (A), Strategic Management (A+) Ewha's Women University (Korea) - Korean Language A2 Exchange at Yonsei University (Korea) - Focus on Economics and Finance (ongoing) GRE/GMAT: Not taken yet but expect GRE: 330+ / GMAT: 700-730 Languages: French, English (C2), Spanish (B2), Korean (A2) Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0, however, during my bachelor I have created my own proprietorship to buy and rent out flats to students. Years of Work Experience: 6 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I was trained in Mountain Infantry and later passed selection test to join an elite unit specializing in Human Intelligence and Special Action, particularly in difficult terrains. I was deployed twice on combat operations in Africa (Sahel region) where I was deployed as military HUMINT and OMLT. I also had the opportunity to train a platoon of young recruits for 6 months by the end of my career. Strength of SOP: Weak. I still find it hard to define it precisely but as well to tie my previous military experience with my current aspirations, which are more connected to economic rather security matters, although at this point I prefer to leave a lot of doors open. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): My Int' Law professor, whose also a Cambridge man, has already accepted to write my letters. I'm pretty close with him from participating in office hours and I also obtained outstanding grades in his exams, notably citing beyond course material. Yet, I think he is in high demand for he certainly is one of the most likable character of our program. Conversely, I recently reached out to one of my former commander in the military. He commanded my company while I trained recruits in my late career, also he was himself a commando and participated in similar training and operations (on the behalf of the French DGSE). Yet, it has been more than 5 years since the last time I saw him and he has not overseen my work directly. He told me he would do anything to help, however, soldiers tend to be very straightforward and I'm afraid he misses the point with the LOR. That's about it! Thanks in advance!