CalSeeker

As a current grad student that worked for several years before going back to school, I thought I would offer my input with the realization that I am probably biased by my own experience. I focused on security studies in undergrad and was sure that I would work in that field. However, I ended up taking a job related to international trade "temporarily" after graduating. I found I actually liked that a lot more than security studies, and that is what I decided to study in grad school. So I think that having actual work experience in the field is important before investing the money/time in another degree, to make sure that it is actually what you want. Also, I feel like what I am learning now is much more interesting/valuable to me after getting a bit of real-world perspective. I feel more equipped to apply what I learn to my professional life.

That is not to say that there are not downsides to going to grad school later. I am doing school part-time so that I can continue to work, and I do not have much time for extracurriculars. If I had to do it over again, I might have gone back a year or two earlier, but I think getting 2-3 years of work experience first is very helpful.

I think this is a bit harsh.  I agree with some of these points, but let me put a different spin on it.  I agree that GW is less competitive to get in to that SAIS or GT, but I do not think that means it is not worth the sticker price.  Many careers (particularly in IR and public affairs) require a grad degree eventually.  If SAIS or GT are not options for whatever reason (cost, fit, not accepted, etc.), then I think GW is a good option.  To the point that GW grads are all in internships or entry-level positions, this is not accurate from my personal experience.  I do think grad students everywhere are having a hard time now (look at the market for JDs and MBAs), and it is not suprising that people just out of school with little professional experience have to take lower-level jobs.  That said, all of the students that I know of in my program that graduated last year have a job in the field. 
 
I have to disagree that GW has a low reputation in DC.  It is true that there are a lot of GW grads out there (perhaps due to the higher admit rates?), but many of them are in high-level positions in government or the private sector.  They obviously do not look down on fellow GW grads.  There is a very large alumni network in the area; I work full time and I am always running into GW grads through my job.  So I think there is value in the GW brand.  Obviously I may be biased, but I was making the same calculations a couple years ago, and I do not regret choosing GW.
 
As I have said before, I also think that it is very important to be in DC if you are interested in working here at some point, and working/interning here is critical.

I think this is a bit harsh.  I agree with some of these points, but let me put a different spin on it.  I agree that GW is less competitive to get in to that SAIS or GT, but I do not think that means it is not worth the sticker price.  Many careers (particularly in IR and public affairs) require a grad degree eventually.  If SAIS or GT are not options for whatever reason (cost, fit, not accepted, etc.), then I think GW is a good option.  To the point that GW grads are all in internships or entry-level positions, this is not accurate from my personal experience.  I do think grad students everywhere are having a hard time now (look at the market for JDs and MBAs), and it is not suprising that people just out of school with little professional experience have to take lower-level jobs.  That said, all of the students that I know of in my program that graduated last year have a job in the field. 
 
I have to disagree that GW has a low reputation in DC.  It is true that there are a lot of GW grads out there (perhaps due to the higher admit rates?), but many of them are in high-level positions in government or the private sector.  They obviously do not look down on fellow GW grads.  There is a very large alumni network in the area; I work full time and I am always running into GW grads through my job.  So I think there is value in the GW brand.  Obviously I may be biased, but I was making the same calculations a couple years ago, and I do not regret choosing GW.
 
As I have said before, I also think that it is very important to be in DC if you are interested in working here at some point, and working/interning here is critical.

I think this is a bit harsh.  I agree with some of these points, but let me put a different spin on it.  I agree that GW is less competitive to get in to that SAIS or GT, but I do not think that means it is not worth the sticker price.  Many careers (particularly in IR and public affairs) require a grad degree eventually.  If SAIS or GT are not options for whatever reason (cost, fit, not accepted, etc.), then I think GW is a good option.  To the point that GW grads are all in internships or entry-level positions, this is not accurate from my personal experience.  I do think grad students everywhere are having a hard time now (look at the market for JDs and MBAs), and it is not suprising that people just out of school with little professional experience have to take lower-level jobs.  That said, all of the students that I know of in my program that graduated last year have a job in the field. 
 
I have to disagree that GW has a low reputation in DC.  It is true that there are a lot of GW grads out there (perhaps due to the higher admit rates?), but many of them are in high-level positions in government or the private sector.  They obviously do not look down on fellow GW grads.  There is a very large alumni network in the area; I work full time and I am always running into GW grads through my job.  So I think there is value in the GW brand.  Obviously I may be biased, but I was making the same calculations a couple years ago, and I do not regret choosing GW.
 
As I have said before, I also think that it is very important to be in DC if you are interested in working here at some point, and working/interning here is critical.

Hi Coloradical,

I actually orignally preferred SAIS due to the name recognition and emphasis on int'l econ. (I was never considering SFS as seriously because I wanted more of an econ focus.) In the end, Elliott offered me a better financial deal and I decided that I needed to work while going to school. SAIS would have been more expensive, it does not allow part-time students, and all of the classes are during the day. At Elliott the classes are in the evening, allowing me to work and go to school part-time. This was a huge consideration for me, but I think it has been a pretty big positive for my classmates that are not necessarily in the same situation as me. Almost everyone in my program is able to get a relevant internship/job during the day, which is absolutely key for both building resumes and making connections.

I think that the alumni network is pretty strong, based on my limited experience. I have run into several people through work that went to Elliott, and I think that Elliott has a strong reputation in DC. There have also been some events through my program (more on that below) that alumni also attended. They had a lot of good advice/info. My program at least seems to have good internship placement success, with agencies/companies actively seeking out students in our program. Obviously internships do not always turn into jobs, but it seems alumni have had pretty good success in the past. I have not gone to many of the wider Elliott School networking/career events, but it does seem that they always have a lot going on.

I am in the international trade and investment policy (ITIP) program, and I am very satisfied with it. I like that it is smaller than the more general IA program, and I feel like we get more individual attention. I do not have a lot of experience with the other programs, though, so that may not be true. We have had several ITIP events to meet other students and alumni from the program. Also, all of the incoming students each year have all of the core classes together as a cohort. I feel like all of this has helped foster a good sense of community for the ITIP students (including those in the year ahead of us). The ITIP capstone project seems like a great opportunity as well. I have not started it yet, but basically we will split into teams and work on a project as consultants to an outside agency/organization/company in our area of interest. Again, I am not certain what the other programs are like.

As far as Elliott School classes go, I like that most have given a strong focus to real-world policies and issues. Of course that is what you would expect from a professional program.

Overall, I Elliott has been a great fit for me, and I have had a great balance of academic, professional, and extracurricular opportunities. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to offer my thoughts.

Hi Coloradical,

I actually orignally preferred SAIS due to the name recognition and emphasis on int'l econ. (I was never considering SFS as seriously because I wanted more of an econ focus.) In the end, Elliott offered me a better financial deal and I decided that I needed to work while going to school. SAIS would have been more expensive, it does not allow part-time students, and all of the classes are during the day. At Elliott the classes are in the evening, allowing me to work and go to school part-time. This was a huge consideration for me, but I think it has been a pretty big positive for my classmates that are not necessarily in the same situation as me. Almost everyone in my program is able to get a relevant internship/job during the day, which is absolutely key for both building resumes and making connections.

I think that the alumni network is pretty strong, based on my limited experience. I have run into several people through work that went to Elliott, and I think that Elliott has a strong reputation in DC. There have also been some events through my program (more on that below) that alumni also attended. They had a lot of good advice/info. My program at least seems to have good internship placement success, with agencies/companies actively seeking out students in our program. Obviously internships do not always turn into jobs, but it seems alumni have had pretty good success in the past. I have not gone to many of the wider Elliott School networking/career events, but it does seem that they always have a lot going on.

I am in the international trade and investment policy (ITIP) program, and I am very satisfied with it. I like that it is smaller than the more general IA program, and I feel like we get more individual attention. I do not have a lot of experience with the other programs, though, so that may not be true. We have had several ITIP events to meet other students and alumni from the program. Also, all of the incoming students each year have all of the core classes together as a cohort. I feel like all of this has helped foster a good sense of community for the ITIP students (including those in the year ahead of us). The ITIP capstone project seems like a great opportunity as well. I have not started it yet, but basically we will split into teams and work on a project as consultants to an outside agency/organization/company in our area of interest. Again, I am not certain what the other programs are like.

As far as Elliott School classes go, I like that most have given a strong focus to real-world policies and issues. Of course that is what you would expect from a professional program.

Overall, I Elliott has been a great fit for me, and I have had a great balance of academic, professional, and extracurricular opportunities. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to offer my thoughts.