JAubrey

Just an aside, does anyone else loathe the term "Public Ivies"? Let's be honest here of the "original" public ivies there were, W&M, Miami of Ohio, UC, UMich, UNC, UT, UVa, and Vermont. While all are fairly good schools, though one could argue with Vermont, rightly or wrongly, only W&M, UMich, UNC, and UVa along with UCB and UCLA are nationally regarding as strong universities and really only UMich, UVa, and UCB have elite or near elite level grad programs. The idea that these schools are in anyway related to one another or as a group on par with the real Ivy League or even at an undergraduate level, the potted Ivies, is misleading to say the least. My point is, if you intend on staying in Texas, than UT is a fine choice. If however you intend on working in DC or internationally then you are much better served in aiming for SFS, SIPA, HKS, WWS, and SAIS of course. But also GW, UVa, or even Fels (the latter if you are primarily interested in domestic / local policy). The alumni are better placed, their locations are better, and the universities have far more experience in placing their students and have more in-depth relationships with organizations and agencies.

My two cents as someone whose master's is from a top UK university: I have not found this at all. My university has large-ish alumni clubs in NYC, DC. Boston, LA, Toronto, Ottawa, and San Francisco as well as smaller ones in Atlanta, Houston, and Chicago. Granted when people ask about my master's they mostly instantly recognize the name, but I would say within our field LSE would be little different. However, a place like Columbia still would have a larger network in the US. That said, I wouldn't trade it or the experience for any US university.

On one hand being in DC helps in terms of access. HOWEVER, and this is doubly true if you want to work abroad...the Chicago name is head and shoulders above AU's, it is not even close. In Europe this is huge, in South Asia this is game changing. Especially if you want to work at the WB, this is a no brainer. Go to Chicago and don't look back.

That is obviously up to you, fit and what not. However, depending on if you have any funding from Maxwell, I would attend GW unless Syracuse throws a substantial scholarship / grant at you. The location is huge, as is the fact you have many more GW Tract, ESIA, CAS master's graduates all around DC, not to mention literally thousands of GW BAs who stayed, so networking is a factor obviously.

Outside of MEng and MBA, most employers don't care what sort of master's it is and just look at the subject. I am speaking to both public and private sector employers.

There is a fair bit of cross registration between Tracht and ESIA, also the master's from ESIA grads tend to be looking at similar careers as Maxwell grads, hence this is a valid example.

Depends how you define the top of the list but regarding similar programs ahead of them in the US alone, in no particular order: WWS HKS GTown SAIS/JHU Tracht/ESIA SIPA Wagner UCB Harris Jackson Yale The above are all solidly ahead of Maxwell, additionally these are a bit above as well but much closer and somewhat debatable: Fels Batten Heinz Taubman CIPA

When you say travels with, I assume you mean via the APSIA. By this logic, AU, TA&M, UCSD, DU, Maryland, Minnesota, Pitt, and Washington are all elite. This simply isn't so. Personally I would put most of the DC based programs (GTown, SAIS/JHU, GW Tracht/ESIA) with the exception of maybe AU, ahead of Syracuse, based on alumni, prestige, quality of applicant / student, and exit opportunities.

I was going to reply to aspiringmaster, but this is a perfect response to the question.

Maxwell is not a bad program, however in terms of quality of students it just doesn't compare in pedigree to HKS, WWS, GPPI, SIPA, etc.

Simply put, Syracuse in alumni network, brand name, career services, renowned/well-connected professors, and overall depth and breadth of education is not in the same league as HKS, WWS, SIPA, GPPI/SFS, ESIA/T, SAIS/JHU, etc.

Chicago by a country mile.

I admire your tenacity adollarninetynine, despite repeatedly lying and getting caught you keep at it, good job sport. Now if you HAD actually worked at MBB or even a solid second tier firms, you'd know that master's degree students do INDEED compete against undergrads in most cases NOT MBAs. I speak from experience, in my cadre for instance about a third had master's degrees be they in finance, economics, history, international relations, engineering, etc. and another third had work experience (normally under two years). MBAs on the other-hand started on the rung above us (this is mirrored in our two closest competitors as well as the top niche firms and even the large Big Four consultancies). Once again you have no idea what you are talking about. To the OP, yes you are not in the best place regarding your undergrad and law school history, but do well in your master's and network network network and you will have a shot at securing an interview at a solid second tier consultancy and from there it is up to you (how well you test, interview, and how you do on the required case studies). Firms like Deloitte, Accenture, EY, and PwC are all in reach. Are they MBB? No. But they all do some interesting work and you will learn loads. On campus recruiting will be your best bet, utilize career services as much as possible.

I was referring to the flagship MPA, not the nascent PSIA program.

Given what you want to study, College of Europe, Sciences-Po, HEI, or even Hertie or Freie which are both in Germany, would all be better bets.

Having studied at Sciences-Po previously and having friends who are recent alumni of this specific program, this is patently false.

This is literally one of the most asinine things I have ever read on here.

Rankings can be a bit flawed, and in terms of placement, reputation, alumni, access, etc. GW is solidly second tier, whereas AU SIS, is decidedly a step below. Now UW Evans I would definitely move to 3rd tier, with AU SIS, and Mich Ford. Heinz is fine, but again solidly second tier. And UPenn Fels, despite its focus is again second tier if not borderline 1st tier as is Duke Sanford. You also left out HKS, which is obviously first tier. As for UMD Maryland /UGA PADP / Georgia State AYSPS, they are fourth tier if there were to be such a category, maybe even 5th tier for Georgia State.

Full disclosure, I went to graduate school in IR in the UK, where there are a number of excellent university for IR / policy. As to the rest of western Europe, having studied abroad in France and grown up abroad, there are a few schools which will be recognized in the US. However, there is something to be said for the alumni networks of a US master's program. In France, for Americans, it is Sciences-Po (Paris). A great program, very prestigious university (every single Prime Minister and President in the Fifth Republic has studied here. They offer programs all in French, bi-lingual and even an all English MPA. The alumni network is also fairly strong in DC and NYC. ENA is also an excellent option, though not known at all in the 'States and I'd be surprised if any Americans who were not also native speakers, could make it through their selection process. Otherwise, HEI in Switzerland and to a lesser extent, the College of Europe in Belgium are of somewhat similar character. In the UK you have: Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCl, KCL, St Andrews and Edinburgh all with excellent IR programs who place their graduates well, though some programs, such as KCL and to a lesser extent St Andrews are more niche in nature. Where are you applying presently?

Just my two cents, the actual exam is not difficult at all, especially if you have a poli sci / IR / history background. I think the myth around it comes from the sheer amounts of people taking it. As for the background check, the time of it has come down a bit, it depends on a lot of factors such as travel, foreign living, citizenship of family, past criminal charges, debt, etc. It can really range from three months, to 8 or 9 months depending on these factors. #2 oddly trips a lot of people up and #4 is the killer.

What are her post-master's goals and where are her other acceptances?

Ha ha I always love someone try to dig themselves out of being caught in an obvious lie, good luck sport. As for Deloitte, they are a fairly respected firm, I worked with them, as in alongside some of their consultants in my current role. Unlike you, some of us HAVE worked at MBB and are comfortable enough about our profile and experience not to need to make things up. MYRNIST is spot on, what exactly negative would adcoms find about an applicant on here? They were asking for help? I think not. Also I know most programs don't exactly track down people on the internet they believe to be applicants. Oh and sport not to quibble, but you said " However, I have zero years of full-time work experience since I am an international student studying in the U.S" not that "had no public service experience and MPPs look for public interest work." But nice try, whatever makes you feel better chief. I am, for my part, done on this thread. Best of luck to the OP.

Also nice other lie about being in a dual degree program, when according to your posts from August you were still planning on applying to an MPP and claimed you were going to get into a top six law school...Even giving you the benefit of the doubt on law school and that you matriculates Fall 2011, you still aren't in a dual degree program. This is really just sad. This forum is here to help people in applying to grad school, not for you to make things up and troll. I suggest seeking help or at least getting a life.

So you've resorted to lying then, I refer to your post from February: "Posted 14 February 2011 - 05:39 AM Hey guys, I was wondering what would be my chances of getting into either of these programs? I have a 770 Quant/ 740 Verbal with a 3.8 GPA with a degree in accounting. I am definitely sure that I will have a very diverse and interesting application due to my personal background. However, I have zero years of full-time work experience since I am an international student studying in the U.S. I am also applying for a law degree in the top ten schools since I received an LSAT of 172. Any advice or comments would be appreciated. " So you have "zero years of full-time work experience" yet also "worked at one of MBB for a few years out of undergraduate"? Perhaps you should be a little more consistent in your lies. Pathetic.

If you noticed, I stipulated IF the OP were to get into UVa or Harris, possibly GW or Heinz as well. What is your background to give such sage advice? If you are curious I worked for one of these top tier management consultancies and interviewed at another and now work with consultants from BAH and Deloitte on a daily basis. And the latter has plenty of UVa grads, as well as GW, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, and even GMU grads. So I would posit I have a fairly in-depth insight into their workings. Will it be a stretch for the OP? Absolutely However, IF the OP were to get in then he does have a chance. Are many of the consultants in these roles from top tier schools? Yes. BUT I have worked and continue to work alongside some who graduated from American, GMU, and even schools like VT, UCSD, Leicester, and Strathclyde Uni. Again you talk either from just having read forums or perhaps just have made things up, I do hope it is the former, at least that would be somewhat excusable. Now who do think has the better grasp on getting into consultancy?