JAubrey

UVa as a university has an excellent reputation. Batten is extremely new however, and has only had 5 year BA + MPP undergraduates graduate / come thru thus far. They have taken in, from what I've seen and heard, a strong inaugural graduate class (their website lists the undergraduate universities and work experience of some of these new matriculants) and given the ability to cross-register for classes at Darden or UVa Law, you should be fine career-wise. I would still say Harris is better academically and is a more known quantity. HOWEVER, given UVa's proximity to DC and a large and still increasing DoD precense in Charlottesville, I would personally take a punt on Batten if you want to go into public sector consulting or government. I've worked both in private and public sector management consultancy, if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Depending on your prior experience, look at Detica (now owned by BAE), SAIC, CSC, etc. For more mainstream consulting, try Ernst & Young, Pricewaterhouse, AT Kearney, or if you do well at UChicago or UVa then Bain, BCG, or McKinsey (aka MBB).

I find it interesting that someone can be so unbelievably wrong, unless they literally were making things up as they went. First, if one is talking about Booz & Co and not Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) (which have been separate companies for a number of years) then they may have a point to an extent (however Booz & Co does recruit at UVa and Chicago and occasionally CMU). BAH is nowhere near as prestigious and does indeed have a number of consultants from the aforementioned UVa and Chicago as well as CMU and GWU. Deloitte is much the same and is one of the rising powers in management consulting outside of MBB. To the OP, aim for UChicago or UVa to give yourself the best chance. To adollarnineynine, in the future don't give advice on things you are clearly utterly ignorant on.

First, you should be fine at American SIS, GW and SSP will be more of stretches and will want to see proof that this just isn't a random change in direction. Also, they will want to see you have realistic post master's goals... and given that you will be 35 by the time you graduate...what is your plan? Will you really want to take a $52k a year GS-09 job?

CaptainCrunch, if you were the "rockstar" you make yourself out to be, you'd have gotten into a master's program last year. I work with some people direct from undergraduate and others who have master's and indeed some went straight in. These people had all the things you claim to and even lacking some of them, yet managed to get into MSFS, WWS, SIPA and SAIS. So perhaps with your rather bemusing arrogance, you could ask yourself whether your failure last year was entirely your lack of experience (as some others had much the same and still managed to get in) or perhaps it was your attitude?

HKS - Will ding you immediately Fletcher is big on work exp as well, thus I would anticipate a ding GTown if this was SFS I'd say ding, but I do not know much about this MA GWU I'd say 50-50 but I'd err on the side of an admit SAIS probably a ding. The rest you may have a shot at as they are mainly cash cows... or in Stanford's case more academically oriented with less demand for work exp.

Although this is an older message, thought I'd put my two cents in. SIPA will be your best bet by far. If you are interested in HFs, PE or even IBD you'd be FAR better served doing a grad scheme at a Ibank or management consultancy firm and then doing an MBA. What college were you at at Oxon? As for the consulting side of things, I use to work in the City for an international management consultancy firm with a number of public sector clients (mainly Gov), and in the UK we recruited from Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE, Edin, and Warwick, in the US I know Gtown, SAIS and HKS are heavily recruited by our public sector practice in terms of grad schools. Though with your law degree, as long as you had a 2i you should have been competitive on most banking, mc, or finance grad schemes, is there any reason you didn't do this? Basically a subsequent degree is unnecessary given your qualifications... At the end of the day, if consultancy is your end goal, I would just apply for grad schemes now. If you were unsuccessful and are desperate to pursue another degree but want to do public sector consulting Gtown and SAIS are your best options. I will say that switching from MC to HF is extremely difficult and HF is wholly unrelated to public sector MC, so you should definitely examine your long term goals a bit more before committing to a programme. What passports do you have by the way? As this is extremely important in public sector consulting...

No chance at HKS Slim to none at GPPI and Duke Reach at Harris 50/50 at American.

I must concur with MYRNIST, you have a low GPA from a school outside the Top 25/Top 50, low GRE and no applicable work experience. With your numbers American SIS would be in your wheelhouse, GW a distinct reach and WWS, HKS, GTown not realistic in the least.

Georgetown GW SAIS and MIT (though their program is on the small side) should be your top choices. Also for a PhD do consider the Rand School.

First, I would happily compare UCSD to Denver-Korbel or American-SIS, both of the latter have their strengths, and have a much stronger alumni presence and visibility in the IR arenas in DC and NYC. Next, comparing UCSD to Tufts, especially in the realm of IR or diplomacy is ridiculous, much the same for GW. Comparing the quality of applicants, positions of alumni, and backgrounds of the faculty GW/Tufts easily outstrip UCSD. As for SAIS, arguably the top IR program in the nation, I won't even bother stating the obvious. At the end of the day, UCSD is a decent program without a doubt, and surely provides those on the West Coast with a solid safety choice (behind Stanford and Berkeley). That said it does not compete on any meaningful level with the elite IR programs in the country.

While we all have a certain blindness regarding our alma mater, IR/PS is not remotely on the scale of SIPA let alone KSG. It is an alright program but is solidly third tier, not in the same league as KSG, WWS, Yale Jackson, Gtown MSFS, SAIS, and solidly beneath Tufts, Stanford, GW, and just behind SIS, Korbel, NYU.

American is alright if it is your only option...however I would not count on getting into the WB or any major consultancy (BAH, Deloitte, the holy trinity, etc) as you will be up against GTown, SAIS, SIPA, and even Elliott grads, all of which are superior programs and feed directly into the WB and top tier consultancies. I would advise you get some relevant work experience and try again in a cycle or two.

Going from undergrad directly to a master's, especially in IR / Gov, is an utter and unmitigated error in judgement. A) You will get into better programs with relevant work experience (some firms / the gov may even pay for it!) B ) Employers post master's MASSIVELY prefer if you have work experience prior to attaining one's masters C) You will be better prepared to select what degree is right for you with work experience D) You will be able to actually add some value to class discussions vs pure academic knowledge

The administrators who handle IC CI Polys, etc can be quite combative. The key is to be honest aka full disclosure. Just be completely honest and relax and you will be fine. People who fail tend to either be lying, or quite commonly are too nervous and it gives erratic readings. It is a shame that some people get dinged for the latter reason, but it does happen. If you have any other queries feel free to PM me.

Having formerly worked within MBB; USC will not get you in, Cornell is too new of a program, I would say Fels at UPenn would be a decent bet, as would Harris at Chicago. Keep in mind however outwith of straight from undergraduate consultants, we mainly only hired PhDs, Engineers (at master's level), and most of all MBAs from top 7 programs to (at most top 17 programs, depending).

Just wanted to update this as I recently had a long and very informative talk with Howard Hoege the Director of Admissions at the Batten School. First, Howard, was absolutely fantastic to talk to. I had some significant concerns regarding its focus, namely, what I perceived Batten to be, a younger more domestic oriented program. In fact they are working fast and furious to expand their international / global focus and allow a fair bit of cross-registration with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Law School, and Darden (Business School). Especially important for me, is they allow you to do language courses as well and that is something I am extremely interested in and is applicable to my current and most likely post-MPP professional development. Another thing I was extremely impressed with, was the financial arrangements, as I plan on staying in work with the federal government, I do not want to take on 120k in loans at HKS or Yale. UVa already offers overall lower costs, plus of the 21 graduate students in the new intake EVERY SINGLE ONE got at least some grants / fellowships. Additionally, 3 have already been offered research positions and they plan on also offering 3-4 TA positions to 2nd year MPP students based on merit and interest. Also their yield was very comparable to Darden and the Law School, which speaks well of the school. Overall, I was very impressed with Howard and as I am not applying until next year, Batten has definitely made it onto my short list. If you have any questions feel free to post them here or PM and I will do my best. Otherwise I would say DEFINITELY arrange a phone or if possible a face-to-face chat with Howard as he was not only knowledgeable, but also completely forthright in addressing the strengths, weaknesses, and future of Batten.

Bgreenster, did you ever decide whether or not to apply to UVa - Batten? I spoke to Howard Hoege and quite liked what he had to say about the program.

I am planning to apply for a top tier MPA / MA IR / MSFS, however while my work experience is on point as is my GRE, my undergraduate GPA (top 50 university, but top 10 IR program), was only a 3.1. Would it be worthwhile to take 2 - 3 extra courses (online through Harvard Extension or locally at a nearby state school) and build an alternate transcript to prove ability? I am primarily looking at Columbia - SIPA, Princeton - WWS, Yale - Jackson, Georgetown - MSFS, and HKS What does everyone think? Cheers, JA

Great old thread that definitely needs to be continued.

Not headed to USF, but relocating to Tampa from London (UK) and will also be teaching a class or two at a local private university. Have just secured a lease on a flat in the Channelside area which seems to be fairly young and professional... Though I am a little concerned with the general education level one is likely to run into. How about you?

Hate to say it, but there is literally no way you will get clearance being a non-citizen. Having worked in both the DoD and a PMC, everyone we had were all US Citizens, with the exception that some ex-military operators in the PMC were foreign nationals but again they were ex-military in their country and were working security assignments in Iraq and Afghan.

I am in the same boat, I live / work abroad AND went to university abroad for the most part (in the UK and France), however I'm American so I wouldn't mind going to a university that has a strong US based alumni group.

How have you found the alumni in terms of helping one another? Obviously at the undergraduate level it is a bit different, but any general impressions? The website is fairly bare, would you mind sharing any information regarding the program that you get from your former professors?

Did you major in IR at UVa undergrad? I am surprised by your university choices, Duke I get, but UT and Tenn? Are you only looking in the south?