inspiration

Follow up: Hey guys so thanks to SportsFan, i'm able to create a fb group for SAIS Class of 2013. Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_223640004317955#!/home.php?sk=group_223640004317955&ap=1 Please let me know if the link doesn't work. Thanks and I look forward to meeting all of you!

Hey guys, I have decided to join the SAIS community as well! Very excited!!! I tried to create a facebook group but it asks me to add a friend to this group...However, I don't know any new 2013ers... If there's already a group out there, I'd be happy to join! Otherwise if anybody is interested, please PM me your name so that I can add you as a friend, then create this group maybe

So when I'm about to decide to go to SAIS, I just realized being in Italy for the first year will not allow me to intern in the US the summer between first and second year. As an international student, the F1 visa only allows me to enter the US 30 days before school starts so I won't be able to do an internship on a student visa. I understand that I could obtain a B visa or some other type to work during the summer, but then I have to leave the country and obtain a student visa before I reenter for the fall semester. This is too much hustle for me even to think about at this point. So I am wondering how important it is to intern in the US if I would like to work here after graduation? Is it nearly impossible to get a job if I have never worked here before? I did three internships during undergard years and none of them was in the US (2 in Asia, 1 in Europe) so I would really want a chance to intern in the US tough decisions. I guess the problem will be solved if I choose SIPA though. Any thoughts on the importance of the summer internship???

Thanks a lot for your input. What's your impression of SIPA after attending the open house? Was it quite impressive or did they just throw a bunch of famous people like Jeffery Sachs to speak?

I have not decided on SAIS yet, but if I do, I would also love to attend both pre-terms in DC and Bologna. My only concern is the cost I don't know how much classes in DC cost, but in Bolonga, one course is 800 Euros. If you're enrolled in 2, it's 1400 Euros. I have taken both micro and macroecon at the intermediate level in college and am wondering if I should take the waiver exam instead (I received A on micro and B+ on macro). However, since I'm in the IDEV program and microecon is a prerequisite before the academic year starts, I have to knock off micro by either taking the waiver exam or the pre-term course. And if I fail the waiver exam, I'm not allowed to take it at pre-term rather I would lose the chance of being in IDEV. Do you guys think it's safer just to take the microecon at pre-term, take the waiver exam for macroecon and conversational Italian in Bologna? Any thoughts are appreciated.

I am so lucky as well to be accepted into the IDEV program! I guess work experience is not the only determinant factor since I am still a college senior without any full-time work experience. I am international and applied to the Bologna center directly, got into IDEV with substantial funding. My guess is that my internship at one of the EU institutions helped, and my econ undergrad back ground helped too (took both Micro/Macro/Finance classes).

Hey thx for your response. I thought SAIS is also very strong in econ and finance? Or do you think it is an advantage at SIPA since I could cross-register at the business school?

Hey thx compost&recycle for your insight. Hmm I do know that SAIS is a better program but as I am from China, and people there generally have not heard about SAIS, whereas Columbia is so well-know, I am just worried that if I go back, the JHU name won't recieve as much recognition as Columbia. However I do wanna work in NYC...so many one SAIS applicant for a job might stand out from 50 SIPA grads? I can see you're choosing between some really good programs, too. Have you decided yet?

Hey guys, So I just heard back from SAIS Bologna today and was happy to be admitted to the International Development program with a first year scholarship of $35,500! I don't know about how second-year scholarship works but from my visit to DC last weekend, it seems that I have to reapply the second year given that I maintain good academic standing. I don't know if I could receive something similar though... I love econ and quantitative analysis so I don't think it's a problem for me to attend SAIS. Even if I go to SIPA, I might just as well structure my education that way. So my analysis about each school is discussed below: SAIS Not that well-known outside the IR circle. I know people go into the private sector year year but is the JHU name as good as Columbia? First year in Bologna: it's an advantage to go there for the European environment and tight community, but would I lose some network opportunities not being in NYC or DC given that I am planning to work there after graduation? Well it's probably the best program in IR after all and my sense is that it is more selective than SIPA. Because I've met a ton of people at SIPA who told me they didn't get into SAIS and that's why they are at SIPA. This might be biased but that's what I felt from my visit. SIPA No money, and I'm not counting on second-year scholarships at this point. Even if I get it, it'll be something like 20,000, nothing compared to the potential 70,000 from SAIS. Great NYC setting especially because I would love to either work for the UN or go into private consulting companies. Both programs offer me courses I might like - basically econ so that is not something to worry about. I am a college senior without work experience so I would really love your imputs/experiences from your work place, etc to tell me which program is more suitable for me. Working in consulting might be a short-time goal because I need to pay back all the debt, but in the long term, I would like to work at places like UNDP or some of the other UN branches. Thanks a lot!!!

rejected at least the waiting is over...oh well...

Well besides WWS I'm yet to hear from SAIS Bologna, which will be out early April...so it's a long wait. I didn't apply to HKS though. Besides that, you can look at my signature. I'm accepted to a bunch of places. So far I'm leaning towards Columbia SIPA, but no aid from them at all really makes the decision complicated (compared to CIPA, Chicago CIR and Duke Sanford). How about you?

oh well i'm not being optimistic either :-(

did u get a notification already?

Well I received my acceptance this Monday...and I applied to the IFEP program...