IRToni

I fell like you already answered your own question and am just looking for validation. The MS IE is highly respected (at least in Europe), with a specialization in International Macro, which seems to be what you want to do. In addition, for international trade, UN etc. Geneva is THE place to be in Europe and the Grad Institute has great connections to UN agencies etc. I only know about the Geneva course (since I applied to the Grad Institute as well, but for another degree), I have no knowledge about the MPA at LSE. However, you seem like you're more interested in econ and would like a more econ-centric experience than a MPA. The Geneva program is very macro, i.e. economic policy-centric and also offers you electives in politics. I feel that for the jobs you're looking at, Geneva is a very good, viable option and might even be better than LSE. I see how it might be hard/confusing to give up LSE (the best school for Econ in Europe, according to many), but I really think Geneva is the place for you to be. Hope that helps.

I'm in a similar bind, I got basically a full ride from IHEID, but 20.000 US from JHU SAIS. JHU SAIS has been my dream school ever since I started this process, so I'm really thinking about how/if I could make this work. Counting my savings etc., I'd have to take out about 65.000 US $ in loans. Of course I've heard once you're there, it's supposed to be easier to network and get more funding, but is that really something I want to bet on. In addition, fellowship awards are checked yearly, so it might be possible for me to get more money for the second year. But if none of that works out, I'm going to be stuck with 65.000 US$ in loans. Since I'm thinking about doing a PhD afterwards, the decision is even harder. I'm currently leaning toward referring for a year, working in that time and being close to my home country so I can apply to financial aid from there. They have three huge programs for citizens to go to the US to study, so that's a definite possibility. It's just the looking for work part I'm struggling with ATM... On the one hand, I'd hate for financial considerations to limit my grad school choice, on the other hand, 65.000 US$ in loans is a lot of money...

Are finances an issue? Obviously, LSE is going to be much cheaper than either JHU or GWU. However, it is also a one-year program. Otherwise, I have don't know much about your specific sub-field, so I'll just give you a couple of general things to consider: 1. JHU is not a MA in development studies. Since IDEV is incredibly competitive, the chances of you changing are quite slim. I'm not sure how good of a shot you'd have at a IDEV PhD with a Non-IDEV M.A. 2. LSE is definitely the most academic of the bunch. If you're thinking of doing a PhD, that might be a good fit for you. At the same time, at least JHU will also open up PhD possibilities for you. If you're sure you want to do research, a more academic program might be a better fit. If you're not sure yet, it's still something to consider. 3. JHU does not include a M.A. thesis and instead includes a capstone. From what I gather, both GWU and LSE include a thesis. Depending on your Pre-Admission background, not writing a thesis could be weighed against you if you want to do research/a PhD program. However, JHU offers lots of opportuinities for research papers and practical research. 4. JHU is definitely most-respected of the three in the US. In Europe, JHU and LSE might range about the same, with LSE having a higher name recognition. GWU is also known by people in the belt, but its name recognition is not comparable. 5. Look at specific courses and professors you'd be interested in. See if these are offered and you could combine them in the way you want to 6. JHU contains a pretty steep econ concentration. These courses are mandatory. I don't know anything about the specific programs (I know JHU, but not the SA Studies), just some input as to what you might want to consider...

I'm still waiting. I'm just going to believe that batch 1 and two have been sent out and there's a huge aid package coming our way ;-). Of course, I might just get rejected... It really is a crapshoot.

What are all of your top choices and would you go even if no additional funding?

I'm in a similar situation. Got 20k from SAIS (all fellowship), but have full rides in Europe (external fellowship for Europe). I really want to go to SAIS, so I'm still waiting what's gonna happen with SIPA and then talk to them. At the same time, I'm also thinking of deferring for a year, working in that time and apply for some more external sources (that I couldn't apply to this year due to location). I'm quite confident I could get one of those, they're not full rides, but usually cover tuition up to 25.000 and living expenses. Since SAIS website states that usually, you will be made the same award of aid if you defer, that would be very feasible. Just not sure if I'll find a good job inbetween. I'm just so torn and still waiting on some schools. But SAIS is my dream and I'd hate for money to influence that. Then again, I have great offers elsewhere. It's just so hard...

I've got 20.000 US$. That means I'm still short about 40.000 US each year. Going to be looking for external sources now, I think... It's my dream school and they seem to want me, so not attending would suck. But having 50.000 US in loans would suck as well...

Still nothing for me. IFP applicant here as well.

I'm currently working with the German Association for International Cooperation. The branch I'm working in is mainly doing technical cooperation and although most of what we do is not public-private partnership, I believe I might be able to help you a bit. Of the people working here, some have a degree in regional studies (esp. at the junior level). At the senior level, most people actually have a degree in something technical. E.g. I'm working on an agricultural project, the head of the office studied Agricultural Management (both BA and MA) and has never received any formal training in IR, Public Policy etc. I'm not saying that a M.A. couldn't be beneficial to you, I'm just saying that there are other ways to get to where you want to do. In addition, I think you might be quite successful in looking for a related job. You might use this as a starting point and then determine if a M.A. is worth the time and financial commitment. In addition, you might look at some lower-ranked schools, because the schools you applied to are all top notch. You're definitely not a weak candidate, but compared to someone with relevant work experience, you might just not make the cut. Last but not least: If you haven't heard from Georgetown yet: Don't loose hope, admissions really are a crapshoot. It all depends on fit. In addition, there's still hope with Fletcher, I'm sure they admit people off the waitlist...

piquant777: Your profile is awesome. You really deserved all your admits. Do you mind sharing (if not publicly, then by message) the very obtuse region you specialize in? I think I'll stay on the waitlist, I've heard of some people getting offered funding even after being waitlisted. Plus, I kind of want to know if I could get in. Shallow, I know ;-).

Before we start feeling bad, let's think about the self-selection process going on beforehand. Those people applying will have to have put a lot of work (and money) into the applications. They will have to have people that support them (LORs) and think they have a shot at these schools. In addition, everyone will think a lot about applying to a program. Regarding WWS and HKS, I feel like WWS' funding and HKS general brand name (Harvard) encourage more applicants that don't exactly fit their programs (although they might be strong), so they would have more people applying in relation to the spots available. E.g. I applied to WWS and HKS, even though the programs are not the best fit for me. WWS has the funding that I thought I couldn't turn down and HKS has a specific scholarship by my government that I applied for. Turns out, I'm not the right applicant for them (which is very true) and I got dinged by both. Of course, my profile is not nearly as strong as some of those posting here (no full time WE, straight out of undergrad, no public service work etc.), so I'm grateful I got into my top choice. Now I'll probably just have to rationalize 120 Thousand Dollars in debt when I have other awesome options that wouldn't cost me a cent.

I just checked: No news. Hopefully that means good news and I get a huge scholarship ;-) (as in full + living stipend xD).

In at SAIS, out at Princeton and Harvard. Since my intended path has changed since I applied, I probably wasn't as committed to this as I thought I was. Princeton and Harvard were not the best fits. SAIS is my dream school. Now I just need a sticker price attached to it ;-).

I got in. It's my top choice, now just waiting on funding. This is gonna be really damn hard...

The weird thing is: My statement was mainly professional, but I've been thinking of going the academic route more in the last few years. That said, Yale didn't really fit with my research interests and would have just been great for the truly interdisciplinary program it offers. I've got two definite and one likely offer from Europe so far, so getting waitlisted doesn't sting as much. It's just the thought: It was soo close, but not quite close enough. Depending on my other programs, I might stay in Europe for my M.A. (of course, stay is a broad term, considering I'm in Asia at the moment) and go do a PhD state-side, maybe. Or maybe not, everything's open right now. Congrats to those who got in.

Waitlisted at Yale. Not sure if it's worth sticking it out. I assume they don't offer funding to waitlisted people and I really can't afford it. I guess I'll wait till Friday to decide (at that point, most of the decisions should be out),

I got waitlisted. Too bad, I really liked their program. It was a long shot from the get-go, but we'll see. Not sure if I'm staying on the waitlist or not.

While there definitely is some hope, you should also remember that schools will admit more students than they have spots, knowing that a lot of them are quite unlikely to accept the offer. I'm not trying to discourage you, I just think betting on getting off the waitlist as your only plan might get you disappointed. If it's your dream school and you'd be fine with working for another year, then go for it. If it's not and you've got great offers elsewhere, think about it.

Congrats to your acceptances. I think it all comes down to what you're more interested in. You seem to have great options and all of those would be fine, but you need to make it work. I believe the best way to make it work is to pick what you're actually interested in and what feels like a good fit to you. Look at courses, try talking to current students. I'll still adress the schools one after another. First, Oxford. It is an awesome school with a great reputation everywhere. Its masters tend to be quite research-focused, with a core research module. That can be good, if you want to do policy advising. In addition, Oxford's teaching is very intensive, with lots of papers to write and less class time, from what I've gathered. If you don't know any mandarin or hindi yet, you're def. not going to pick it up in a year (or 9 months) of teaching there. If you're really interested in this region, these regional studies courses would be great. Oxford has the possible modules up. See, if something jumps out at you. Be however aware that in 9 months, you will get no deep understanding of the region. I've been studying China for more than three years now, am currently in China and find out new stuff every day. Oxford's name might get you an interview at a lot of places, but yu have to sell it from then. Second, the MAPSS is from what I understand really preparation for grad school in the social sciences. Some 80% go on to do PhDs. This might therefore not be your ideal program. However, it allows a lot of flexibility in your classes, from what I gather. Don't know too much about this program, but some people did write a lot on this forum. I don't know anything about the Economics MA at U Tokyo, just wanted to add that Japanese is a damn hard language and unless you're really proactive about it, I doubt you'd be fluent after a year (or two) in an English program. Overally, what it comes down to is that you need to figure out what you want to do, IMO. What interests/moves you?

news flash

I agree. Chicago is hands down the better place for academia. Your chances of getting into a top PhD program will be higher after Chicago than after American. However, Chicago is a one-year program so unless you're hoping to do a second year or want to take some time off, you'd need to apply to PhD programs soon after classes start. Getting letters of recommendation and stuff can be hard then, but I expect them to deal with this thing all the time. Since you're in the ID program at American, I guess you're really interested in that. Chicago really isn't the best place to do that, IMO. If you want to do ID, American is the better pick, I think (Chicago offers maybe 3-5 classes in Dev every semester, not exactly breadth to choose from, I think). I don't know about living cost in both city, but I guess its comparable.

I'd be willing to look it over. Just pm me.

Same here. Really interested in everything you've gotta offer in terms of information on the school. Still waiting on fellowship decision, should be out tomorrow.

Just got admitted into the Grad Institute of Geneva. No details on funding yet. Would be great. I also got an offer from my alma mater. Things are starting to happen. YAAY!!!

I also just got an acceptance for the MIA program. Really interested in hearing your insight. Not sure about going, I have a couple of other applications still pending and also one other offer so far. Even if I attend, I'm thinking of switching to the MA Political Science/International Relations, which is supposed to be possible. It's all a blur at the moment...