As a current SIPA student, I must disagree with what was posted above-- for one, I think whether you have to fight for classes is probably highly dependent on your concentration. I've gotten into all the classes that I've wanted and haven't had to apply for any, save a workshop, which is fairly standard procedure for workshops--and with good reason. I've found the student body incredibly diverse and knowledgeable, with a range of interesting experiences working worldwide in both the public, private and non-profit sectors. As for the required classes--they are primarily quantitative and incredibly well taught. I give the school a lot of credit for hiring professors for core economic and statistics classes who are dynamic and can make the subject matter accessible to students without that background. Many of the professors are professionals with experience working in the sector that you're interested in, which can make job and internship searches that much better. Of course, like any program, it has its downfalls--the building is old, there aren't enough outlets, and there are some classes that I didn't enjoy as much. But I have loved the program so far and don't think that I'm alone. Also, if you want to check out some of what the students are writing about, check their blog http://www.themorningsidepost.com
