MisterCharisma

IMHO, if you're dead-set on a PhD program (especially ones of the caliber you're talking about) you're probably better off pursuing a degree in political science...no? Probably at a Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, etc...

Just wanted to chime in on the perceived difference in stature between the two programs. Having been in DC for a year and run this by many people I've been told by person after person that aside from alma mater allegiances, GW, GT and SAIS grads are all viewed about on par in the eyes of employers. I'm convinced that if you put in the appropriate time and effort, there's nothing a GT/MSFS degree can get you that a GW/ESIA degree can't. If you're looking to do foreign service, it's moot anyway as either will get you past QEP. Truly, hard work is the name of the game.

I'm a current GWU ESIA student and I'd say that your impressions are about right. The school's administration is definitely unimpressive, especially in regards to the admissions and advising offices. The students are about 20/40/40, that is, 20% are incredibly impressive, articulate and will go on to do great things. 40% are what you'd expect from a school with the location and ranking. 40%, well, let's just say you wonder how they got there. I've been most impressed by the breadth of classes and the quality of the professors at ESIA. Seriously, I've had some great classes this year with top notch professors with incredible credentials, those classes have made it all worth it. If I could sum up GWU/ESIA, I'd say you'll get out of it exactly what you put into it. If you put in to the effort, you'll walk out with top-notch recommendations, a great education, excellent peer-contacts and competitive for any IR job/program/fellowship in the country. If you don't make an effort, you'll be one of that bottom 40% and feel that you've wasted your money. Given the amount of funding you've gotten, I say it's a no-brainer. For what it's worth, I was admitted to GT/MSFS this year (I applied for some complex reasons, don't let it make you think I was unhappy at GWU) and I'll be turning them down to stay where I am.

I'm a second year at GWU/ESIA and from what I can gather, at least compared to GT MSFS, GWU is a bargain in terms of tuition. It was something like 40k at GT vs. 23/24 at GWU. As a student at GWU, I can assure you that I feel like I can get everything out of the GWU program that I could have out of GT. In fact, I reapplied to GT MSFS this year (for complicated reasons) and I've been admitted, but there's no way I'm switching over. Not only for the obvious time/cost issues but also because I'm really happy with the professors at GWU, this semester my professors have taught at Georgetown, Harvard and Berkeley. They have an excellent faculty, both full time and visiting.

I'm about to start my second year at ESIA and started out with no funding. If you start with no funding there is NO FUNDING FOR SECOND YEAR STUDENTS. That said, a number of fellowship opportunities do open up, fellowships that I've applied for and hope to be competitive for include the DACOR Bacon House Fellowship (12K), the GWU Career Development fellowship (half tuition) and the Wolcott Foundation Fellowship (full tuition for 2nd year provided you work for govt after you graduate). You can Google any of these, all are GW specific so there's a smaller pool to compete with. Best of luck and enjoy ESIA, it's a relative BARGAIN.

+1 for receiving admissions email today. Flattered to be accepted. Best of luck to everyone else. I'm likely to make someone on the waitlist's day...but not sure yet, honestly.

I think you should definitely write an eloquent letter CEDING your position to me. Totally worth a shot, no? Sigh.

Anyone else waitlisted? Blargh. I can't imagine many people would give up a spot in MSFS. This is disappointing, but hey, it's not hopeless...is it?