JayLovesAfrica

That is what I am asking myself. I could go to SIPA and take out 20-30k per year or gratefully accept my fellowship from GW and graduate with no debt at all! How much will Columbia's ivy league name increase my earning potential later in life? Is it worth the debt I'd incur?

I got into the two schools that I REALLY REALLY wanted and now I'm in a bit of a predicament. I got into SIPA, no funding, and GWU with 20k which means 10k per year. My parents have offered to contribute a maximum of 40k per year (I know, I know...) which means I could, potentially, graduate from GW with no debt at all. SIPA, on the other hand, is crazy expensive -- the sticker price is 70k, which of course you can reduce somewhat when it comes to living costs. But Columbia's tuition and fees...yikes. It got me wondering whether that Ivy League name is worth the extra cost. I'm not scared of taking out loans but going to GW means I probably won't have to worry about them at all, putting me in a pretty damn fortunate situation when I graduate. But then...SIPA. I'm being really childish, aren't I?

Oh hey, I also got into Milano, with funding! But since I somehow got my foot in the door at SIPA, I may as well try my damn hardest to get some more money from somewhere? I thought that the deadlines for most outside scholarships would have passed by now! Where's a good place to look?

If I don't have cosigners, am I doomed? I got into SIPA and they gave me a big ol' goose egg in terms of funding. My parents can offer me $40,000 per year, so I'm not exactly whining but the rest I will have to borrow, it seems. Surely there must be options for those of us who do not have an American cosigner? Does anyone have any trusted resources?

I got into SIPA's MIA program, but at 70 grand a year without a fellowship, I don't think it's gonna happen.

That is midnight in my time zone! AAAAARGH!

Does it also depend on WHERE you are on the wait list? Do they rank people in order of preference or something?

@Beefmaster, I feel like your Quant stuff: "Quant: Financial management of project budgets as describe above, will be taking intro macro and micro through the University of Oxford school for Continuing Education from Jan - June 2012" really outweighs your GRE score. Add your work experience and it is not at all surprising that you got into GW! Well done! I got into Elliott too, and my GRE quant score was pretty poor, but I did well in introductory stats and principles of econ courses. Taking those classes via distance education with Harvard Extension School really improved my chances. The lesson I learned was not to give up because even Literature majors like me can be accepted into IR programs!

I know this is tough, but because this is your future, you need to be the one who decides where to go. Which school offers courses that interest you the most? Which geographical area of the US do you prefer? Those are good questions to start asking yourself. By the way, NYU's SCPS is more for older people who are looking for a career change, as far as I know. I'm also an international student who got into GWU and that is where I will be going this fall.

Hey guys! I've been lurking on this forum for a while so I thought I may as well say hello at last -- I received my first admissions decision today. I got into Elliott! As for no funding, my email also said that fellowship notifications are coming in next week so don't fret guys! Oh and congratulations to you all for your admissions. I've seen some of your profiles and they're so damn impressive.