ss1987

Sipa's is SIPA 2013-2015

mppbluedevil13, I'm currently deciding between Sanford, and other programs that offered better funding. Have you ever heard of students successfully negotiating additional funding?? Do you know if there is any chance in increasing your funding 2nd year? Thanks!

Yea- email them and ask. I'm also going to have to take online economics courses before August, and a couple of the schools I'm considering said they would be happy to send me a list of free, online courses I could take.

Fletcher! I just gave up SIPA - my dream program, for options with better funding. I think in both our situations when the alternatives are still fantastic, the benefits of SIPA or SAIS arent enough to merit so much more debt! You can still work hard and access great opportunities at Fletcher - so you wouldnt be missing out on much! And like someone else said - you could aim for an internship in a more exciting location!

IDC is very conservative, so if youre pretty liberal than yes, I would avoid it. I'd only recommend it if you were interested in American/Israeli diplomacy. I completely disagree with MollyB about needing to dress modestly if you live in Tel Aviv, thats just ridiculous. In Jerusalem or smaller cities yes, you would need to. BUT if you really wanted to gain an intimate understanding of Israel and Palestinian society, and get a well rounded sense of the conflicts and issues in Israel, Tel Aviv is the wrong place to live - its a really modern 'bubble', and its pretty easy to go about your daily life without being confronted with harsh truths. I agree with MollyB about Israeli universities and studying there. Perhaps consider interning/working at an Israel/Palestinian organization to supplement your degree? There are a TON of activist nonprofits in Israel and Palestine, and they are usually very interested in taking on native english speakers as interns - and would especially be interested in someone who is learning Arabic.

there are quite a few great US options (I can think of GWU and LBJ off the top of my head) that partner with Israeli schools, IDC - esp if youre interested in government and diplomacy for dual degree programs and study abroad options. Honstly, Tel Aviv U's program is not especially well known in the field, and youd be better off going to a better school and connecting research/internship options back to Israel. Yes - I really think studying in Israel might limit some of your options in other middle eastern countries - but it really depends where you intern and work as well. I used to live in Israel and worked in conflict resolution activist groups while there, so if you have more specific questions feel free to message me!

I also am considering Heller's MA SID program, though I think I've decided not to do it, but when I was looking at their alumni lists there seemed to be a very strong international presence. I think 2/3 of the class is international, and they do send a lot of their grads into international development. Check out the post grad jobs, they have a pretty impressive list, where as I read something like 60% of LBJ grads stay in Texas

Thank you!! This has been very helpful! I'm in for the MPP - would I still be able to take some of the MIDP classes?

I'm curious - has anyone ever heard of SIPA accepting negotiations?!?!

Thank you! I'm in for the MPP at Duke. I feel very lucky to be making this decision, but it still is a difficult one! I know SIPA has more faculty specializing in my areas of interest, but I get the sense Duke professors are more accessible, and there would be good research/interning opportunities at both schools. I'm thinking SIPA debt isnt worth it when I still have a really great option?

Any advice, especially from current students would be great! I have partial funding from Duke, and none from SIPA, and I'm planning on going into the public or nonprofit sector, in international development. From the research I've done SIPA is stronger in the international focus, and being in nyc would be a huge advantage - but there is no guarantee that you'll get enough funding 2nd year even with great grades. Sanford is an incredible program and it seems like they value their students more - but SIPA is stronger in the areas I want to specialize in. Is SIPA worth the debt - possibly double what I'd be facing with Duke? Would my career/internship options be comparable, and I should follow the money? Thanks!

In almost the same situation, Duke 1/3 funded or SIPA with no funding :/

So I looked at last year's SIPA thread, and it sounds like notifications for IFP were included in the admissions letters... :/

I'm also in!!! But with no funding... I also applied to the International Fellows Program and didnt hear anything... maybe it is a no?

Nope- I havnt heard anything either!

I'm also having a similar dilemma, 70k in debt for Duke, or 30k in debt for Brandeis Heller... Duke is one of my top choices, I love everything about the program, but I dont know if I can justify double the debt.

No funding either Will be declining the offer

Also just got denied.

Congrats! I'm in too!

I called, they said theyre still releasing decisions... so we might hear in the next couple days

My main concern is if the 70k in debt is worth the potential benefits of going to Duke. Ive also been very impressed with the academic offerings, and the international development policy opportunities, but I dont know if the career options are that much better than coming out of a lower ranked school. I've heard that Duke has a fantastic alumni network, and I've spoken with recent grads who swear that going to a higher ranked program opens up more doors, but I also havnt seen any real employment statistics. I cant help but wonder if I'd be better off in the long run accruing less debt, but potentially missing out on some really great opportunities.

Has anyone heard back today, who didnt hear Friday?!?!

I'm deciding between Duke right now, which would also mean around 70k in debt, over less prestigious programs with better funding. Since you've already decided to take the plunge - would you mind telling me why you decided taking the debt and going to a stronger program such as Duke would be worth it?

Anyone who applied for the international development track hear back yet?

I also have not heard anything from SIS... I applied for international development