Fletcher vs SAIS vs UCSD vs LSE

[KITKAT22]

Hi! I got accepted to the following programs (all one year) and I can't decide! 

1. Master of Arts (MA), The Fletcher School, Tufts University 

2. Master of International Public Policy (MIPP), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University

3. Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA), GPS, UCSD

4. MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy,  LSE

 My interests are IR, strategy, and security. When I consider location, I think UCSD is attractive but Fletcher and SAIS network are strong! LSE also has a very good program.

I don't have to worry about scholarships because my workplace is going to pay for them.  I would appreciate if I could get some advice! 

[weimala]

I'm in a similar boat choosing between UCSD and SAIS. I've more or less decided on UCSD because of their generous funding offer versus SAIS offering nothing. If money isn't a problem I would go with SAIS if I were you. It's the most elite institution of the four with the best networks. Although I'm not as familiar with these schools' one year programs as I am with the two MA programs. 

It might depend on what you want to end up doing after graduating. They all have different reputations for what their alumni focus on. 

[Consistent Email Refresher]

I can’t speak to your specific program but I did go to UCSD for undergrad and can confirm the location is amazing, if you have any questions about the school in general I’d be happy to answer them!

Edited March 20, 2018 by Consistent Email Refresher

[Dan_H]

On 3/17/2018 at 10:22 PM, KITKAT22 said:

Hi! I got accepted to the following programs (all one year) and I can't decide! 

1. Master of Arts (MA), The Fletcher School, Tufts University 

2. Master of International Public Policy (MIPP), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University

3. Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA), GPS, UCSD

4. MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy,  LSE

 My interests are IR, strategy, and security. When I consider location, I think UCSD is attractive but Fletcher and SAIS network are strong! LSE also has a very good program.

I don't have to worry about scholarships because my workplace is going to pay for them.  I would appreciate if I could get some advice! 

It's a difficult decision, Kitkat!  I was also accepted to Fletcher and GPS, as well as Georgetown.  I live in San Diego and I did my undergrad at UCSD.  I also interned with the Department of State, so I know that UCSD has a strong reputation both locally and in the IR world.  I just accepted UCSD's offer.  Though I would have loved to live in DC, or in the Boston area near my family, I couldn't justify borrowing the enormous amount of money which would have been required.

I have strong professional and personal networks here in San Diego, and I would have to sacrifice those AND incur major debt if I were to accept either of the other programs.  I also found out yesterday that I'm a finalist for Pickering this year, so there's a 50% chance that I won't even have to worry about the job hunt upon graduation!

Best of luck with your decision-making process.  You've got some great options.

[KITKAT22]

On 2018/3/18 at 6:32 PM, weimala said:

I'm in a similar boat choosing between UCSD and SAIS. I've more or less decided on UCSD because of their generous funding offer versus SAIS offering nothing. If money isn't a problem I would go with SAIS if I were you. It's the most elite institution of the four with the best networks. Although I'm not as familiar with these schools' one year programs as I am with the two MA programs. 

It might depend on what you want to end up doing after graduating. They all have different reputations for what their alumni focus on. 

weimala, 

Congrats! and thank you for the advice! 

I work in the public sector and I will go back after I graduate. Most of the people I work with are Fletcher or SAIS alumni. What are UCSD alumni focused on? 

[KITKAT22]

On 2018/3/20 at 2:37 PM, Consistent Email Refresher said:

I can’t speak to your specific program but I did go to UCSD for undergrad and can confirm the location is amazing, if you have any questions about the school in general I’d be happy to answer them!

Hi and thank you for your comment!

From your experience in San Diego, is it possible to live without cars? 

I'm a bit worried because I will only be studying for one year and I'm not sure if I can buy a car for that short of a period  

[KITKAT22]

On 2018/3/21 at 1:06 PM, Dan_H said:

It's a difficult decision, Kitkat!  I was also accepted to Fletcher and GPS, as well as Georgetown.  I live in San Diego and I did my undergrad at UCSD.  I also interned with the Department of State, so I know that UCSD has a strong reputation both locally and in the IR world.  I just accepted UCSD's offer.  Though I would have loved to live in DC, or in the Boston area near my family, I couldn't justify borrowing the enormous amount of money which would have been required.

I have strong professional and personal networks here in San Diego, and I would have to sacrifice those AND incur major debt if I were to accept either of the other programs.  I also found out yesterday that I'm a finalist for Pickering this year, so there's a 50% chance that I won't even have to worry about the job hunt upon graduation!

Best of luck with your decision-making process.  You've got some great options.

Hi Dan_H! 

Thanks and Congratulations to you too!! 

GPS seems like a great school! and the reason for your decision was very helpful. 

 

[Manassas]

Hi Kitkat22! Congratulations on your multiple offers. I went to SAIS and did MA. I think you should give SAIS a serious consideration because of your interests, network, and location. 

With SAIS MIPP, you can choose to be affiliated with any concentration (whether issues or regions). Based on your interests, it seems like strategic studies (as we call it "strat") would be your best match. Apart from rigorous classes, SAIS offers many interesting activities and on-campus events that feature speakers who work in the public and private sectors. I feel that I learnt a lot from classes and from events that I attended. Plus there are so many interesting talks at think tanks around the area. And of course opportunities to build your network. I also know that MIPP program has their own brown bag lunch/happy hours. SAIS has been hiring new professors too. That means there are cool classes that you can take. My friend is taking a course on cybersecurity taught by a new professor. 

The only drawback for me is the rent in DC. 

[Consistent Email Refresher]

On 3/26/2018 at 7:30 AM, KITKAT22 said:

Hi and thank you for your comment!

From your experience in San Diego, is it possible to live without cars? 

I'm a bit worried because I will only be studying for one year and I'm not sure if I can buy a car for that short of a period  

For just one year it is definitely possible to live without a car, but it can also be pretty difficult and depends on where you live. My first two years at UCSD I didn’t have a car but I lived on campus, so it just limited the amount of exploring I could do (e.g. trips to downtown etc.) and made grocery shopping and taking the bus back somewhat inconvenient. Living off campus, I was struggling without a car in part because I didn’t live very close to most bus stops, and so I ended up getting one. It is still possible to make do (but inconvenient), but also you can always rent if buying isn’t an option!

[isma93]

Hi! I did my Masters at LSE, Comparative Politics in the depatment of Government, academic year 2015 - 2016. I also had an interest in security. The good thing about LSE is that you are very free in the choice of modules and courses you want to include in your Master, so I was able to space from counter-terrorism to international migration management to political economy. I have a lot of different interests so that was ideal for me. Befoire graduating, I was selected for an internship with the UN HQ in NYC, at the counter-terrorism office. Afterwards, I went on to be a Blue Book trainee at the European Commission in institutional communications (I also have a BA in communications). Now I got back to security, and I'm interning at OSCE Mission in Kosovo, delaing indeed with security and public safety.

When I apllied I also received an offer from Cambridge University for their Master in IR, but I chose LSE basing my decision on world university rankings for IR/politics (LSE is always higher than Cambridge). I still don't regret it and, at 25 years old and after not even 2 years from my graduation, I think results are fairly gooid and LSE opened me a lot of doors!

Plus the year at LSE was so much fun!

Good luck with your choice.

Cheers,

Isma