SAIS now (for free) or SIPA in two years?

[carpecc]

Good choice 007, you'll be happier to have that MA out of the way.

And it's free! Congratulations.

[007]

Just out of curiosity, how on earth did you pull that off? I got accepted into SAIS, which I am really thrilled about, but got no financial backing what so ever. Since then I have been forced to sit down and consider how many decades it would take me to pay off a loan of 80.000 € . Where did you apply for financial aid? … And to everybody out there. What do you think, is it worth borrowing the money? I was considering deferring for a year and hoping for financial aid next year, but apparently financial reasons are not relevant when applying for a deferral. How likely is it that I get accepted again if I reapply next year?

Scholarships from my home country plus some money from SAIS. But given the current exchange rate €/$, it might get more expensive than I thought. Let's hope for a return of the Euro

If it's worth the money entirely depends on your career aspirations and personal debt situation. For me, it wasn't. But if SAIS will be your last degree and you don't have too much past debt, it could be ok to borrow the money.

I think you could go for a deferral. However, that does not help you with financial aid next year as long as you don't significantly improve your cv within the year. If you reapply, it think it is quite likely that you will be accepted again. Good Luck!

[carpecc]

Just out of curiosity, how on earth did you pull that off? I got accepted into SAIS, which I am really thrilled about, but got no financial backing what so ever. Since then I have been forced to sit down and consider how many decades it would take me to pay off a loan of 80.000 € . Where did you apply for financial aid? … And to everybody out there. What do you think, is it worth borrowing the money? I was considering deferring for a year and hoping for financial aid next year, but apparently financial reasons are not relevant when applying for a deferral. How likely is it that I get accepted again if I reapply next year?

I'd say, unless you're borderline, it's good chance you'll get back in if you reapply. Based on the limited research I've done, you can spend a lot of time during that year looking for some external sources of funding. 007 is right about whether it's worth it or not. Check out some of the other programs, and see what they give you. Especially if you're going to the non profit field, then avoid that debt so you can save more to buy a house etc. If you have less debt, then you can take the jobs you want, and not have to worry about paying those loans and examining each job for the paycheck. SAIS is great, but you can get a great education at a lot of lesser programs then SAIS. Don't get TOO carried away with the school envy. If you go for a smaller name, I don't think you'll be too jealous of you SAIS colleagues when you see how much of their paycheck goes back to JHU.

For the private sector then the name matters more, and you'll be making more cash, so it won't be as big deal.

[Octavia]

Hey people,

I am facing a difficult decision: I have been admitted to SAIS (Bologna-DC) and will be able to go there for free (I will even get paid some money per month). However, I have always been fond of the idea of going to SIPA (love NY, love Columbia) but I would need some work experience and would have to apply there in something like two years time.

What would you do? Should I forfeit my scholarship for SAIS and apply to SIPA in two years after getting some professional experience? Or should I take the money and the opportunities given by SAIS? This also given the fact that my chances to obtain another schlarship in two years might not be same. My ultimate goal is to work in the private sector, most likely in the financial sector.

I would be glad for any help on this.

Regards,

007

I agree with the majority here, GO TO SAIS! It is a highly regarded program, with great preparation in finance and you will be at the center of it all as well (World Bank etc). SIPA will leave you with $120k in debt and you will become an Admin Assistant at the UN or a consultant for a bank, unable to survive in NYC and pay off your debt.

[le_neocon]

I agree with the majority here, GO TO SAIS! It is a highly regarded program, with great preparation in finance and you will be at the center of it all as well (World Bank etc). SIPA will leave you with $120k in debt and you will become an Admin Assistant at the UN or a consultant for a bank, unable to survive in NYC and pay off your debt.

Octavia, I don't know what makes you say that. But a lot of us have chosen SIPA over SAIS and it really is a question of finance and personal career goals more than anything else. Both of them will give you the same amount of debt and I'm not sure where you get the whole Admin Assistant thing at UN thingie from. I don't want to get into an argument, but I believe your particular comments are extremely flawed and not based on any reliable data, if at all you have any.

However, a free ride at any top school is a no brainer. You go there and nowhere else.