American SIS- Worth going into big debt?

[Ashlee]

Hi there,

I've been accepted into American SIS MAID which is great, but I'm an international student and I did not receive any funding, which is not so great. It means I'm probably looking at having a debt of around $60,000 or more by the time I graduate.

I've also been accepted into the Australian National University, which is significantly cheaper for me, but I think that the program is not as good for the type of work I want to do and it is more of an academic rather than professional program. I'm also waiting to hear back from SOAS in London as I applied fairly late.

Does anyone have any information about the success of SIS grads in finding work after graduation... more specifically, work with a decent salary? Also, is anyone going to the admitted students events? I can't attend because I'm overseas, so if anyone is going and could post some impressions that would be great.

Are there any current SIS students on the boards?

Also, is it hard to find part-time work on campus? I will really need to earn some money to pay my living costs.

Any information anyone could provide would be most appreciated. I've contacted the school with some of these queries but am yet to hear back... it's obviously a busy time of year.

I really want to go to DC, but I'm just having a hard time fathoming taking on that much debt.

[DeepShadeofBlue]

Hi there,

I've been accepted into American SIS MAID which is great, but I'm an international student and I did not receive any funding, which is not so great. It means I'm probably looking at having a debt of around $60,000 or more by the time I graduate.

I've also been accepted into the Australian National University, which is significantly cheaper for me, but I think that the program is not as good for the type of work I want to do and it is more of an academic rather than professional program. I'm also waiting to hear back from SOAS in London as I applied fairly late.

Does anyone have any information about the success of SIS grads in finding work after graduation... more specifically, work with a decent salary? Also, is anyone going to the admitted students events? I can't attend because I'm overseas, so if anyone is going and could post some impressions that would be great.

Are there any current SIS students on the boards?

Also, is it hard to find part-time work on campus? I will really need to earn some money to pay my living costs.

Any information anyone could provide would be most appreciated. I've contacted the school with some of these queries but am yet to hear back... it's obviously a busy time of year.

I really want to go to DC, but I'm just having a hard time fathoming taking on that much debt.

Hi Ashlee!

I think we're basically in the same boat! I was also accepted to SIS and to a much cheaper state school program, and I'm trying to figure out if SIS is really worth the debt. Like you, SIS is is my top choice, but I don't know if I can really afford it. Since you can't attend the open house, I would suggest emailing/calling Admissions AND the Financial Aid office and ask any questions or state any reservations that you have about the program (if you haven't already). Maybe you could even ask if a current student would be willing to talk with you on the phone or via SKYPE. I know that you're overseas, but there might be a couple of hours that would overlap early in the morning for them/late at night for you.

I'm going to the open house on the 12th and would be happy to post my experiences/observations.

[RH7]

Hi there,

I've been accepted into American SIS MAID which is great, but I'm an international student and I did not receive any funding, which is not so great. It means I'm probably looking at having a debt of around $60,000 or more by the time I graduate.

I've also been accepted into the Australian National University, which is significantly cheaper for me, but I think that the program is not as good for the type of work I want to do and it is more of an academic rather than professional program. I'm also waiting to hear back from SOAS in London as I applied fairly late.

Does anyone have any information about the success of SIS grads in finding work after graduation... more specifically, work with a decent salary? Also, is anyone going to the admitted students events? I can't attend because I'm overseas, so if anyone is going and could post some impressions that would be great.

Are there any current SIS students on the boards?

Also, is it hard to find part-time work on campus? I will really need to earn some money to pay my living costs.

Any information anyone could provide would be most appreciated. I've contacted the school with some of these queries but am yet to hear back... it's obviously a busy time of year.

I really want to go to DC, but I'm just having a hard time fathoming taking on that much debt.

What programs did you apply for at the other schools and what do you plan on doing after? I'm assuming DC is the best place for part-time work, but London has loads of opportunities as well in the ID business. Btw, I'm from Indonesia AND I'm currently at SOAS, but can't really help with AU or ANU...

[Leica]

I'm a current SIS student who's procrastinating on her thesis Feel free to ask anything you'd like! I'll try to help with what I can.

I'm not in the ID program, but I have many friends who are, and they all LOVE it. The program takes very good care of its students and everything I've heard about ID has been overwhelmingly positive (bordering on obsessively positive, in fact ). However, in regards to work it's a lot trickier for international students - almost all of the part-time job opportunities on campus are federal work-study jobs international students are ineligible for, and your visa conditions may preclude you from legally obtaining a job off-campus during your studies (don't take my word for it, though - see if you can contact the international student office at AU, they appear very helpful). There's been some discussion of higher H1B caps sometime in the future, and I know that international AU grads have gotten H1Bs to stay here, but it seems easier said than done (though obviously the big places like the World Bank and the IMF would have greater flexibility to hire a foreigner, and I know that some of the "temporary" 2-year contracts with the World Bank often turn into two years plus two years plus two years plus... so people do end up staying, and with attractive salaries at that). This isn't an AU problem, though, it's a US immigration problem.

Overall the school has a very solid reputation in DC, a solid track record of job placement and excellent connections. For US-based folks it may be worthwhile to note that SIS churns out a lot of PMFs, FSOs and government employees annually. I work full-time at a cool nonprofit in downtown DC, and I got the job thanks in large part to my amazing faculty advisor who helped me get the internship that led to the job in the first place.

P.S. Based on everything I've heard in regards to immigration procedures it appears the easiest way to stay here is to get a PhD - there's also some talk of Obama's immigration reform eventually granting permanent residence to people who obtain graduate degrees in the US, though that may take some time to get off the ground. Not sure if that's something you've considered, Ashlee, but it's just a thought. Plus it comes with tuition remission and a stipend.

Edited April 6, 2010 by Leica

[Ashlee]

Thanks everyone... is anyone else out there considering taking up an offer for the MAID at SIS this Fall?

DeepShadeofBlue, I'd be really interested to hear your impressions from the open house.

RH7, I'm an Australian but I'm working here in Indonesia as an expat. I applied for the MSc in Globalization and Development at SOAS, but I put in my app quite late. My acceptance for ANU is for the Masters of International Affairs. After, I'm not 100 percent sure... I think I'd like to go work for a big NGO/agency in a developing country on policy issues.

Leica, thanks for the tips! I didn't really get a straight answer from admissions, who also overlooked me being an international student in their reply and suggested all these things I was ineligible for, so I will contact the Financial Aid and International offices next.

I'm not too worried if I can't stay in the US to work after the program, but I'd like to build up contacts with all these international organizations to boost my career prospects after school.

Also, is it hard to pass the language exam? Is it just reading/writing, or speaking too? I can read newspaper articles etc in Indonesian, but my speaking is so slangy with poor grammar because I just learned from people in my office etc.

My email is ashlee dot betteridge at gmail dot com, if any of your friends in IDev feel like giving some advice about the program, could you pass it on? Thank you!!

[cnreves]

@Leica Thanks so much for offering your help! I would love if you would answer a few questions. I'm pretty sure I'll be at American in the Fall, so this would help me a ton.

First, is the Grad Day (April 12th this year) really worth it to go to? I'm living in Mississippi, so I'm debating whether or not to buy a plane ticket now. The invitation mentioned that those attending could register for classes in the Fall, which would be really nice.

Secondly, what neighborhoods are best for AU students to live in? I don't mind riding the subway in the morning to class, so I suppose anywhere near a relevant subway line would work, but where do the majority of students live? I just need somewhere to start when I'm looking for housing.

Thanks for your help!

[Leica]

Ashlee - no, the language exam isn't hard at all (it's just reading proficiency), but you may have to find someone to test you in Indonesian since they don't offer it as a standard language exam through the school. It's not a complex process, though - people have gotten certified with more obscure languages

Cnreves - no, in your case I don't really think it'd be worth it, unless you're absolutely dying to come and/or you're still entirely unsure. They won't tell you much you won't hear at orientation. I think it's much more useful for people who are still comparing schools. As for registration, you'll be able to register online in May anyway, so I also don't think that'll be a big deal.

The most convenient area is in NW DC, somewhere on the red metro line - Cleveland Park, Van Ness, Tenleytown, Friendship Heights, Bethesda and further up. The further up you go, the cheaper it becomes. Lots of people live in Columbia Heights (it's also cheaper) and Adams Morgan (a little pricier, but good nightlife - however, not always the safest). I'd stay away from the NE area of town and far, far away from Anacostia. Northern Virginia is nice, but it's really far away.