SAIS Bologna vs SIPA dual degree with LKY school

[iPon]

Hello all,

I'm sorry to be redundant here but I have thought through my options a million times and still couldn't make my mind. Can anyone please help?

Academic Goal: International econ and finance policy, with southeast asia as a regional focus

Professional Goal: World bank, IFC, IMF, or UN in Southeast Asia

Options: 1. SAIS (Bologna/DC) 2. MAIA at SIPA, Masters in Public Policy at National University of Singapore (2 years total)

SAIS pro:

- Italy! - I have never been to Europe before and definitely wouldn't mind the opportunity to live and learn more about the region, DC in second year

- Small class size (an important point for me)

- It appears that alums are doing amazing things (I heard from many sources including this forum and my coworkers who is a SAIS graduate.)

- It appears also that SAIS has smaller but tighter alumni network

- many SAIS graduates get jobs at world bank (true??)

- supposedly the best southeast asia department in the US (although this is only in DC)

- staffs and professors seem more accessible (I cold-called and chat with the associate director of the SE Asia department for like 30mins - no problem)

- may get some funding

- ranked #1 (according to foreign policy mag)

SAIS con:

- may not be able to concentrate in SE Asia because of being in Europe

- small program (= smaller network? and less career resources?)

- separate campus from the main university = less resources such as faculty to share?

- JHU is less know than Columbia internationally

- I'm wary about the quality of the program in Bologna and the cost

SIPA/LKY pro:

- reputation of "Columbia"

- shared resources with business school, political science, law school, and etc.

- large program and large network

- program seems to be more flexible

- impressive faculty

- two degrees for the price of one (National University of Singapore is supposedly a very good university in SE Asia??)

- almost 20k cheaper (due to cheaper tuition in Asia)

- New York City! and Singapore!

- extensive selection of southeast asia classes that I can focus on in Singapore

SIPA/LKY con:

- much larger than SAIS (the school hosts Masters in int affairs, public policy, public admin, and etc......)

- less personal interaction with faculty and career resources??

- alumni network is too broad and not as tight?

- someone commented on gradcafe that he applied to a job in new york only to find out that 50 other SIPA grads also applied to the same job

- LKY school is relatively new and unknown??

- Singapore is less cool (for me) than living in Europe for one year

- i'm wary about an the quality of education in LKY

- ranked #4

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

[le_neocon]

Tell me about the confusion. I'm debating the full SIPA - New York vs SAIS - DC option. I've even paid the deposit at SIPA just to speed up my visa process and I'm still confused. For me they will eventually turn out to be equally expensive. And that 50 grad thing at SIPA freaks me out too, though I shouldn't be trusting just hearsay...

[iPon]

Tell me about the confusion. I'm debating the full SIPA - New York vs SAIS - DC option. I've even paid the deposit at SIPA just to speed up my visa process and I'm still confused. For me they will eventually turn out to be equally expensive. And that 50 grad thing at SIPA freaks me out too, though I shouldn't be trusting just hearsay...

Where are you leaning toward? Do you agree with my assessments of each school? I'm leaning toward SAIS mainly because of the Europe experience and smaller environment. This is because I came from a big undergraduate institution (Berkeley - although it is a great great school, I felt like i didn't get enough attention and help with career. I'm afraid SIPA will turn out to be the same)

[researchnerd]

Um. I'm confused. If you don't want to LIVE in SE Asia...why are you studying it???

The SAIS option if you want to study SE Asia, also sounds like the wrong fit---considering that you're not sure if they even have that as a concentration. If you want to study a region, you should be prepared to spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time there, especially if you want to do it well. It sounds like you're unclear on your future plans, and until you figure that out, you should not be worrying about a school.

I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. You don't want to end up either a) not getting the education you need because you chose a program without the right concentration or get an education you need for an area of the world you're "just not that into".

Edited April 9, 2010 by researchnerd

[researchnerd]

Full disclosure: I'm debating SFS and SIPA, and am leaning towards SIPA.

[le_neocon]

On a sidenote, I wish SIPA had more marketing videos. SAIS seems to have loads of them on their site. SIPA uploads quite a few panel discussions but none thats really program specific. Of course, there are the SIPA follies videos on youtube.

Anyone else found any SIPA videos ?

[iPon]

Um. I'm confused. If you don't want to LIVE in SE Asia...why are you studying it???

The SAIS option if you want to study SE Asia, also sounds like the wrong fit---considering that you're not sure if they even have that as a concentration. If you want to study a region, you should be prepared to spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time there, especially if you want to do it well. It sounds like you're unclear on your future plans, and until you figure that out, you should not be worrying about a school.

I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. You don't want to end up either a) not getting the education you need because you chose a program without the right concentration or get an education you need for an area of the world you're "just not that into".

Thanks you for the comment. To answer your question, it is because I am from Southeast Asia - born and raised. On one hand I want to concentrate on the region, on the other I want to broaden my academic horizon. I am sure you know that a study of the international economy, especially the capital markets, cannot be completed without learning about Europe in general.

Also, I believe SIAS DC does have a SE Asia concentration - one of the strongest among IR programs. I'm just not sure about SAIS Bologna. (Does anybody know anything about this?)

Given my clarifications, do you still think that I should go for the SIPA option? What do you intend to study? and why are you leaning toward SIPA?

[RH7]

Thanks you for the comment. To answer your question, it is because I am from Southeast Asia - born and raised. On one hand I want to concentrate on the region, on the other I want to broaden my academic horizon. I am sure you know that a study of the international economy, especially the capital markets, cannot be completed without learning about Europe in general.

Also, I believe SIAS DC does have a SE Asia concentration - one of the strongest among IR programs. I'm just not sure about SAIS Bologna. (Does anybody know anything about this?)

Given my clarifications, do you still think that I should go for the SIPA option? What do you intend to study? and why are you leaning toward SIPA?

If you went to SIPA, would you be doing the IFEP concentration or the regional concentration (which is East Asia though they include SEA into this)? Still not sure what added value Bologna would have (as opposed to a second year in DC)...

And just out of curiosity, where are you from?