SIPA International Security vs Georgetown SSP

[Robert Kupstas Byla]

The deadline for securing a space in Columbia's Fall 2010 MIA class is fast approaching (May 3rd) and I still haven't made a decision on which school I want to enroll in this year, if at all.

I'm currently on at State as a contractor supporting a senior level diplomat. The pay is good and I'm bound to get more opportunity to travel and take on more substantive policy responsibility. I'm on the fence of whether to 1. defer SIPA (unfunded) and work for a year during which i'll apply to other schools and scholarships 2. accept admission at SIPA, quite my job, and go full time in NYC or 3. work full time and do SFS part time--this would be beneficial from a financial point of view.

Does anyone know as to how SIPA's international security concentration compares to Georgetown's Security Studies Program? My hunch is that, for federal and defense/security/intel jobs in D.C. area, SSP has a huge leg up over Columbia. My thought on Columbia, however, is that it would be a great opportunity to broaden my policy perspective beyond the Washington bubble, into which SSP would drive me even deeper.

Not sure yet on where I want orient my career. am interested in federal defense/intel/security related jobs but also interested in the consulting world.

Any thoughts?

[Lonestar99]

The deadline for securing a space in Columbia's Fall 2010 MIA class is fast approaching (May 3rd) and I still haven't made a decision on which school I want to enroll in this year, if at all.

I'm currently on at State as a contractor supporting a senior level diplomat. The pay is good and I'm bound to get more opportunity to travel and take on more substantive policy responsibility. I'm on the fence of whether to 1. defer SIPA (unfunded) and work for a year during which i'll apply to other schools and scholarships 2. accept admission at SIPA, quite my job, and go full time in NYC or 3. work full time and do SFS part time--this would be beneficial from a financial point of view.

Does anyone know as to how SIPA's international security concentration compares to Georgetown's Security Studies Program? My hunch is that, for federal and defense/security/intel jobs in D.C. area, SSP has a huge leg up over Columbia. My thought on Columbia, however, is that it would be a great opportunity to broaden my policy perspective beyond the Washington bubble, into which SSP would drive me even deeper.

Not sure yet on where I want orient my career. am interested in federal defense/intel/security related jobs but also interested in the consulting world.

Any thoughts?

I think your thought process is on the right track as to the career tradeoffs. columbia is obviously a broader curriculum. personally I think it is better to have classes in economics/budgeting/management. NYC would definitely get you beyond the DC bubble and broaden your perspective, and so would the school, since a smaller fraction are American and/or studying security. if you want to blaze ahead in the security world and never look back, then georgetown may be the better choice. have you asked what the state dept employees think?

bottom line, you seem to understand the + and - 'es of the choice, but still have the same tough decision.

[RH7]

I'm currently on at State as a contractor supporting a senior level diplomat. The pay is good and I'm bound to get more opportunity to travel and take on more substantive policy responsibility. I'm on the fence of whether to 1. defer SIPA (unfunded) and work for a year during which i'll apply to other schools and scholarships 2. accept admission at SIPA, quite my job, and go full time in NYC or 3. work full time and do SFS part time--this would be beneficial from a financial point of view.

Can't really help you on these programs, but just a comment on option one. If you want to defer SIPA, you need to pay the $1,000 enrollment deposit, and pay an additional $1,000 deferment deposit. You only get the $2,000 back if you actually enroll. And they apparently only allow you to defer if you have compelling reasons. So applying to other schools would only be an option if you don't mind losing the $2k, I guess.