Is SIPA worth it?

[hsiehk25]

Is SIPA worth the 140K tuition for two years? The other schools I've been accepted to, Syracuse (Maxwell), and American (SIS), are half the cost of SIPA, more or less. I haven't received any funding (besides an equal amount of loans) from the schools. Any advice would be helpful

[globalsun]

Is SIPA worth the 140K tuition for two years? The other schools I've been accepted to, Syracuse (Maxwell), and American (SIS), are half the cost of SIPA, more or less. I haven't received any funding (besides an equal amount of loans) from the schools. Any advice would be helpful

Not worth it. SIPA is a notorious degree mill with relatively low application standards and paltry financial support for most of its students.

[gazelle]

Not worth it. SIPA is a notorious degree mill with relatively low application standards and paltry financial support for most of its students.

Then why did you apply there?

OP, ignore this.

SIPA is extremely expensive, and probably not worth it, but it's no worse in cost and funding stinginess than HKS or any of the other top programs. It's no less "worth it" than any other top programs--it's Columbia for Christ's sake.

SIPA gets a bad rep somewhere, and everyone just perpetuates it, but nobody can substantiate it.

Edited April 14, 2010 by gazelle

[globalsun]

Then why did you apply there?

OP, ignore this.

SIPA is extremely expensive, and probably not worth it, but it's no worse in cost and funding stinginess than HKS or any of the other top programs. It's no less "worth it" than any other top programs--it's Columbia for Christ's sake.

SIPA gets a bad rep somewhere, and everyone just perpetuates it, but nobody can substantiate it.

I applied because it was a well marketed name in the IR field and the fact that Columbia is in an Ivy. But on closer inspection and on campus visits, I found SIPA's classes sizes were way too large to form a cohesive graduate community. The spamming and corporate style of the administration and the rather deceptive second year "fellowship" option also alarmed me. The curriculum also frankly seemed like a watered down MBA with a relatively light economics curriculum compared to SAIS. The school also lacks a strong Asia focus, preferring to be remain relatively Eurocentric in its world view. Bad student reviews of other fluffy SIPA programs and the lower quality of the incoming admit pool sealed the deal. This is all for the highest costs of any IR program. So yes, it can be substantiated.

[some_dog]

I think it depends on what you want to do with the degree. As globalsun mentioned, it does seem like an MBA "light". But it is an ivy league and the name recognition goes pretty far. Also, networking opportunities at SIPA tend to be pretty good. If you want to be a consultant in private industry it might be worth it since it is in New York, so job placement tends to be decent. But as far as actually doing something in IR, I'm a little skeptical.