SAIS Idev vs SIPA MPA-DP

[Ditto]

Hi team!

I am admitted to SIPA MPA-DP and SAIS IDev with the same amount of aid which amounts to similar costs of attendance for both. I am trying to decide between the two. I have about 6 years of experience in International development and want to transition into working in sustainable development finance. Based on what I have gathered - 

SIPA -

• great for working in sustainability in general with the option to take classes at SUMA,
• great campus etc.
• Lots of flexibility in coursework.
• Older cohort with people coming from more experience background (in the DP prog)
• However, I am not able to map out how well connected sipa alums are within themselves as well as to policy networks in multilaterals etc and I am not necessarily keen on working at the UN.
• I am generally less aware of the opportunities NYC offers as a city for international development professionals.

SAIS -

• Less flexible coursework with a lot of quant requirements that I have done before & taking waiver exams is not a risk free option.
• there aren't many courses focusing on sustainability issues within international development, in comparison to SIPA. 
• SAIS does not have a campus vibe at all.
• younger cohort - significant number of students, straight out of undergrad
• Situated in DC - with great access to multi-laterals think thanks working in sustainability.
• SAIS alum networks seem tighter and more well-knit within certain institutions. 

Generally, so far having interacted with the two schools through the admissions process, I found SAIS folks to be way more approachable and readily available with information than SIPA. At SIPA, it definitely felt like a struggle trying to get info and connect with alum. I am trying to assess how much of a difference that would make in the overall experience.

Any inputs/suggestions for people who know more on either course/school would be great!

Edited April 28, 2020 by Ditto

[ExponentialDecay]

This is probably way late, but depending on what you mean by sustainable finance (i.e. financial instruments and financing structures vs finance that targets environmental sustainability goals) you are better served doing a straight finance MA or MBA with a concentration on sustainable finance in the former case, and an environmental program in the latter. An international development program is going to be too unfocused to efficiently serve either of those goals. The SAIS energy program is well-reputed and you can switch into it. In either case, if you are committed to doing a public policy degree, I recommend prioritizing strong, well-connected finance faculty. 

The SIPA network at multilaterals is fine. Don't know where you're getting the info that MPA-DP cohort is significantly older than the SAIS IDEV one.

[GradSchoolGrad]

On 4/28/2020 at 3:45 PM, Ditto said:

Hi team!

I am admitted to SIPA MPA-DP and SAIS IDev with the same amount of aid which amounts to similar costs of attendance for both. I am trying to decide between the two. I have about 6 years of experience in International development and want to transition into working in sustainable development finance. Based on what I have gathered - 

SIPA -

• great for working in sustainability in general with the option to take classes at SUMA,
• great campus etc.
• Lots of flexibility in coursework.
• Older cohort with people coming from more experience background (in the DP prog)
• However, I am not able to map out how well connected sipa alums are within themselves as well as to policy networks in multilaterals etc and I am not necessarily keen on working at the UN.
• I am generally less aware of the opportunities NYC offers as a city for international development professionals.

SAIS -

• Less flexible coursework with a lot of quant requirements that I have done before & taking waiver exams is not a risk free option.
• there aren't many courses focusing on sustainability issues within international development, in comparison to SIPA. 
• SAIS does not have a campus vibe at all.
• younger cohort - significant number of students, straight out of undergrad
• Situated in DC - with great access to multi-laterals think thanks working in sustainability.
• SAIS alum networks seem tighter and more well-knit within certain institutions. 

Generally, so far having interacted with the two schools through the admissions process, I found SAIS folks to be way more approachable and readily available with information than SIPA. At SIPA, it definitely felt like a struggle trying to get info and connect with alum. I am trying to assess how much of a difference that would make in the overall experience.

Any inputs/suggestions for people who know more on either course/school would be great!

I think there should be three considerations.

1. How much do you value quant skills? With a rough economy coming through, I recommend you really value it because I have known many SAIS alums market that as their job finder. I think SAIS wins here

2. School experience. SIPA generally has a weaker community because the school's focus areas are so spread out + a lot of people have their NYC lives. I think SAIS wins here too.

3. What city you would like to end up with. NYC or DC or International --> This on you. I think with NYC SIPA obviously wins. SAIS wins DC. As for international, well that depends on where and for exactly what, and its too open of a question in my opinion unless you really know something you want to focus on in which either school has a discrete strength.