Acceptance rate IR top programs and other questions

[WhateverHappens]

Hello i would like to know the acceptance rate of the following programs (i have found some similar post but they were 2/3 years old) :

- Columbia SIPA MIA

- Brown MPP

- Yale IR

- Harvard JFK MPP

- GW M.A International Relations

- B.U M.A International Relations

- NYU M.A Internatioanl Relations

- Penn Master of Government Administration

- Tufts MALD

What do you guys know specifically about the NYU MA in IR and the BU ma in IR? they are competitive programs?

What about the Penn MGA and the Brown MPP? i know that both Penn and Brown are extremely good but these programs are not particulary popoular.

I am an Italian student with only 1 year of work experience, which is the program between the one that i've mentioned where it's easier to get in with an international profile (i've studied in France,China and USA) but with a lack of work experience? Please help me!

thank you in advance

[WhateverHappens]

even 1 or 2 infos would be helpful! thank you!

[Cornell07]

Yale Jackson IR

What is your admission rate?

In the past few years, we have received approximately 300 applications and have admitted about 50 - 60 students for an incoming class of 20-25.

[bongin]

Peterson's reports some program's admission rate.

You can go to http://www.petersons.com/

I remember that SIPA receive more than thousands of applications...

Yale is relatively competitive.

[carpecc]

Peterson's reports some program's admission rate.

You can go to http://www.petersons.com/

I remember that SIPA receive more than thousands of applications...

Yale is relatively competitive.

According to that site:

SAIS: 38%

Kennedy: 30%

SIPA: 39%

Fletcher: 40%

This seems consistent with the research I've done, but I've seen some slightly different numbers thrown around. I imagine the statistics change from year to year.

[WhateverHappens]

According to that site:

SAIS: 38%

Kennedy: 30%

SIPA: 39%

Fletcher: 40%

This seems consistent with the research I've done, but I've seen some slightly different numbers thrown around. I imagine the statistics change from year to year.

thank you so much!

wow. this is higher than i expected. maybe i have a chance !

anyone has information concerning BU and NYU MA in International Relations or Brown MPP?

thank you!!!

[Revolution]

According to that site:

SAIS: 38%

Kennedy: 30%

SIPA: 39%

Fletcher: 40%

This seems consistent with the research I've done, but I've seen some slightly different numbers thrown around. I imagine the statistics change from year to year.

 

 

I think SAIS is now around 25%, Kennedy MPP is 18%, and SIPA is 35%. The first 2 programs have gotten a lot more selective in the past few eyars.

[deadhead47]

The year 2011 (the acceptance rate and # of applicants):

 

Yale IR - 18.56% (334)

Harvard JFK - 27.55 (3,129)

Columbia SIPA - 39.26% (1,908)
Tufts Fletcher - 41.07% (1,875)

JHU SAIS - 42.16% (1,753)

GW Elliot - 47.38% (781)

 

(Source: http://www.ryugaku.com/ *Japanese)

 

Note that top schools are self-selective.

[Revolution]

SAIS' acceptance rate is 42%? Wow, that's high. No wonder everyone on gradcafe got in. The caliber of the average admitted applicant at SAIS is quite low.

[JFactor]

The year 2011 (the acceptance rate and # of applicants):

 

Yale IR - 18.56% (334)

Harvard JFK - 27.55 (3,129)

Columbia SIPA - 39.26% (1,908)

Tufts Fletcher - 41.07% (1,875)

JHU SAIS - 42.16% (1,753)

GW Elliot - 47.38% (781)

 

(Source: http://www.ryugaku.com/ *Japanese)

 

Note that top schools are self-selective.

 

What's this Japanese source? I'm not saying it can't be valid but I wouldn't take it at face value, because all of the acceptance rates across the board seem to be slightly too high. For example, according to these stats, HKS admits about 860 students each year. Very hard to believe this is the case and it goes against other stats and numbers I've read and heard. Same with every other program - these rates seem to be about 5-10% higher than they actually are but that's just my semi-educated opinion. Would be curious to know more about this Japanese web site and where it get its numbers from.

 

EDIT: Although it does seem SAIS is less selective than I thought.

Edited March 29, 2013 by JFactor

[ValarDohaeris]

Elliott also had over 2000 applicants this year. It seems odd that they would supposedly have over twice the number of applicants two years later.

[rhodeislander]

SAIS' acceptance rate is 42%? Wow, that's high. No wonder everyone on gradcafe got in. The caliber of the average admitted applicant at SAIS is quite low.

 

aaaand here we go again...

[socal_kid]

Revolution is the best troll.  Can't wait to meet you in person.  I'm being serious.  

[Revolution]

Revolution is the best troll.  Can't wait to meet you in person.  I'm being serious.  

 

First, I'm not a troll, contrary to popular opinion on here. Second, I will be at the SAIS open house.

[socal_kid]

First, I'm not a troll, contrary to popular opinion on here. Second, I will be at the SAIS open house.

 

Oh ok sorry.  Didn't mean to offend.  But I'll be there too!  My name's Pat so if you meet someone by that name say hello.  

[Howie]

What's the acceptance rate to USC Price?

[ZacharyObama]

What's the acceptance rate to USC Price?

 

Not published. I couldn't get any real indication either from them. I think it's fluctuated somewhat because my impression is that enrollment has increased. I don't think the results page is any real indication as obviously there is some self-selection going on with this board. If I had to guess I would say that for the last couple years it's like 40% - comparable to other similar programs. I think it's a little different o because when you talk about the school as a whole you're talking about some programs that might be in other departments at other schools such as Planning, Health Administration and Real Estate Development. Price strikes me as a very professionalized school compared other schools that are offering just an MPP or MPA. In this sense, even the supposed stats above are of limited use for comparison. Price's internal IR program (IPPAM) is offered as an executive-level program i.e. mid-career.

 

2012 - enrollment stats - http://priceschool.usc.edu/students/facts/enrollment/

Edited March 30, 2013 by ZacharyObama

[soaps]

According to that site:

SAIS: 38%

Kennedy: 30%

SIPA: 39%

Fletcher: 40%

This seems consistent with the research I've done, but I've seen some slightly different numbers thrown around. I imagine the statistics change from year to year.

 

How'd you get SAIS from that site? A couple weeks ago Peterson's had SAIS at 43% and now the acceptance rate isn't even given.

Anyway, these numbers are all higher than the historical averages due to the extreme volatility of people applying to public policy programs in the last few years. 

SIPA admissions told the recent admits the average acceptance in 2012 was 30% for all masters programs.

 

Edit: didn't realize this was an old/revived topic.   

Edited March 30, 2013 by soaps

[deadhead47]

What's this Japanese source? I'm not saying it can't be valid but I wouldn't take it at face value, because all of the acceptance rates across the board seem to be slightly too high. For example, according to these stats, HKS admits about 860 students each year. Very hard to believe this is the case and it goes against other stats and numbers I've read and heard. Same with every other program - these rates seem to be about 5-10% higher than they actually are but that's just my semi-educated opinion. Would be curious to know more about this Japanese web site and where it get its numbers from.

 

EDIT: Although it does seem SAIS is less selective than I thought.

 

 

It's a website for Japanese ppl who seek to study abroad.

The website says that the info comes from each university but it doesn't say how or in what way.

It also says that it does not guarantee the accuracy and you should get the latest info from each university by yourself.

Idk how accurate it is but it doesn't differ much from Peterson's reports...just saying.

In any case, if you search the univ names it shows like links below (you can use google translate --> http://itools.com/tool/google-translate-web-page-translator):

 

Tufts Fletcher

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/35761

 

HKSG

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/49956

 

JHU SAIS

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/38480

 

Columbia SIPA

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/26416

 

American SIS

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/48968

 

Yale MA in IR

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/33437

 

 

Elliott also had over 2000 applicants this year. It seems odd that they would supposedly have over twice the number of applicants two years later.

 

Sorry, as for GWU, I mistakenly put the date for MAIA only, which is 47.38% (781).

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/22872

 

For Elliot School in general, it says 47.49% (2,152).

http://www.ryugaku.com/graddb/home/data/id/42144

 

 

Again, most candidates are self-selective so the acceptance rate doesn't really mean anything.

Also, the info is from 2011 so it could be out-dated.

Edited March 31, 2013 by deadhead47

[The Mark]

A 64 percent acceptance rate for my program doesn't exactly make me feel better about getting in. 

[huerita]

A 64 percent acceptance rate for my program doesn't exactly make me feel better about getting in. 

 

Well, there's something to be said for self-selection...........................................................I hope

[The Mark]

Well, there's something to be said for self-selection...........................................................I hope

 

Yeah, or the myopia of admissions committees at top schools. 

[Hopefulodi]

I think one thing to take into consideration (apart from self-selection) is that most students apply to all those schools and some safeties, hoping to get somewhere and to get some funding. So acceptance rates is somehow not a good indicator or competitiveness. I wanted a MPA but I also applied to SAIS because I loved their IDEV program and it fitted with my interests. So there are a lot of things that can make you feel better !

[Denisse]

What exactly is meant by self-selection? Does it mean that most grad students apply to grad schools they have a reasonable shot of being accepted at, so the acceptance rates being so high makes sense if schools aren't worried about the % they yield and just about the quality of the applicants? Or is it something else?

[ridofme]

What exactly is meant by self-selection? Does it mean that most grad students apply to grad schools they have a reasonable shot of being accepted at, so the acceptance rates being so high makes sense if schools aren't worried about the % they yield and just about the quality of the applicants? Or is it something else?

 

Well, it certainly might simply be a way for us MPP/IR applicants to make ourselves feel better. But I think the idea is that, unlike with law or business where you get a lot of un- or underqualified people applying because they see dollar signs, with MPP/IR, there is no cash prize at the end of the rainbow. Accordingly, the people who apply to these programs tend to be genuinely interested/invested in the fields, and likely have the backgrounds that will make them successful applicants. Of course there will be a few clueless people, and those who see these degrees as ersatz MBAs, but probably much less so than for more lucrative degrees.