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Posted (edited)

Hey guys,

I am planning to go to US for a graduate degree of International Relations/ International Studies.

I just received an admission to U of Chicago's Comittee of International Relations, one-year MA program. There is no scholarship, but I am satisfied because I am not that brilliant a student haha.

But I am hesitating whether I should go to U of C. The program lasts only 9 months (3 quarters in Chicago). There are other ways to prolong the stay to two years, such as asking for absence of leave from CIR and register as a Graduate Student at Large, or take a dual degree MA-MPP. But IN ITSELF the program has only 3 quarters of course completion requirements.

I am from China and I indeed want to stay in US longer after my grad study, but I am yet to decide whether I should do it by entering the job market or pursue a PhD degree. So I hope the program should lasts for 2 years so that I could have time to make a decision about my future. Chicago's CIR says on its website that the program is especially valuable for students thinking of PhD degree because it's more academic than most other schools. I am wondering if that would actually LIMIT my job prospects?

I am also waiting for decisions from JHU, Georgetown, Tufts and George Washington, all of which provides two-year program. -----yeah I believe it would be good to stick close to DC if I want to get a good job. But the quality of degree DOES matter. So can anyone say sth about those programs? And how do they compare with Chicago's one-year program?

And does anyone know why CIR's program is not a member of APSIA-----is it because it's too academic and not professional enough?

Just whatever you wanna toss in here! Thx guys!

Edited by fangzhicao
Posted

..................Nobody want to say anything?!

I think CIR is a good program if you want to go for a PhD sooner rather than later. If you would rather work for a while and then return for a PhD I think one of your other choices might be better.

For me, it would really depend on funding. Unless you need to build your academic record, it might not be worth paying full price at Chicago.

On the other hand, I have a friend who went through the program several years ago and enjoyed it so much that she went straight into the PhD program.

Posted

I think CIR is a good program if you want to go for a PhD sooner rather than later. If you would rather work for a while and then return for a PhD I think one of your other choices might be better.

For me, it would really depend on funding. Unless you need to build your academic record, it might not be worth paying full price at Chicago.

On the other hand, I have a friend who went through the program several years ago and enjoyed it so much that she went straight into the PhD program.

Yeah I am still hesitating whether or not I should pursue a PhD immediately after my graduation from my Master.

Funding is not a big problem for me, though I did not recieve any scholarship or financial aid so far.

Chicago is of course a good school but I am just worried about the futuer prospects if I take the program.

BTW, hey you are also waiting for JHU SAIS? haha

Posted

I was also accepted to CIR, but I received 2/3 tuition funding, which makes my decision much more difficult. I also was admitted to Korbel and received funding there, but that amounts to 70K for two years with 30K in funding.

CIR is cheaper, but I'm worried about the one year intensity of it. I also don't know what I want to do afterwards, but I'm leaning towards further education, either a JD or PhD possibly. However, one year isn't really a lot of time--but on the other hand, I would be almost entirely debt free if I did it. Another problem is that if you want to apply to a PhD program, you don't have a lot of time to make connections at chicago if apps are due by December. I graduated in June 2010 from UCLA, so I don't want to do an MA and wait another year to apply to a PhD program.

Posted

I was also accepted to CIR, but I received 2/3 tuition funding, which makes my decision much more difficult. I also was admitted to Korbel and received funding there, but that amounts to 70K for two years with 30K in funding.

CIR is cheaper, but I'm worried about the one year intensity of it. I also don't know what I want to do afterwards, but I'm leaning towards further education, either a JD or PhD possibly. However, one year isn't really a lot of time--but on the other hand, I would be almost entirely debt free if I did it. Another problem is that if you want to apply to a PhD program, you don't have a lot of time to make connections at chicago if apps are due by December. I graduated in June 2010 from UCLA, so I don't want to do an MA and wait another year to apply to a PhD program.

If your immediate goal is more schooling then CIR would probably be a better choice. I think their program is very quant. heavy, so it leverages well into a PhD program. Why go through a terminal MA like Korbel if you want a PhD or JD? As far as I can tell, CIR is way different from most MA programs. Your decision should really follow your long-term goals. Perhaps you should consider CIR and then a year in a quality job before you return for your doctorate.

I didn't apply to SAIS. It's an amazing program but I stuck with programs/schools that carried at least the possibility of funding.

Just some thoughts.

Posted

JHU offers me a conditional admission, requiring that my microeconomics pass grade B. I actually took the course in the first semester of my 4th year, with a score of 81 out of 100. But as you know the transcript I used for application covers only the first 3 years of my study; so it would not register. I have sent an email to JHU and they are yet to reply.

Posted

If your immediate goal is more schooling then CIR would probably be a better choice. I think their program is very quant. heavy, so it leverages well into a PhD program. Why go through a terminal MA like Korbel if you want a PhD or JD? As far as I can tell, CIR is way different from most MA programs. Your decision should really follow your long-term goals. Perhaps you should consider CIR and then a year in a quality job before you return for your doctorate.

I didn't apply to SAIS. It's an amazing program but I stuck with programs/schools that carried at least the possibility of funding.

Just some thoughts.

The thing is that I believe a PhD degree would be good for my future development; but I am just not sure whether I should take it immediately after my MA or work for 1-2 years before my application. Moreover I am a PRC citizen, so I also have to consider stuff like visa and residence and of course expenditure in USA. Say if I matriculate in Chicago from autumn 2011 to autumn 2012, I can only apply for PhD admission in autmn 2013 at the earliest. There would be a several-month-long gap before I start my PhD study. I might have to register as a Graduate Student At Large or work a bit from winter 2012 till summer 2013.

Posted

Does any one know about the employment statistics of Chicago CIR? I found only a general number on their website.

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