Yale vs Fletcher

[FluffMeister]

I've gotten most of my notifications from IR grad schools and at the moment I think it comes down to Yale or Fletcher for me (assuming that I am either rejected or waitlisted from MSFS). I got some money from Fletcher but considering the difference in cost of living between Boston and New Haven, I actually think the bottom line cost is comparable. This actually brings me to my first question in comparing the two. Working/interning during the semester, where would I be able to more likely earn more money with minimum negative impact to my classwork? What little I've heard from Fletcher on this matter hasn't been too encouraging, and I have the feeling that Yale might have more interesting resume-building options.

I'd also like to compare the two on how active the student bodies are in clubs/organizations. Fletcher seems to have an outstanding array of clubs and groups (and a couple of student-run publications, too, I think), while I can't tell so much about Yale. Is Yale perhaps too small to be very active in these ways? I wish Yale had more info on their website, but I guess I'll learn more at the Visit Day.

Is anyone else choosing between these two? What are your thoughts?

[FluffMeister]

Bump. Nobody is looking at Fletcher and Yale? Really?

[Cornell07]

Bump. Nobody is looking at Fletcher and Yale? Really?

We don't have a tremendous number of clubs here at Yale other than the student social organization, IASSA, and our journal, Yale Journal of International Affairs. The real resume building activities are being teaching and research assistants for our big name faculty and visiting practitioners. Plus, the pay is very competitive. Between 5-10k per semester depending on the position.

As for the website, it is very much a work in progress as we only transitioned this year to being the Jackson Institute. Hope to see you at the admit day next week.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Cornell07

[JAubrey]

Fluffmeister, would you mind sharing your stats / background?

[FluffMeister]

Thanks for the info, Cornell. The teaching fellows thing seems like a really good aspect of Yale that doesn't get a whole lot of attention. I mean, money like that makes a difference. I'm getting very excited about the Visit Day--I hope to see you there, too!

JAubrey, here is a little bit about myself I wrote in another thread: I graduated from a small liberal arts college in 2007 with majors in Music and Art History (studied abroad one semester in Vienna). I lived in Germany for 1 year afterward studying music and then working as an au pair. Then I worked two years in the book publishing industry back in the states. I picked up a Turkic language along the way and got part-time translation work for an archaeological dig.

GPA: 3.79, GRE: 640V, 700Q, 5.5W