SAIS vs. Elliott

[perpetuallylost]

Hi everyone,

So I think I have finally narrowed my choices to SAIS or Elliott. I am torn as to which is the best option...

I applied to IDEV at SAIS and was not admitted, so like others I need to choose a different concentration. I also received no funding

As for Elliott, I will be able to focus on international development and got a $25k fellowship (over 2 years).

I know that SAIS is the better of the two schools, but how much of a disadvantage would I have if I choose Elliott. My passion is development and not getting into that program at SAIS is a real draw-back for me at the moment. Also, I am very worried about money...Elliott would be much, much cheaper. Still waiting on Pickering, but I am not holding my breath on that one.

I have also been considering Humphrey, especially for the fact that I was accepted to their MDP (being rejected by SIPA) and because, I will receive in-state tuition. However, the location and lower rankings are holding me back from being too excited, even though I love the program's components. Still waiting for funding decisions from Evans and GSPIA, but unless it is out of this world, I don't see myself choosing one of those programs out of the others. Already saying no to Ford because of the lack of funding.

Any advice or thoughts are appreciated!

[billyzy]

Hi everyone,

So I think I have finally narrowed my choices to SAIS or Elliott. I am torn as to which is the best option...

I applied to IDEV at SAIS and was not admitted, so like others I need to choose a different concentration. I also received no funding

As for Elliott, I will be able to focus on international development and got a $25k fellowship (over 2 years).

I know that SAIS is the better of the two schools, but how much of a disadvantage would I have if I choose Elliott. My passion is development and not getting into that program at SAIS is a real draw-back for me at the moment. Also, I am very worried about money...Elliott would be much, much cheaper. Still waiting on Pickering, but I am not holding my breath on that one.

I have also been considering Humphrey, especially for the fact that I was accepted to their MDP (being rejected by SIPA) and because, I will receive in-state tuition. However, the location and lower rankings are holding me back from being too excited, even though I love the program's components. Still waiting for funding decisions from Evans and GSPIA, but unless it is out of this world, I don't see myself choosing one of those programs out of the others. Already saying no to Ford because of the lack of funding.

Any advice or thoughts are appreciated!

Your situation is better than mine. I am deciding between CIPA and SAIS (not in IDV and no money).

[winterxrose]

I have the same Elliott fellowship as you and I am also deciding between GW and SAIS (Georgetown too). Why is Elliott tuition $12k cheaper than the other DC schools??

[jpb310]

Hello all,

I have virtually the same dilemma: got into SAIS but rejected from IDEV and received no funding. I also got into Elliott with a $15K grant over two years.

Whereas I can study development at Elliott, SAIS doesn't offer an alternative concentration that I find appealing. However, I also know full well that SAIS's reputation and network will come in handy down the road. Not exactly sure if the Elliott name carries as much weight.

After looking further into SAIS's academic program, I found that that school offers a "developmental economics" specialization within the International Economics program. Might be some consolation in this program after getting rejected from IDEV. Still, the tuition is tough to stomach given my circumstances...

Any thoughts? The April deadline is looming...

Good luck to you all!

[newba1ance]

This seems to be a common problem, I personally didn’t apply to SAIS having followed the experience of some friends who went through this prior to myself. For this particular situation you would be talking about paying an extra $47,000 for the SAIS name and the education that comes with it. Assuming you will be paying with loans (otherwise why ask) at a modest 6.7% rate over the standard 10 year period. You will end up paying $82,233 total on this debt, just under $600 a month for 10 years, more with opportunity cost considered, which would be appropriate given the heavy economic emphasis of SAIS.

Now, the question is, do you expect that SAIS is going to give you a $82,000 lead in the IR world over 10 years? Personally I think that is a ridiculous question. Will it give you an edge getting out of college, yes probably, all other things being equal. Will it give you a large edge if you are dead set on working for the World Bank, it seems so.

Frankly, after a year or two out of school, this degree’s staying power is very ephemeral, your work experience is going to greatly outweigh it. It is also worth mentioning that this degree tends not to pull down MBA money, and I think that a certain degree of flexibility also makes for finding the happiest employment fit.

So there my $.02. SAIS is great, but thoughtfully consider the amount paid into it, against what real benefit you expect to get out of that investment, the rest is ego.

Edited March 23, 2011 by newba1ance

[CalSeeker]

This is the decision I have to make too. I got some pretty good funding from SAIS, which is my top choice, and that would be hard to give up. Elliott did not give me any money, but I did get an outside fellowship that would give me full tuition if I work for federal/state/local government for four years after graduation. That's a great deal, but if I end up not finding a job in government, I would have to pay the money back and Elliott would end up more expensive for me than SAIS would have been.

The other wrinkle is that at Elliott I could go part time and have a full-time job. I am not sure how I could go to SAIS and continue to support my family. In fact, I was hoping to find a job in DC before making a decision, but that does not look like it is panning out.

Anyway, both are great options with advantages and disadvantages. It is going to be a hard, stressful decision.