U of M/SAIS/Fletcher/Syracuse

[druthers]

I have read this blog pretty regularly since the beginning of my grad school search and yet I STILL need advice! I have been admitted to U of M Ford School MPP (generous $, I am a resident), Fletcher MALD (some $, though not a lot), SAIS IR Southeast Asia program (funding TBA), and Syracuse MPA/IR dual degree (funding TBA). Now that I am trying to compare my options, I am finding that each program is different and has different pros and cons and overall focus.

I want to work possibly at the UN, in the Foreign service, or in the non-profit/research world. I do not want to be a policy analyst and crunch hard numbers all day, though I want to be able to engage with policy experts and policies in general. My topics of interest include Southeast Asia (I speak Indonesian), human security/rights, religion, and international law/organizations. Because I do not have a set career trajectory yet (wish I did!), I am going to need to choose a school that allows me to find my niche and develop my specific interests within the field of International relations. First, here is how I see the schools and what they can uniquely offer:

Ford School: strong training in a practical skill (policy analysis…perhaps too many quant and econ courses I would not enjoy?), tight-knit international-focused student group, possible dual degree in southeast Asia/further Bahasa Indonesia training

Syracuse: training in practical administration skills, flexible IR program will allow me to study many topics, limited religion and regional courses, no language courses

Fletcher: flexible curriculum- room for me to study negotiation/policy analysis/administration, no regional or religion courses (too broad??), no language courses

SAIS: regional and language focus, practical training (but in what…policy analysis, economics?)

Can anyone help me cut out at least one school or two in my decision process? On any given day I find myself wanting to develop policy analysis skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, public administration capabilities, regional focus, etc... My head is spinning. Anyone in the same boat? Going a little crazy over here in Jakarta....Wish I could attend welcome weekends. If you have any further insight into the pros and cons of these schools in light of my situation/broad interests, I would love to hear from you!

[hippieva]

I have read this blog pretty regularly since the beginning of my grad school search and yet I STILL need advice! I have been admitted to U of M Ford School MPP (generous $, I am a resident), Fletcher MALD (some $, though not a lot), SAIS IR Southeast Asia program (funding TBA), and Syracuse MPA/IR dual degree (funding TBA). Now that I am trying to compare my options, I am finding that each program is different and has different pros and cons and overall focus.

I want to work possibly at the UN, in the Foreign service, or in the non-profit/research world. I do not want to be a policy analyst and crunch hard numbers all day, though I want to be able to engage with policy experts and policies in general. My topics of interest include Southeast Asia (I speak Indonesian), human security/rights, religion, and international law/organizations. Because I do not have a set career trajectory yet (wish I did!), I am going to need to choose a school that allows me to find my niche and develop my specific interests within the field of International relations. First, here is how I see the schools and what they can uniquely offer:

Ford School: strong training in a practical skill (policy analysis…perhaps too many quant and econ courses I would not enjoy?), tight-knit international-focused student group, possible dual degree in southeast Asia/further Bahasa Indonesia training

Syracuse: training in practical administration skills, flexible IR program will allow me to study many topics, limited religion and regional courses, no language courses

Fletcher: flexible curriculum- room for me to study negotiation/policy analysis/administration, no regional or religion courses (too broad??), no language courses

SAIS: regional and language focus, practical training (but in what…policy analysis, economics?)

Can anyone help me cut out at least one school or two in my decision process? On any given day I find myself wanting to develop policy analysis skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, public administration capabilities, regional focus, etc... My head is spinning. Anyone in the same boat? Going a little crazy over here in Jakarta....Wish I could attend welcome weekends. If you have any further insight into the pros and cons of these schools in light of my situation/broad interests, I would love to hear from you!

the one that's cheapest -- once you start earning in rupiah you won't want to pay back tens of thousands of dollars in debt back in us dollars.