MPP Ivy league necessary for intl development career?

[MiniMogul]

I'm interested in pursuing a JD/MPP for doing policy work with respect to the Caribbean region. I'm born and raised in Canada, and lived in NYC for several years. I've done my BA herein Canada, and I'm leaning towards continuing my studies here, because it'll cost me about one tenth of the $200 000 it would cost me for the same degrees in the US. But after reading some of these posts, it seems like I would only have a successful international development career if I go to Harvard, Columbia, or other non-Ivy prestige schools like Johns Hopkins, etc.

Am I right, or will degrees from outside the US (other than Oxbridge, LSE, etc.) also be competitive?

Thanks for your responses in advance.

[DCA-John]

I'm interested in pursuing a JD/MPP for doing policy work with respect to the Caribbean region. I'm born and raised in Canada, and lived in NYC for several years. I've done my BA herein Canada, and I'm leaning towards continuing my studies here, because it'll cost me about one tenth of the $200 000 it would cost me for the same degrees in the US. But after reading some of these posts, it seems like I would only have a successful international development career if I go to Harvard, Columbia, or other non-Ivy prestige schools like Johns Hopkins, etc.

Am I right, or will degrees from outside the US (other than Oxbridge, LSE, etc.) also be competitive?

Thanks for your responses in advance.

international development is a big industry, but generally field experience counts more than anything. I do some hiring, and while a grad degree from a name university will move you up in the pile, someone who had done relevant work in the developing world is much more likely to get an interview

[BMCGirl10]

international development is a big industry, but generally field experience counts more than anything. I do some hiring, and while a grad degree from a name university will move you up in the pile, someone who had done relevant work in the developing world is much more likely to get an interview

I agree with what DCA John has said. I work at a DC intl dev consulting firm. A lot of hires I see (both in the field and domestic) have grad degrees from non-prestigious schools. What pushes them forward is the field experience.

Edited April 9, 2011 by BMCGirl10