Deciding between 5 programs - Environment and Energy Policy

[Cdot]

I am looking for advice: I want to focus on environmental and energy policy and chose rather quant heavy curriculum (econ & econometrics classes). Careerwise I am interested in working for development banks or in policy-making.

Financially my 5 offers do not differ a lot:

I got accepted at SAIS, Fletcher (MALD), LSE (1 year program for Env Policy and Regulation), MPA at SIPA (2 year) and the double degree at Yale Forestry and IDE. I know it's a good position to be in, but I am still kind of lost:

At the moment I tend towards Yale because it seems to have everything - many relevant classes in my field and a very good econ program, though the double degree would take 2.5 years.

On the other hand Fletcher and SAIS offer a better known degree and amazing alumni networks. In the US and with the big IFIs Fletcher's and especially SAIS reputation seem very strong, but since I am European Yale's brand name seems to be better, but both programs at Yale are rather small and not particularly well-known (correct me if I am wrong with any of my assumptions)

I would appreciate any advice or thoughts you have on the topic, especially concerning the 3 programs (Fletcher, SAIS, Yale)

Thanks

[greendiplomat]

I am looking for advice: I want to focus on environmental and energy policy and chose rather quant heavy curriculum (econ & econometrics classes). Careerwise I am interested in working for development banks or in policy-making.

Financially my 5 offers do not differ a lot:

I got accepted at SAIS, Fletcher (MALD), LSE (1 year program for Env Policy and Regulation), MPA at SIPA (2 year) and the double degree at Yale Forestry and IDE. I know it's a good position to be in, but I am still kind of lost:

At the moment I tend towards Yale because it seems to have everything - many relevant classes in my field and a very good econ program, though the double degree would take 2.5 years.

On the other hand Fletcher and SAIS offer a better known degree and amazing alumni networks. In the US and with the big IFIs Fletcher's and especially SAIS reputation seem very strong, but since I am European Yale's brand name seems to be better, but both programs at Yale are rather small and not particularly well-known (correct me if I am wrong with any of my assumptions)

I would appreciate any advice or thoughts you have on the topic, especially concerning the 3 programs (Fletcher, SAIS, Yale)

Thanks

I would do the Yale FES/IDE program in a heartbeat, because the IDE portion would be by far the most quantitatively rigorous.

The econ components in most policy programs' core curricula (including all of those in your list) are roughly equivalent to that of an undergrad econ major with the option at some schools of taking actually graduate-level econ through cross-registration in the schools' respective econ departments (this applies to Fletcher and SIPA on your list). With the FES/IDE program, you're getting an econ MA that already starts with micro/macro/metrics coursework already at the graduate econ level (slightly below the PhD level, I hear).

If you're interested in working for the World Bank, I've heard from multiple sources that you'll be hitting a ceiling without that kind of econ training. Several people that I spoke to went as far as to say that you need a PhD to really make your way up in development banks, which also makes having the IDE degree useful in that a good number of graduates go on to get econ PhDs afterwards.

As for the name recognition of the programs, I'd say that, yes, on the whole, large policy schools like Fletcher and SAIS are better known in policy circles than smaller MA programs like IDE. That being said: (1) FES is a pretty sizable school with a relatively large alumni base; and (2) I think the relevance of the econ MA that you'll get in addition to the MEM is more valuable to your particular career goals than the marginal name-brand recognition that Fletcher/SAIS have over Yale FES/IDE, of which the career placements of IDE graduates is telling.

Edited April 7, 2011 by greendiplomat

[Cdot]

Thanks a lot for your answer, this was actually really helpful greendiplomat! Which topic/field are you interested in, within Energy and Environment?

Any other opinions on the topic?

I would do the Yale FES/IDE program in a heartbeat, because the IDE portion would be by far the most quantitatively rigorous.

The econ components in most policy programs' core curricula (including all of those in your list) are roughly equivalent to that of an undergrad econ major with the option at some schools of taking actually graduate-level econ through cross-registration in the schools' respective econ departments (this applies to Fletcher and SIPA on your list). With the FES/IDE program, you're getting an econ MA that already starts with micro/macro/metrics coursework already at the graduate econ level (slightly below the PhD level, I hear).

If you're interested in working for the World Bank, I've heard from multiple sources that you'll be hitting a ceiling without that kind of econ training. Several people that I spoke to went as far as to say that you need a PhD to really make your way up in development banks, which also makes having the IDE degree useful in that a good number of graduates go on to get econ PhDs afterwards.

As for the name recognition of the programs, I'd say that, yes, on the whole, large policy schools like Fletcher and SAIS are better known in policy circles than smaller MA programs like IDE. That being said: (1) FES is a pretty sizable school with a relatively large alumni base; and (2) I think the relevance of the econ MA that you'll get in addition to the MEM is more valuable to your particular career goals than the marginal name-brand recognition that Fletcher/SAIS have over Yale FES/IDE, of which the career placements of IDE graduates is telling.

[Cdot]

Anyone else with another opinions on SAIS vs. Fletcher vs. Yale FES & IDE for environmental & energy policy and economics ?

[winterxrose]

I can't help you compare with Fletcher or Yale, but I visited the SAIS ERE program on Friday, so I can tell you a little bit about what I heard. It seems that a lot of SAIS ERE grads go into oil companies, energy finance on Wall Street, or the Dept of Energy (apparently there are a LOT of SAIS grads in the DoE, so if you want to work there SAIS would give an advantage.) Very few ERE people go into nonprofits. I told the ERE coordinator my personal goal--to help communities protect against or deal with climate change--and while she said that you can tailor the curriculum however you want, I got the impression that I wouldn't fit in very well with the students pursuing this type of work. But your goals are different from mine, and given your interests, it looks like SAIS would be great for you because of the required concentration in International Economics and the number of grads that join the DoE and World Bank.

Edited April 10, 2011 by winterxrose

[Cdot]

I can't help you compare with Fletcher or Yale, but I visited the SAIS ERE program on Friday, so I can tell you a little bit about what I heard. It seems that a lot of SAIS ERE grads go into oil companies, energy finance on Wall Street, or the Dept of Energy (apparently there are a LOT of SAIS grads in the DoE, so if you want to work there SAIS would give an advantage.) Very few ERE people go into nonprofits. I told the ERE coordinator my personal goal--to help communities protect against or deal with climate change--and while she said that you can tailor the curriculum however you want, I got the impression that I wouldn't fit in very well with the students pursuing this type of work. But your goals are different from mine, and given your interests, it looks like SAIS would be great for you because of the required concentration in International Economics and the number of grads that join the DoE and World Bank.

Thanksa lot for the comment. I am mostly interested in the promotion of renewables and in sustainable water management, so oil companies and Wall Street don't really appeal to me either. But your impression just reassured a feeling that I already had about SAIS

[carpecc]

I'd second Yale, especially with their great School of Forestry, especially if you want to focus on more conservation management related issues. SIPA is also a great choice since the Environment and Energy track there has, as one of the biggest programs, a TON of classes to choose from. You can definitely find what you're looking for there. SIPA also has a great connection with Columbia's Earth Institute which is also really good. So I'd say land conservation: Yale, Energy stuff: Yale or SIPA.

[carpecc]

I was looking at the World Resources Institute's website the other day and noticed that they had quite a few staff who studied energy policy at SAIS. Just pointing that out, but a couple of their managers were from SIPA as well.

[greendiplomat]

I was looking at the World Resources Institute's website the other day and noticed that they had quite a few staff who studied energy policy at SAIS. Just pointing that out, but a couple of their managers were from SIPA as well.

... but WRI isn't a development bank. I think given that the original poster is interested in working at a development bank, having the level of econ that Yale IDE would offer would make the Yale joint degree make the most sense.

And, on the topic of environmental non-profits, WRI is just one of many organizations. The Environmental Defense Fund, for instance, seems to have quite a sizable SIPA contingent, with a good number of HKS PhDs (though we're talking about master's programs in this instance, so the latter isn't particularly relevant).

[Cdot]

Oh if you look at the WRI I think FES will also take you very far (the former dean of FES was one of the founders I believe and he is still very dedicated to both).

I guess in the end all of the schools seem to have good programs, I was especially insecure about choosing a "forestry" degree over SAIS' reputation, after talking to a lot of Washington based people.

Thanks everybody for your comments, I have made my decision, but please feel free to discuss further.

greendiplomat and carpecc, do you get to take a lot of classes at the Earth Institute?

... but WRI isn't a development bank. I think given that the original poster is interested in working at a development bank, having the level of econ that Yale IDE would offer would make the Yale joint degree make the most sense.

And, on the topic of environmental non-profits, WRI is just one of many organizations. The Environmental Defense Fund, for instance, seems to have quite a sizable SIPA contingent, with a good number of HKS PhDs (though we're talking about master's programs in this instance, so the latter isn't particularly relevant).