The Fletcher MALD Thread Spring/Fall 2012

[peach11]

Waitlisted. What's the likelihood of getting off the damn thing? How many are accepting?

I'm wondering the same thing.

[ajl]

IN with $15k!

In with $14K. Very pleased that I got in, but I think I'm turning this one down due to likely funding from WWS.

Waitlisted. What's the likelihood of getting off the damn thing? How many are accepting?

Looks like at least some spots will be opening up. Good luck!

[charlotte_asia]

In with $12k!

[hgd12]

Rejected at Fletcher, but in at SAIS

[cannotdecide]

IN with $!

Wow. grad school application process is SO random indeed.

[charlotte_asia]

Wow. grad school application process is SO random indeed.

I don't think it's random- I think it really speaks to the fact that admissions decisions are made beyond just GRE scores and GPAs. Schools are looking at the candidate as an entire package. It means you can be a really great fit at one school and not at another. It also reinforces how important the SOP is- to really emphasize why you are a great match at that one particular program- not grad school in general.

[cannotdecide]

I don't think it's random- I think it really speaks to the fact that admissions decisions are made beyond just GRE scores and GPAs. Schools are looking at the candidate as an entire package. It means you can be a really great fit at one school and not at another. It also reinforces how important the SOP is- to really emphasize why you are a great match at that one particular program- not grad school in general.

random in the sense that I knew the SOP/work experience matters, but until you go through the process, you really don't know. In my case, I think I had a very, very good SOP and I had the Fulbright, among other factors which helped, but my GREs were definitely not 'amazing', nor the quant background. Anyways, happy about this one!

[Coloradical]

It is interesting to look just between GWU, Fletcher and SAIS at which combinations of A/R/WL people end up with.

[charlotte_asia]

I get what you meant, cannotdecide! And I agree that it's interesting to see folks accepted at one place, rejected/wl at another, other folks the opposite, etc. Just goes to show all of these schools are competitive and all of us should be quite proud of what looks like a great admissions season on gradcafe

[wasistdas]

I get what you meant, cannotdecide! And I agree that it's interesting to see folks accepted at one place, rejected/wl at another, other folks the opposite, etc. Just goes to show all of these schools are competitive and all of us should be quite proud of what looks like a great admissions season on gradcafe

Strange, strange process. I had all but written off SAIS due to having taken only a handful of math/econ courses, and thought I fit the bill perfectly at Fletcher (waitlisted) due to work experience, time abroad, and language capacity and overall program fit. I guess they thought differently.

[Bob Lynch]

I'm in at Fletcher. Was also accepted into the MAGES program at Georgetown. Didn't get into SAIS.

So what should I consider when choosing between Tufts and Georgetown? I'm pretty new to this whole process, so I'm not sure if I know which questions are the right ones to ask. I'm obviously interested in what each school offers academically as well as each school's extracurriculars. Professionally, I'm experienced in the federal government, but I don't have my heart set on it 100%. I'm open to a lot.

[legallyproper]

I'm in at Fletcher. Was also accepted into the MAGES program at Georgetown. Didn't get into SAIS.

So what should I consider when choosing between Tufts and Georgetown? I'm pretty new to this whole process, so I'm not sure if I know which questions are the right ones to ask. I'm obviously interested in what each school offers academically as well as each school's extracurriculars. Professionally, I'm experienced in the federal government, but I don't have my heart set on it 100%. I'm open to a lot.

Which program at Fletcher? MALD? I would say that it depends on the field you want to go into because the Boston and Dc areas are drastically different with what they offer! Also I visited the BMW Center and met with the director and it was a great visit but I understand the pull from both I loved my visit to Fletcher!

[Bob Lynch]

Which program at Fletcher? MALD? I would say that it depends on the field you want to go into because the Boston and Dc areas are drastically different with what they offer! Also I visited the BMW Center and met with the director and it was a great visit but I understand the pull from both I loved my visit to Fletcher!

Yes, MALD.

I already live in DC and work for the federal government, so I understand the type of pull Georgetown has. Fletcher, though, seems more academically driven and, frankly, I wouldn't mind a change in scenery.

Do you know what types of careers MALD best suits its students for? I know Georgetown has a lot of people in the government, NGOs, and private sector.

[ajl]

Yes, MALD.

I already live in DC and work for the federal government, so I understand the type of pull Georgetown has. Fletcher, though, seems more academically driven and, frankly, I wouldn't mind a change in scenery.

Do you know what types of careers MALD best suits its students for? I know Georgetown has a lot of people in the government, NGOs, and private sector.

Fletcher apparently has quite a presence in State, at least:

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2009093067978

The Dong-A Ilbo isn't exactly the NYTimes (even in SK), but it's food for thought.

So far I've only heard about "mafias" at Georgetown and Fletcher. If the tighter alumni base is not just brochure material, then it's really worth mulling over.

As a federal pro in DC, I'm interested in your take on just how important location is. I mean, are people at the best schools really running around with internships during the semester, or is it more normal to focus on great summer gigs?

[legallyproper]

Well honestly Boston is haven for higher education, but majority is non-profits, development, and government. A lot of grads go into private sector too. I loved fletcher my close friend goes there and I stayed a week there and there is nothing negative I can say about fletcher. If it was me I'd choose fletcher!

[Bob Lynch]

As a federal pro in DC, I'm interested in your take on just how important location is. I mean, are people at the best schools really running around with internships during the semester, or is it more normal to focus on great summer gigs?

I'd say it's more normal to focus on great summer gigs, but I know plenty of people who have been able to go to school in DC and snag great internships during the semesters. I know a guy who was in American's SIS who worked part time for a consulting firm, a Congressional committee, and some think tank (I don't know the details) during the two years he was in the program.

During the summer, there are a lot of interns in DC from any school you can imagine, but the folks with the most sought after internships (high profile Senators' offices, Justice Department, State Department, etc) are typically from better schools.

[understatement700]

Is anyone going to the admit day April 8-9? I'm not sure if I can make that yet but will definitely be attending the admit/alumni get-together in DC on March 26. Anyone else attending that?

[rose1]

I already visited fletcher for the evaluative interview and I got into more than one school in DC so that's where I'll be for admit days. Anybody going to Fletcher's that can give us the scoop afterward? Barring tons of funding from SAIS or a surprise admit from SFS, fletcher is looking like my best option

[Bob Lynch]

Is anyone going to the admit day April 8-9? I'm not sure if I can make that yet but will definitely be attending the admit/alumni get-together in DC on March 26. Anyone else attending that?

I'll be there.

[dcenergygirl]

I'll be at the DC event as well - looking forward to seeing you all there!

[Coloradical]

I'd love to hear from an alum or informed resident about IR/Development work in Boston.

As a FSO-hopeful, Fletcher has a strong pull. Like most, I worry about the remote location. My girlfriend and I will be out there together and she's a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who's interested in women's rights, sexual education, and development.

Can anyone speak to what Boston offers any of these fields?

[rose1]

Bump. I'd like to hear what people are thinking about Fletcher since it's still very much in the running for me (I change my mind daily between SFS, SAIS, and Fletcher). The facebook group is very active and diverse and that appeals to me. I loved the person that did my evaluative interview and appreciated that she took the time to e-mail me when I was accepted. I am definitely taking advantage of that $400 travel grant to go to the open house and I think it's neat that I can stay with a current student to really get a feel for what it's like to attend Fletcher.

[dcenergygirl]

Here are what I see as the perks for Fletcher:

• close knit community, collegiate atmosphere where you will be completely removed from the rest of the world and able to focus on both academics and creating life long relationships with your fellow students
  
• very strong diplomatic and academic based curriculum, with the option to get the econ you need, but its not as strong of a focus as it would be at SAIS
  
• they are more generous with fellowships, and there seem to be more opportunities for TA or school related part time jobs than either of your other schools
  
• if you want to do more than just one concentration (in addition to economics) you can more easily pursue that...although I'm not sure this is 100% true, there seems to be a good amount of flexibility among a lot of the programs in the second year of study
  
  The only downsides I see to this school are:
  • If you are not willing to be 100% committed to being THERE, and I don't just mean physically, but mentally and emotionally, you won't be getting the whole experience. If you're going to spend your every free moment running off to NYC or DC you'll be missing out on the glue like bonding that all the alumns rave about.
    
  • I asked a number of Fletcher alumns if they felt their classes helped them in their current jobs (and they all had pretty awesome jobs), and they said no. One said that her thesis helped her with an interview, but basically all the benefit you from classes is "polish." I also applied for a number of MPA/MPP programs, and I'm worried that the Fletcher program may be too academic and lacking the hard skills a policy program would offer.
    

  All that said, I'm still kind of in no man's land as far as decision making goes.

[legallyproper]

Bump. I'd like to hear what people are thinking about Fletcher since it's still very much in the running for me (I change my mind daily between SFS, SAIS, and Fletcher). The facebook group is very active and diverse and that appeals to me. I loved the person that did my evaluative interview and appreciated that she took the time to e-mail me when I was accepted. I am definitely taking advantage of that $400 travel grant to go to the open house and I think it's neat that I can stay with a current student to really get a feel for what it's like to attend Fletcher.

I stayed with 4 current students in a house around the corner from Fletcher when I visited last October. The school is amazing and if you get in early enough on Friday's you'll get to experience their weekly tradition of celebrating a different culture when I was there it was Mexico and there's food, drinks, and everyone mingles in the main hall after all courses/lectures have commenced. Have fun and ask all the questions you have, when you visit is when you get the real experience (especially ask those you are staying with the real deal experience and not the glossed up Admissions team answers- coming from a person who works in Admissions, lol) Good luck!

[Clay Made]

Bump. I'd like to hear what people are thinking about Fletcher since it's still very much in the running for me (I change my mind daily between SFS, SAIS, and Fletcher). The facebook group is very active and diverse and that appeals to me. I loved the person that did my evaluative interview and appreciated that she took the time to e-mail me when I was accepted. I am definitely taking advantage of that $400 travel grant to go to the open house and I think it's neat that I can stay with a current student to really get a feel for what it's like to attend Fletcher.

Didnt see a facebook group. Mind sharing the link?