Georgetown Global Human Development Program

[Expedia]

It's about time we get decision for Georgetown GHD. Previous years the results came out between last week of Feb to first week of March. So, best of luck to everyone who applied.

[NRG_]

Can applicants from previous years speak to whether or not getting those personalized emails from directors led to acceptances with funding? 

[Expedia]

Just received email that I was accepted and have been recommended for external scholarship. Hopefully scholarship aspect works out as being from a developing country, I cannot really afford paying much.

[kasbah]

15 minutes ago, Expedia said:

Just received email that I was accepted and have been recommended for external scholarship. Hopefully scholarship aspect works out as being from a developing country, I cannot really afford paying much.

Way to go! I hope you get the scholarship!

[bgreenster]

On 3/2/2016 at 11:28 AM, isabellewright said:

Can applicants from previous years speak to whether or not getting those personalized emails from directors led to acceptances with funding? 

I think this may be a newer thing, as I don't remember getting a personalized email (other than the one asking to set up a Skype chat). Sorry not to have much info, but hopefully you'll hear from them soon!

[beefmaster]

Accepted. Unfortunately funding is too small for me to attend. Big shame as I was very interested in the program.

[NRG_]

In with a 75% scholarship! Still waiting to hear from other schools, but incredibly thankful and excited! 

[Expedia]

1 hour ago, isabellewright said:

In with a 75% scholarship! Still waiting to hear from other schools, but incredibly thankful and excited! 

Congratulations isabellewright. I received the news through email from Professor Steven Radelet which was really personal and had references to my SOP. By any chance did the email mention any other "external scholarships" that you were recommended for? I was "nominated" for an external scholarship and was awarded 50% scholarship just incase I do not get the other scholarship. I am a bit confused about the external scholarship part.  

[NRG_]

On 3/4/2016 at 4:06 PM, Expedia said:

Congratulations isabellewright. I received the news through email from Professor Steven Radelet which was really personal and had references to my SOP. By any chance did the email mention any other "external scholarships" that you were recommended for? I was "nominated" for an external scholarship and was awarded 50% scholarship just incase I do not get the other scholarship. I am a bit confused about the external scholarship part.  

Congratulations too! I received the same email but no, there was no mention of external scholarships...they probably were just hoping to give you more funding but couldn't so wanted to provide other resource opportunities. I think if you were recommended for it, you should definitely apply! More money is always better...no matter which scholarship it comes from! 

[Expedia]

Thanks and best of luck with your other applications.

[chimmu1141]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone was able to attend the Admitted Day today at GHD? If you were, it would be incredibly helpful if you wouldn't mind sharing some of your thoughts/notes of the Admitted Day. I am an admitted international student and unfortunately could not attend the Admitted Day so any insights would be much appreciated! 

Many thanks! 

[Expedia]

13 hours ago, chimmu1141 said:

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone was able to attend the Admitted Day today at GHD? If you were, it would be incredibly helpful if you wouldn't mind sharing some of your thoughts/notes of the Admitted Day. I am an admitted international student and unfortunately could not attend the Admitted Day so any insights would be much appreciated! 

Many thanks! 

The open house was great and all the professors were obviously very accomplished in their respective field. The cohort is very small and people seem to know each other very well. Needless to say program is very good. However, what was offsetting to me was that a lot of students had chosen private clients for their capstone and connection to reputed international development organizations seem to be developing gradually but not fully yet (maybe due to it being a new program??). I am very conflicted as living cost at D.C. is very high compared to Syracuse where I got a better offer.

[chimmu1141]

10 hours ago, Expedia said:

The open house was great and all the professors were obviously very accomplished in their respective field. The cohort is very small and people seem to know each other very well. Needless to say program is very good. However, what was offsetting to me was that a lot of students had chosen private clients for their capstone and connection to reputed international development organizations seem to be developing gradually but not fully yet (maybe due to it being a new program??). I am very conflicted as living cost at D.C. is very high compared to Syracuse where I got a better offer.

Many thanks, Expedia, for sharing your thoughts. I think they cancelled one capstone session which had more students working for non-profits and multilateral (I attended the capstone session since it was available virtually) but it does seem like Georgetown SFS is very connected to the private sector, as according to their employment statistics last year, I think 30 - 40% are employed in the private sector. For multilateral, it was only like 5%. But perhaps there are just more jobs with private contractors around D.C. 

I agree that the cost of living in D.C is so high. Did they say anything about opportunities for working on campus, paid internship, etc.? This might help to offset the living cost a little. 

[wheretonext]

I didn't go to admitted students day, but I think what you are seeing is that the GHD program has a strong orientation towards USAID and its partners. Many of the faculty come from the AID world (including the most recent former administrator) and/or the "beltway bandits". When you look at the courses that are offered as well, they seemed to be designed to set up students with a skillset to implement or manage donor projects (Chief of Party/Office Director type positions). I think that the real connection is not so much a private sector connection as it is a USAID-and-its-partners connection. Unless you are planning on becoming senior management at one of these partner organizations (and why would you ever want that...all of the fun is out in the field) the difference between a "private sector" contractor and a non-profit partner will be pretty much the same. Several of the larger contractors even have associated non-profit institutes so that they can compete for the entire spectrum of funding opportunities.

[Expedia]

 

7 hours ago, wheretonext said:

I didn't go to admitted students day, but I think what you are seeing is that the GHD program has a strong orientation towards USAID and its partners. Many of the faculty come from the AID world (including the most recent former administrator) and/or the "beltway bandits". When you look at the courses that are offered as well, they seemed to be designed to set up students with a skillset to implement or manage donor projects (Chief of Party/Office Director type positions).

This is absolutely true. The faculty seem to have immense connection to USAID and its partners. As an international student myself, unfortunately I will be ineligible to work in a lot of their positions. The program itself has huge focus towards field experiences which is somewhat different from other programs.

9 hours ago, chimmu1141 said:

Many thanks, Expedia, for sharing your thoughts. I think they cancelled one capstone session which had more students working for non-profits and multilateral (I attended the capstone session since it was available virtually) but it does seem like Georgetown SFS is very connected to the private sector, as according to their employment statistics last year, I think 30 - 40% are employed in the private sector. For multilateral, it was only like 5%. But perhaps there are just more jobs with private contractors around D.C. 

I agree that the cost of living in D.C is so high. Did they say anything about opportunities for working on campus, paid internship, etc.? This might help to offset the living cost a little. 

As an international student myself, I was asking students on how they manage high living cost in D.C. Some of them have paid internships, which I would not be allowed to do as I am not sure GU allows internships under CPT/OPT. Working during summer is not an option as we are required an international internship experience. I am planning to take a loan to fund remaining cost which I am sure is well worth it but I am conflicted to do so due to me being an international student and that I might have to leave the country after one year of graduation due to immigration rules.  

[NRG_]

14 minutes ago, Expedia said:

 

This is absolutely true. The faculty seem to have immense connection to USAID and its partners. As an international student myself, unfortunately I will be ineligible to work in a lot of their positions. The program itself has huge focus towards field experiences which is somewhat different from other programs.

As an international student myself, I was asking students on how they manage high living cost in D.C. Some of them have paid internships, which I would not be allowed to do as I am not sure GU allows internships under CPT/OPT. Working during summer is not an option as we are required an international internship experience. I am planning to take a loan to fund remaining cost which I am sure is well worth it but I am conflicted to do so due to me being an international student and that I might have to leave the country after one year of graduation due to immigration rules.  

They also have a HUGE network at the Bank (most of the professors have come from/still work there).  As a foreign national, you can work on a G visa. 

[Expedia]

1 hour ago, isabellewright said:

They also have a HUGE network at the Bank (most of the professors have come from/still work there).  As a foreign national, you can work on a G visa. 

That will be another plus for me about the program. Managing my finances is the biggest concern but I think it I can do it.

[chimmu1141]

On 3/31/2016 at 0:21 AM, Expedia said:

The open house was great and all the professors were obviously very accomplished in their respective field. The cohort is very small and people seem to know each other very well. Needless to say program is very good. However, what was offsetting to me was that a lot of students had chosen private clients for their capstone and connection to reputed international development organizations seem to be developing gradually but not fully yet (maybe due to it being a new program??). I am very conflicted as living cost at D.C. is very high compared to Syracuse where I got a better offer.

Hi Expedia, I forgot to ask, did they talk about the specializations at all? I have heard from several people that while the core classes are really great, some of the specialization classes are not as great as they expected. And they didn't feel like there were enough time/courses to develop technical specialization. 

[Expedia]

8 hours ago, chimmu1141 said:

Hi Expedia, I forgot to ask, did they talk about the specializations at all? I have heard from several people that while the core classes are really great, some of the specialization classes are not as great as they expected. And they didn't feel like there were enough time/courses to develop technical specialization. 

If I remember correctly and I hope currents students can chip into this topic, there does not seem to be organized predesignated specializations. Students will have to choose a field per se through the electives and the capstone project. Regarding technical specialization however, the program is fairly quantitative and has workshops to polish your STATA skills. I hope there will be ample opportunities to hone skills in these tools and apply them in capstone project.

[chimmu1141]

On 4/4/2016 at 6:42 AM, Expedia said:

If I remember correctly and I hope currents students can chip into this topic, there does not seem to be organized predesignated specializations. Students will have to choose a field per se through the electives and the capstone project. Regarding technical specialization however, the program is fairly quantitative and has workshops to polish your STATA skills. I hope there will be ample opportunities to hone skills in these tools and apply them in capstone project.

Thanks, Expedia! My only qualm with the program is that the Education & Human Capital specialization within the degree is not very strong (this is my area of interest within development). Students told me there are not enough classes and the ones that are available are kinda disappointing. I am choosing between this program and an International Education program. 

Did you enjoy meeting fellow admitted students? Has the open house swayed your decision one way or another? 

Edited April 6, 2016 by chimmu1141

[Expedia]

22 hours ago, chimmu1141 said:

Thanks, Expedia! My only qualm with the program is that the Education & Human Capital specialization within the degree is not very strong (this is my area of interest within development). Students told me there are not enough classes and the ones that are available are kinda disappointing. I am choosing between this program and an International Education program. 

Did you enjoy meeting fellow admitted students? Has the open house swayed your decision one way or another? 

This is the only open house I could attend and I am currently deciding between Economics PhD at AU, Maxwell, and this program. The open house was great for sure (and as expected as well). I am international student who went to a very small unknown undergraduate college here at U.S. and I was able to find really good opportunities even through small connection of my college. So, I am sure any of these program is going to be huge huge boost to my career potentials. Now, all depends on financial aspect of things and as an international student I do not qualify for several grants and loans. So, sadly I might have to make my decision heavily weighted on finances. 

[NRG_]

14 hours ago, Expedia said:

This is the only open house I could attend and I am currently deciding between Economics PhD at AU, Maxwell, and this program. The open house was great for sure (and as expected as well). I am international student who went to a very small unknown undergraduate college here at U.S. and I was able to find really good opportunities even through small connection of my college. So, I am sure any of these program is going to be huge huge boost to my career potentials. Now, all depends on financial aspect of things and as an international student I do not qualify for several grants and loans. So, sadly I might have to make my decision heavily weighted on finances. 

 Hi Expedia, thanks for sharing. Could you give your thoughts on your impressions of the current students and the faculty?

[Expedia]

I was very impressed by all the members of faculty as they had immense international experience and knowledge of how international aid process works (especially Professor Radelet and Professor Rajiv Shah). However, to be be honest I did not have as much interactions with current students to deduce overall dynamics of the group. 

[wheretonext]

Just accepted my offer.

I was sold on (more or less in order): 1. Practical rather than theoretical emphasis of the courses offered, 2. Focus on gaining experience working with development organizations in addition to classroom learning, 3. Cohort size/makeup (it feels like a mid-career program without having to wait 7-8 years)

[Expedia]

Hi Everyone, I forgot to mention that I accepted the offer last week. The department was kind enough to increase my funding and I think it will be a great experience that I won't have much financial pressure. I was definitely sold on the quality of faculty and it being on D.C. I have been searching for housing recently and would love everyone's insight on it. During my visit, I was told by a student that it would be best if possible to find a place nearby since there is so much going on in D.C. and that even Alexandria would be kind of far from that. What are your thoughts on this. Any suggestions and tips would be highly appreciated. Thanks to all of you folks for great insights and discussions throughout this application cycle.