Jackson Institute at Yale - IR

[3eid]

@sietval Keep in mind that Yale is a much much different program. They only accept like 35 students per year. It's almost more of a PhD like program.

To answer your question, I'm sure people get into all those programs and get rejected by Yale.

[sietval]

@3eid, thank you for your comment, and congratulations on getting accepted!!

[xmbeckham]

have people gotten into HKS/WWS/Stanford IPS/SIPA after being rejected by Yale? Those are the only ones I've applied to and now I feel like I'm out at all schools.

hey, same here. But be positive and confident. You'll end up being somewhere.

[IRToni]

I got waitlisted. Too bad, I really liked their program. It was a long shot from the get-go, but we'll see. Not sure if I'm staying on the waitlist or not.

[MYRNIST]

Dinged. Not heartbroken, it was my last choice among all the programs I applied to.

Edited March 13, 2012 by MYRNIST

[xmbeckham]

Dinged. Not heartbroken, it was my last choice among all the programs I applied to.

Why is it your last choice?

[MYRNIST]

Small boutique program, not many security-studies courses (and definitely not a full degree path), very new so not a substantial alumni base, non-DC location. Don't get me wrong, for people with different interests and career goals it could be great - just not a fit for mine.

[piquant777]

I think Yale is great for people who want to go into academia, and pretty much not ideal if you want to do anything else. If you want practitioner skills, Gtown, SAIS or Fletcher would all be far better options. I only applied to show interest in a joint degree there, and the minute I found out I wasn't getting the $100 fee waiver I almost regretted hitting submit (but by that time had already finished the whole app, so it seemed petty...)

[xmbeckham]

I think Yale is great for people who want to go into academia, and pretty much not ideal if you want to do anything else. If you want practitioner skills, Gtown, SAIS or Fletcher would all be far better options. I only applied to show interest in a joint degree there, and the minute I found out I wasn't getting the $100 fee waiver I almost regretted hitting submit (but by that time had already finished the whole app, so it seemed petty...)

Well said. Now I know why I failed. I did state clearly my goal as a practitioner, a diplomat. Yale might thought we won't fit. And i should've too. Didn't do enough research.

[bubblegun]

Rejected as well. To be perfectly honest, I mostly applied because I wanted to see if I could make it. In reality, the program is far too academic for me, so maybe that's a good thing I got dinged after all.

Congrats to all who made the cut!

Edited March 13, 2012 by bubblegun

[IRToni]

The weird thing is: My statement was mainly professional, but I've been thinking of going the academic route more in the last few years. That said, Yale didn't really fit with my research interests and would have just been great for the truly interdisciplinary program it offers. I've got two definite and one likely offer from Europe so far, so getting waitlisted doesn't sting as much. It's just the thought: It was soo close, but not quite close enough. Depending on my other programs, I might stay in Europe for my M.A. (of course, stay is a broad term, considering I'm in Asia at the moment) and go do a PhD state-side, maybe. Or maybe not, everything's open right now. Congrats to those who got in.

[dcenergygirl]

Also dinged...but I was really going for more of a public policy bend, so this wasn't the best fit to begin with. Congrats to those who made the cut.

[Clay Made]

Also rejected. A bit disappointed, as I did like the program but happy to be accepted to a few schools thus far, especially after the nightmare past few weeks. Yale was a long-shot but I really think they ought to expand the program a little to gain a greater respect in the IR community and have a greater diversity.

Congratulations to all those admitted.

[xmbeckham]

Sorry, Clay Made. Agree with you about Yale. Are you ok with your other schools after the ETS nightmare?

I got my finaid package emailed to me since I'm abroad. Full tuition + 20k stipend (I initially misread and thought it was 10k, but it's 10k a SEMESTER). This seems insanely generous, like WWS-level funding. Is this normal for Yale?! Too bad their program isn't up my alley, but all that money really makes you dizzy.

Piquant777, you seem to be a very successful applicant, given the schools you are in. Would you mind sharing your background, stats, etc?

[piquant777]

Sure. I have a 3.6 GPA from a top school and above 96% on all GRE sections. I have 4 years of WE, all in the non-profit sector, 3 years in developing countries. I speak two difficult UN languages fluently in addition to English. I specialize in a kind of obtuse region of the world and many of my college internships, extracurriculars and work experiences have related to advancing my knowledge of the region and language. I'm committed to public service and going back to working in development so I think that shone through in my SOP and recommendations.

If you would like more specific details or feedback on apps (if I can help in any way), feel free to PM me.

[Clay Made]

Sorry, Clay Made. Agree with you about Yale. Are you ok with your other schools after the ETS nightmare?

I got my finaid package emailed to me since I'm abroad. Full tuition + 20k stipend (I initially misread and thought it was 10k, but it's 10k a SEMESTER). This seems insanely generous, like WWS-level funding. Is this normal for Yale?! Too bad their program isn't up my alley, but all that money really makes you dizzy.

Congratulations! I'm not too down about Yale, I'm grateful to have other options. I don't think its too out of character from Yale, a friend of mine is in the program currently and he got similar aid, in addition they mentioned some students (of the higher calibre) get larger aid packages.

Whats the favored program for you? Please reject Fletcher so I can get off the waitlist hehe!

[IRToni]

piquant777: Your profile is awesome. You really deserved all your admits. Do you mind sharing (if not publicly, then by message) the very obtuse region you specialize in?

I think I'll stay on the waitlist, I've heard of some people getting offered funding even after being waitlisted. Plus, I kind of want to know if I could get in. Shallow, I know ;-).

[smilinggirl]

Everyone who is reading this forum for the next cycle... I wanted to clarify some of the things that have been said on here. Based on these comments, I wasn't really leaning towards Yale until I did some research on my own and visited. It's an amazing program, and I chose it over all the other programs I got in to (Kennedy, JH SAIS, Georgetown SSP, SIPA, Tufts, Goldman, IPS). 

 

1. Although the program has a reputation for being highly academic, it's focus has become much more practitioner based. The director said they are specifically looking for those with work experience that shows dedication to public service (and especially in the international realm). 

 

2. A lot of people think because the program is small, you are limited in what you can study. The newest requirements have only three core classes and then you design a concentration on what you want to study. I think this is ideal for those that already know specifically what they want to learn (not necessarily for those looking for a broad overview of IR). Check it out here: http://jackson.yale.edu/ma-program-study

 

I'll be starting in the fall so anyone feel free to message me with questions!

[lbb05]

To those considering the Jackson Institute:

 

I chose Jackson over WWS, SAIS, Georgetown's SFS, and Berkeley's Goldman School. I am now two months into my first semester, and I couldn't be happier about my decision. Given that Jackson is relatively new on the scene and information can be a little difficult to come by, I wanted to share some of the reasons that led me to New Haven.

 

1. The program's flexibility offered a unique opportunity to fully explore my interests. Students are only required to take 3 core courses (Economics, History of the Present, and Applied Quantitative Methods) and fulfill a language proficiency requirement. There are no additional requirements and no cookie-cutter concentrations. Students are encouraged to design and pursue their own concentrations, and it is unbelievably easy to take courses at the professional schools. I'm currently taking "Managing Global Catastrophes" with Jeffrey Garten at the School of Management; as an indicator of the course's caliber, visitors this semester include the UN Assistant Secretary for Disaster Risk Reduction, a former UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, a former Vice President for Disaster Services at the Red Cross, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration, the Executive Vice-President of the IRC, the former President of ABC News, the former Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, and the Executive Director of UNICEF. All that to say, you are encouraged to pursue your interests, regardless of where they lie. Someone told me when I visited that "Yale is your intellectual playground....go out an enjoy it." My experience so far has confirmed this.

 

2. The small size of the program (25-28 students per year) facilitates a remarkable level of interaction with the faculty and senior fellows. I pass Emma Sky in the hallway routinely and she knows my name (I have not yet taken a class with her), and I have met with both Michele Malvesti and Tom Graham to get advice and leads on summer internships. Additionally, the program director, Jim Levinsohn, teaches our core econ class, knows each of us well, and routinely hosts events for us at his home. I can't imagine that I would have had a similar experience anywhere else (certainly not at large programs like SIPA or HKS). By the way, my classmates are insanely talented and experienced. I sincerely believe that the close relationships I have already formed with them will benefit me more in the professional world than casual aquaintances with hundreds of classmates elsewhere.

 

3. The program is unabashedly practitioner-oriented. The MA was recently renamed (IR to Global Affairs), and it reflects a course change from the program's previous academic orientation. Don't let old posts fool you....the Jackson Institute is a professional school. It technically falls under the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, but there is a compelling rationale: this organization makes it MUCH easier to cross-register for classes in other professional schools. For those who are sweating the fact that they won't graduate with an MPP or MPA: stop sweating it. Jackson is already known for its professional focus, just as the MA at SAIS is respected as a professional degree.

 

4. Elizabeth Gill, the Director of Career Services is amazing. She meets with every student routinely, reviews individual resumes and cover letters, offers weekly career advancement seminars, and brings in recruiters from every sector and flavor. I have no doubt that her efforts contributed immeasurably to the 100% employment of the most recent graduating class. I frankly don't know how anyone could leave Jackson without a job. The only program I looked at that had a comparable career services program was WWS.

 

Now for a few concerns that I had prior to visiting the Jackson Institute:

 

5. New Haven. Don't believe all the hype. Yale has invested a lot of money in the New Haven area (this hasn't always been the case), and the city's reputation for crime is largely a thing of the past. There are areas to avoid, just as there are in any other city. If you happen to choose an apartment in or past such an area, Yale has a shuttle that will actually drop you off at your residence so you don't have to bike/walk in the dark. On a separate note, the food/entertainment scene in New Haven is great.....make sure you check it out during your visit.

 

6. The Jackson MA isn't ranked. I spent a lot of time agonizing over the fact that the program wasn't ranked by USN&WR or FP's Ivory Tower. Again, don't sweat it. The program is new, and everyone I consulted before making my decision (to include graduates of competitor programs) was convinced that it wouldn't be long before it's competing with the best. FP currently ranks Yale's undergrad IR program at #6 and its Ph.D. program at #5. I would expect Jackson to show up with a similar ranking in the Master's category in the near future.

 

In closing, I strongly encourage you to come visit. I was deeply conflicted before I made the trip, and I wasn't when I left. If anyone has additional questions, feel free to message me or post your questions in this forum. I will try to check both periodically. Good luck!

[UrbanMidwest]

To those considering the Jackson Institute:

 

I chose Jackson over WWS, SAIS, Georgetown's SFS, and Berkeley's Goldman School. I am now two months into my first semester, and I couldn't be happier about my decision. Given that Jackson is relatively new on the scene and information can be a little difficult to come by, I wanted to share some of the reasons that led me to New Haven.

 

1. The program's flexibility offered a unique opportunity to fully explore my interests. Students are only required to take 3 core courses (Economics, History of the Present, and Applied Quantitative Methods) and fulfill a language proficiency requirement. There are no additional requirements and no cookie-cutter concentrations. Students are encouraged to design and pursue their own concentrations, and it is unbelievably easy to take courses at the professional schools. I'm currently taking "Managing Global Catastrophes" with Jeffrey Garten at the School of Management; as an indicator of the course's caliber, visitors this semester include the UN Assistant Secretary for Disaster Risk Reduction, a former UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, a former Vice President for Disaster Services at the Red Cross, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration, the Executive Vice-President of the IRC, the former President of ABC News, the former Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, and the Executive Director of UNICEF. All that to say, you are encouraged to pursue your interests, regardless of where they lie. Someone told me when I visited that "Yale is your intellectual playground....go out an enjoy it." My experience so far has confirmed this.

I want to bump this thread because I might be applying to Yale's join degree program SOM/MA, Jackson Institute (JI) of Global Affairs. One thing that is making me reject this idea is because I want to concentrate on domestic policy. The big red flag, from my observation and research, is that the tone & atmosphere of the program and all of the proposed concentrations and coursework are geared towards international thought. I fear the "design and pursue their own concentrations" doesn't include domestic policy (which I find absolutely strange) like, say, Princeton's Woodrow Wilson MPA program. I think, if I apply to the joint degree, I wouldn't be a good fit since I reviewed the JI's curriculum and it's practically devoid of such classes that would be found aiding a domestic concentration. I could be wrong, though.

I am aware of a Yale SOM student getting special permission to have a joint degree with Princeton's Woodrow Wilson MA program, so such cases can be done, but I don't think I'll be the "second" exception (her being the first). It's a rare case. But then again, I might try my luck because WW practically gives full funding to all admits as opposed to Yale's JI where loans are probably the norm. I'm not willing to go into serious debt for an MPA when the sector doesn't pay that well to begin with. I may just attain an MBA then a few years down the line apply to Princeton's WW as an MPP candidate for mid-career, or look at other programs that are joint whose MPA/MPP program supports domestic concentrations.

Edited October 29, 2015 by UrbanMidwest