Deferring for a year to apply to funding vs. taking offer from other school

[IRToni]

Hi!

So, I've so far gotten admitted to the Graduate Institute of Geneva and SAIS. While the Graduate Institute of Geneva would be completely free, I only received a 20K fellowship from SAIS, so I'd have to take out 40.000 $ in loans a year (for a total of 80.000 $ or so). SAIS is my dream school. I'm interested in International Political Economy and China, for which SAIS is also hands down the better place. However, the Grad Institute of Geneva is great for International Political Economy and I might be able to go to Fletcher for Exchange, which would enable me to get around some of the more boring courses and get my China input. In addition, it would be free.

I'm still waiting to hear from a couple of other places, but so far I'm thinking about deferring for a year, working or studying a language or something and then applying for funding. I wasn't able to do that this year because I'm not in my home country and fellowships there all require face2face interviews.

Would I be crazy to hope for fellowship support next year and look around for something new to do for a year if I have a perfectly viable offer already on the table? What happens if I don't get a fellowship next year? How does SAIS compare to the Grad Institute of Geneva?

I've also been thinking of trying to make it work this year and looking around for on-campus employment and additional resources once I'm there, I've heard of people that have done so succesfully, but if it doesn't work out, I'm going to be indebted with 80.000 $, that's not peanuts.

If anyone could help me weight my options, that would be super great...

Thanks in advance.

[Clay Made]

Considering doing the very same thing. Its funny, it was almost unthinkable at the beginning of the cycle but here I am now. In addition, I recently found out I have a great job to fall back onto, so the decision is seeming easier and easier.

The only issue is; I'm quite desperate to go this year! Wow, its going a tough few weeks.

Personally, with your situation, I would take Geneva. Being debt free is a huge accomplishment coming out of graduate school. And you're right that Fletcher will augment any discrepancies in your education at Geneva.

[myacu]

I am in a similar position. I've been accepted into Georgetown MSFS and SAIS, both are dream schools. I'm currently teaching English in Korea and am considering deferring for one year. Primarily, another year would offer me the opportunity to save up some more money, apply for fellowships. Moreover, I plan on continuing language study because I would like to take my proficiency exam in Korean. Does anyone have any idea of deferrals are only granted on rare occasions or are they pretty regular, so long as you have a legitimate reason for deferring? Obvious I wouldnt' use "saving money" as an excuse but would spending more time abroad, particularly when East Asia will by my area of concentration be regarded as a credible reason for deferring?

[IRToni]

Which school would you prefer? SAIS or Georgetown?