Denver Korbel vs. American SIS

[shilsey]

Hi, guys-- very conflicted! Factors:

 

1) Denver's offered me $10k a year and American, nothing. Given Denver's higher tuition, this brings the cost of attendance to pretty equal footing, although in Denver I could potentially save a lot more on cost of living.

 

2) I feel like the nature nearby and smaller, quieter location of Denver would make it a better location fit, personally, for me. I love the outdoors and am easily distracted/overwhelmed by city life, and definitely romanticize Denver as a Western city, as someone dying to try out something West of Mississppi. However, you can't beat DC for internships and networking.

 

3) Denver's program seems like the better fit in terms of structure and focus. However, I'd like to work while in school-- probably as a waitress or something, but possibly full-time while taking classes part-time-- which makes Denver's quarter system, while interesting, a bit unappealing.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[ZacharyObama]

I think it depends on what you're trying to do with your degree - are you hoping to work in the US or abroad after getting your degree? What area of international studies are you interested in: business, NGOs, government, development, human rights? While the living aspects are important, I presume you're not going to graduate school to end up working as a waitress full time with an MA in International Studies.

 

I'm not too familiar with the details of these programs - but you probably want to do thorough research on how they meet your academic/professional interests. Also - when is the deadline for decisions? I can't imagine you have too much longer to make a decision - so I would start poring through everything you can find on what courses you will take, who the professors will be, what internship opportunities you will have both during school and during the summer, and the fine details of your plan to pay for your education.