International Development Applicants 2014/15 for SOAS, IHEID, LSE or Sciences Po?

[mickun88]

Sure. I will save a place for you two. By the way, I will also travel to Ushuaia, the so called southernmost city in the world or the end of the world at the last week of March. If I do not like Mendoza, I might move there and live in solitude with penguins and glaciers.   

 

 

Dont know how many of you have heard of the German Development Agency (GIZ). it seems that their work is quite diverse, and most important, foreigners can also work for them. Hertie School of Governance has a very close link with them and they can secure paid internship or a professional year at the GIZ for their students. 

 

Now, Hertie sounds quite good to me as my dream job is to work at a place like GIZ. German beers and susages are an other big plus, of course. The Poor (ugly) but Sexy Berlin is also very attractive.  

[SiSi26]

Sure. I will save a place for you two. By the way, I will also travel to Ushuaia, the so called southernmost city in the world or the end of the world at the last week of March. If I do not like Mendoza, I might move there and live in solitude with penguins and glaciers.   

 

 

Dont know how many of you have heard of the German Development Agency (GIZ). it seems that their work is quite diverse, and most important, foreigners can also work for them. Hertie School of Governance has a very close link with them and they can secure paid internship or a professional year at the GIZ for their students. 

 

Now, Hertie sounds quite good to me as my dream job is to work at a place like GIZ. German beers and susages are an other big plus, of course. The Poor (ugly) but Sexy Berlin is also very attractive.  

Worked alongside GIZ in Ghana - some of the work they do in agriculture development is good, but nothing very new / innovative. That is the consequence of working for government donor agencies. Usually not very critical and often reinventing the wheel. Not to mention all of the politics you need to deal with.

[mickun88]

Worked alongside GIZ in Ghana - some of the work they do in agriculture development is good, but nothing very new / innovative. That is the consequence of working for government donor agencies. Usually not very critical and often reinventing the wheel. Not to mention all of the politics you need to deal with.

 

It is true in many large organizations. It is all about politics. 

 

I once talked to a senior manager of a large international NGO in Hong Kong. He told me the same thing. You spend way more time on politics and red tape than really doing real things. 

 

But sadly, it seems that politics is everywhere. 

I took part in an investigation project about the life of teenagers in urban slums, organized by a large regional NGO (with a lot of influence) and UNICEF. We compiled the information and the report was ready. But we could not publish it because the general elections were approaching. If we released the report, the opposition would use this to attack the government  which indeed happened a few years ago. The government would then cut or make the cooperation with the NGO more difficult. So we had no choice but to release the report one month after the general elections. 

 

You will have more liberty working for small and very local NGOs. Your projects and iniciatives are usually more innovative and can respond to the needs of the people correctly and promptly. But your biggest problem is resources. During my volunteer experience in Peru, i had all the autonomy to do what I wanted to do. But obtaining enough resources was hard. 

 

It depends on what you want to achieve and do. 

[Katrun]

That's exactly the experience I am having now. I am working for a very small NGO that has its hands in a lot of pots so to speak, so there is plenty to do and I have the freedom to do whatever I want, but I don't even know where to start. There are so many needs and such limited resources. Hopefully I will gain some much needed insight and direction in the next couple months.

 

After this internship I will be in definite need of some Argentinean wine considering I am not allowed to drink during my time here!

[k_angie]

I am glad I could help. You are totally right about the funding at IDS it is a bad situation. BUT I did end up making enough money at the school by working in research for them to cover my tuition. So in a way I feel like I got a 10,000 pound RAship you know? But this is not guaranteed or anything.

Good luck I hope you get the funding.

 

Thank you good luck to you too.

 

Hey 

This information might not be useful for those who have already been admitted to Sciecnes Po. It might serve future applicants.

 

It is true that admissible is not equivalent to admission and will also be turned down at the later stage. However, the admissible mail means more than that you had submitted all the papers. 

 

I got a reply from SciencesPo :

 

You were sent an email yesterday confirming your pre-selection. 

 

 

You will now pass to the admission board who will announce a decision early March.

 

Also besides admissible, there is Admis which means admission. I forgot where I read it. But for undergraduate application in 2012, the admissible rate is 4X% and the admis is 3X%. There was a difference of 10 percentage points. 

 

 

So now more waiting. At least I know they are going to inform me in March, the same time as IHEID and Oxford. I am going to Mendoza, Argentina, a wine producing region in early March. If I am rejected by these three schools, I will get very drunk and stay there forever to produce my own wines. 

  

Sure. I will save a place for you two. By the way, I will also travel to Ushuaia, the so called southernmost city in the world or the end of the world at the last week of March. If I do not like Mendoza, I might move there and live in solitude with penguins and glaciers.   

 

 

Dont know how many of you have heard of the German Development Agency (GIZ). it seems that their work is quite diverse, and most important, foreigners can also work for them. Hertie School of Governance has a very close link with them and they can secure paid internship or a professional year at the GIZ for their students. 

 

Now, Hertie sounds quite good to me as my dream job is to work at a place like GIZ. German beers and susages are an other big plus, of course. The Poor (ugly) but Sexy Berlin is also very attractive.

  

It is true in many large organizations. It is all about politics. 

 

I once talked to a senior manager of a large international NGO in Hong Kong. He told me the same thing. You spend way more time on politics and red tape than really doing real things. 

 

But sadly, it seems that politics is everywhere. 

I took part in an investigation project about the life of teenagers in urban slums, organized by a large regional NGO (with a lot of influence) and UNICEF. We compiled the information and the report was ready. But we could not publish it because the general elections were approaching. If we released the report, the opposition would use this to attack the government  which indeed happened a few years ago. The government would then cut or make the cooperation with the NGO more difficult. So we had no choice but to release the report one month after the general elections. 

 

You will have more liberty working for small and very local NGOs. Your projects and iniciatives are usually more innovative and can respond to the needs of the people correctly and promptly. But your biggest problem is resources. During my volunteer experience in Peru, i had all the autonomy to do what I wanted to do. But obtaining enough resources was hard. 

 

It depends on what you want to achieve and do.

  

That's exactly the experience I am having now. I am working for a very small NGO that has its hands in a lot of pots so to speak, so there is plenty to do and I have the freedom to do whatever I want, but I don't even know where to start. There are so many needs and such limited resources. Hopefully I will gain some much needed insight and direction in the next couple months.

 

After this internship I will be in definite need of some Argentinean wine considering I am not allowed to drink during my time here!

Shit you guys are doing such cool stuff and here I m home doing nothing but waiting for scholarships. Sigh. Not a good feeling.

Mic, the Wine plan is amazing, I have never ever tasted wine let alone gone to a vineyard but anyway I would love hop on the plan ASAP I can find money to go to Latin America!

[Bonafide]

Hi Bonafide

 

Though I haven't applied to Sciences Po, in my application to IDS I provided only one academic reference. As with you I graduated 5 years back and getting one academic reference was all I could manage. Additionally I provided 2 professional references as well. So I don't think not having 2 academic references would make your application incomplete. But yeah you need to get that one academic reference in place. 

 

Good luck and hope your professor wakes up soon!

 

 

Well like both of you I graduated years ago but thankfully I still live in the same city where my university is located so I was able to get in touch with my old professors and by some miracle both of them remembered me and were happy to write me a recommendation.

 

When I applied to Sciences Po last November, I did provide 2 academic references but I also added like you a professional one because I felt that it reflects more my abilities today and the skills I have acquired since college years ago. My professional reference was able to highlight things about me an academic wouldn't be able to say from being in their class years ago a couple hours a week vs someone I worked for during several years. I do feel that the professional reference in my case gave me an edge and really helped me get accepted into Dev Practice. But thing is I did provide the 2 academic ones as well so I can't say for sure that the professional one could replace academics vouching for my ability to thrive in a classroom.

It can certainly give you an edge but I doubt it can replace it except when like us you've been out of undergrad for several years. Grad schools usually do make exceptions for students who have been out of schools for 5+ years to provide just one academic reference instead of 2. Do try to get that one submitted! You don't want that to be the reason to compromise your chances for admission it would be too bad.

 

Ok my I probably am treading on fine line with Sciences Po. My professor wrote to me saying the deadline was April 3 for him so he hasn't submitted his reference yet. Now while this exchange of information came along, the Sciences Po admissions team wrote to me saying my application was complete - they attached the scan of a generic/ not personalised recommendation letter by both the academic and professional referee that I supplied as a stand-by. Now I heard that Sciences Po referee have to answer 6 questions and not just attach their letter in pdf format. 

Does this sound like a big problem?

[mych]

Ok my I probably am treading on fine line with Sciences Po. My professor wrote to me saying the deadline was April 3 for him so he hasn't submitted his reference yet. Now while this exchange of information came along, the Sciences Po admissions team wrote to me saying my application was complete - they attached the scan of a generic/ not personalised recommendation letter by both the academic and professional referee that I supplied as a stand-by. Now I heard that Sciences Po referee have to answer 6 questions and not just attach their letter in pdf format. 

Does this sound like a big problem?

 

Crud. I didn't know it was a 6-question system either. One of the academic referees I submitted has never been extremely close to me - I wonder how he completed it. I hope that won't end up counting against me.

 

I would double check with Sciences Po, perhaps call and explain. According to their website, "Graduate and dual degree programmes require two academic references (professional references are optional and do not replace academic references)." Source: http://www.sciencespo.fr/admissions/en/graduate-international-references

 

On a somewhat related note, how do you find your correspondence with Sciences Po? They always reply to my questions in French even though I ask them in English. I would be quite lost without Google Translate.

[k_angie]

Well not every referee has to answer those 6 questions thing. 2 of my referees just uploaded their references on the letter head of the institution and signed them. While one of my referee couldn't upload hers so she was asked to submit the 6 questions thing.

Anyway ScPo's always send me their mails in both French and English.

[alchyna]

Sciences Po always replies to me in English but the mass admission emails they send are both in French and English. I am a native french speaker so if anyone ever needs a correspondence with them translated, don't hesitate to ask cuz google translate is a scary thing lol

I did get a reply from them regarding the February 21st deadline to accept their offer issue I had. They said to disregard this email and that I can wait until I get a decision from their AFd scholarship in April to decide.

In other news I finally heard back from LSE today! Unconditional offer in Development Management and they are even giving me money! I heard so many times how tight they are on their purse strings so I was so reasonable with the question "what is the minimum amout you need to take your place at LSE?" And now I'm like shoot I should have asked for more because that is exactly what they gave me.

[arbitist]

Sciences Po always replies to me in English but the mass admission emails they send are both in French and English. I am a native french speaker so if anyone ever needs a correspondence with them translated, don't hesitate to ask cuz google translate is a scary thing lol

I did get a reply from them regarding the February 21st deadline to accept their offer issue I had. They said to disregard this email and that I can wait until I get a decision from their AFd scholarship in April to decide.

In other news I finally heard back from LSE today! Unconditional offer in Development Management and they are even giving me money! I heard so many times how tight they are on their purse strings so I was so reasonable with the question "what is the minimum amout you need to take your place at LSE?" And now I'm like shoot I should have asked for more because that is exactly what they gave me.

 

Congrats on the offer from LSE! I'm waiting like a mad person. When had you applied? i was really lazy and applied right on deadline on the 10th of Jan. 

[alchyna]

Thank you arbitist! I applied everywhere pretty early in mid November so it was about time! What program did you apply to at LSE?

[arbitist]

I've applied for MPA International Development. They said they'll take 8 weeks, and its barely been 6 so i should really just wait.

[mych]

In other news I finally heard back from LSE today! Unconditional offer in Development Management and they are even giving me money! I heard so many times how tight they are on their purse strings so I was so reasonable with the question "what is the minimum amout you need to take your place at LSE?" And now I'm like shoot I should have asked for more because that is exactly what they gave me.

 

Congratulations alchyna! That's fantastic news!

Which programme would you favour if you were also to receive funding from ScPo?

[alchyna]

I've applied for MPA International Development. They said they'll take 8 weeks, and its barely been 6 so i should really just wait.

You know I hesitated for a long time between the MPA ID and the Dev Management programs but then all the math and theory in the MPA curriculum put me off, and it was more expensive too. Be patient I was going on week 11 counting the holidays and I was going crazy! I was going to call them today and checked my email and there was the admission decision. Good luck!

[alchyna]

Congratulations alchyna! That's fantastic news!

Which programme would you favour if you were also to receive funding from ScPo?

Thank you mych!

I never thought I'd have that many options and now I am so torn! LSE is world renowned but dev is not their specialty so the program is alright. I like Sciences Po's curriculum much more and tuition is cheaper so if their funding is better I would lean towards Paris. But I mean it's LSE... If I want to come back to the US an LSE degree is more impressive.

Thoughs?

[arbitist]

You know I hesitated for a long time between the MPA ID and the Dev Management programs but then all the math and theory in the MPA curriculum put me off, and it was more expensive too. Be patient I was going on week 11 counting the holidays and I was going crazy! I was going to call them today and checked my email and there was the admission decision. Good luck!

 

Haha, that's great. I hope we all have happy stories to share soon Also, if you don't mind telling us, how much aid did they give? I've asked for quite a bit! 

[k_angie]

Thank you mych!

I never thought I'd have that many options and now I am so torn! LSE is world renowned but dev is not their specialty so the program is alright. I like Sciences Po's curriculum much more and tuition is cheaper so if their funding is better I would lean towards Paris. But I mean it's LSE... If I want to come back to the US an LSE degree is more impressive.

Thoughs?

There is a forum on gradcafe where a person has started a thread on the credibility of a ScPo degree in the US. you should check that out.

Plus you know I m not an LSE fan and I would love to have you in Paris so well ScPo it is. Though no pressure.

[alchyna]

I don't mind sharing at all, LSE is giving me £6,500 which is not bad but 1 year tuition is about £17,000 so I feel like I could have asked for way more but I figured being greedy would look bad when I was filling out the Graduate Scheme application and would reduce my chances of getting anything at all.

Angie what thread is it? Can you give me the link of the Sciences Po/LSE thread you are talking about? And besides I might join you in Paris if the scholarship offer is higher! At the end of the day I will follow the money.

Edited February 18, 2014 by alchyna

[k_angie]

Okay i am posting few links that I have found across google with the whole ScPo vs LSE.

http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/choosing-university/lse-or-sciences-po

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/179503-sciences-po-paris-vs-lse-help.html

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=196145

http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/131244-decision-tse-pse-sciences-po-polytechnique-oxford-geneva.html

[alchyna]

Okay i am posting few links that I have found across google with the whole ScPo vs LSE.

http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/choosing-university/lse-or-sciences-po

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/179503-sciences-po-paris-vs-lse-help.html

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=196145

http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/131244-decision-tse-pse-sciences-po-polytechnique-oxford-geneva.html

 

Cool thanks Angie! I will check those out.

I came across this thread, those who are interested in Sciences Po please read the last 2 posts of the thread it's very interesting and a bit scary what posters who attended PSIA have to say...

 

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/689132-lse-versus-sciences-po-help-me-p2.html

Edited February 18, 2014 by alchyna

[mych]

I came across this thread, those who are interested in Sciences Po please read the last 2 posts of the thread it's very interesting and a bit scary what posters who attended PSIA have to say...

 

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/689132-lse-versus-sciences-po-help-me-p2.html

 

Wow. That sounds absolutely horrendous - I do hope it's an isolated case. Sciences Po is my second choice between IHEID and Uv Amsterdam, but I may have to reconsider if it turns out that what enviropol describes is pervasive throughout the PSIA. Guess some digging's called for.

[alchyna]

 I went to a french high school and what enviropol says about grading is absolutely right "Grades are completely arbitrary. By this I mean, rubrics are RARELY used and professors rarely have to explain their grading system outside of just "this is a __/20 because it just is.."Coming from any university outside of the French system, this may be a shock for you" 

 

I remember getting a 15/20 was a miracle already let alone 20/20 which rarely happened to even the best students (except in subjects like math and sciences where you are either right or wrong).

 

As for the rest I don't know if it is entirely true, we should take what one person says with a grain of salt. I'm sure LSE, IHEID  and every other school have students who have lots to say about the programs as well. Not everyone will love every aspect of it. Some students will say how great Sciences Po is and others will tell us how horrendous the school is and  there is always room for improvement.

 

Let me know if anyone can dig up more info on Sciences Po/LSE, it's certainly helpful to make choices with eyes wide open. I'm curious about IHEID most of all actually because there is not much out there about it.

[arbitist]

I don't mind sharing at all, LSE is giving me £6,500 which is not bad but 1 year tuition is about £17,000 so I feel like I could have asked for way more but I figured being greedy would look bad when I was filling out the Graduate Scheme application and would reduce my chances of getting anything at all.

Angie what thread is it? Can you give me the link of the Sciences Po/LSE thread you are talking about? And besides I might join you in Paris if the scholarship offer is higher! At the end of the day I will follow the money.

 

Wow that's great! 

 

Also, do any of you know if we'll hear about the scholarship from Graduate Institute at the same time as the admission decsion? 

[k_angie]

Wow that's great! 

 

Also, do any of you know if we'll hear about the scholarship from Graduate Institute at the same time as the admission decsion? 

 

yes we shall. 

[mych]

In case anyone is interested, I've just stumbled across a document from the IHEID Student Association detailing how they determine scholarship awards: http://mygisa.ch/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Scholarship-Allocation-Process-IHEID.pdf

 

 

 I went to a french high school and what enviropol says about grading is absolutely right "Grades are completely arbitrary. By this I mean, rubrics are RARELY used and professors rarely have to explain their grading system outside of just "this is a __/20 because it just is.."Coming from any university outside of the French system, this may be a shock for you" 

 

I remember getting a 15/20 was a miracle already let alone 20/20 which rarely happened to even the best students (except in subjects like math and sciences where you are either right or wrong).

 

As for the rest I don't know if it is entirely true, we should take what one person says with a grain of salt. I'm sure LSE, IHEID  and every other school have students who have lots to say about the programs as well. Not everyone will love every aspect of it. Some students will say how great Sciences Po is and others will tell us how horrendous the school is and  there is always room for improvement.

 

Let me know if anyone can dig up more info on Sciences Po/LSE, it's certainly helpful to make choices with eyes wide open. I'm curious about IHEID most of all actually because there is not much out there about it.

 

I suppose you're right. The Swiss system is the same in that it's extremely difficult to get a 6.0 in qualitative subjects, and while that's recognised locally it can sometimes be difficult to explain this to people unfamiliar with the system. I've also been struggling to find very much on IHEID; would love to hear more.

Edited February 19, 2014 by mych