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

[Katrun]

So I read what the other forum had to say about Sciences PO. All I could think was wow that is exactly what my experience studying in Lausanne, Switzerland was like. I too lived in France for a while and then I spent a year in a very similar system in Switzerland. I have many friends at many schools in Europe. 

 

The general consensus is the same on some points:

 

1.) Interactions with professors/socratic method. In the US you are used to going to professors office hours, seeing them after class, maybe even having been invited to their house or out to lunch with them. This is normal and either required or highly encouraged by the university. Professors are teachers first. Many classes follow the socratic method to some point, meaning you are expected to come prepared to class and to learn through engaging in class discussions. In my experience with the French/Swiss/German system this is not at all the case. Professors do not interact with you, classes are lectures of varying quality and the whole thing about the exposes is true. My last semester I had a class taught by a visiting professor that was a two lecture and then a two hour discussion. No one, but me and my other American friend and two other exchange students understood what a discussion was suppose to be. Only two of us ever read the required materials. Our grades were based on an in class presentation and a final paper. The paper had barely anything to do with what we discussed all semester and the concept of presenting a thesis and working through it in the paper was lost. It was more of a summary of the articles we (in theory) had read. The in class presentations were horrible and the professor never gave feedback. My friends in all different majors concurred that this was their same experience. 

 

There is no such thing as a binding syllabus and professors will frequently change what is going on in class. Many final exams were a 15minute oral exam. 

 

Many of his other points hit home too, no study space, inefficient administration, taking months to receive exam results, arbitrary grading, etc. 

 

Some of this I think is due to the difference in funding of US institutions versus European ones. Also i think it is a different mindset about learning. 

 

All of these things made me already afraid to study at Sciences Po. In addition my Dad works for a French company and part of his job is hiring the graduate students. He says almost without exception the best students come from the US and the European ones just aren't up to par. By this I do not mean Americans versus Europeans. I mean those holding degrees from the US versus those holding degrees from Europe. My dad hires many different ethnicities from US universities, most aren't even American. As he is paying for my graduate school he is very reluctant to send me to Paris. 

 

The Swiss system is definitely the same about grading. 6.0 are almost never handed out. Even 5.0s are barely handed out and a 4.0 is passing. In Lausanne they admit everyone who applies to the business school for undergrad, their goal is to only graduate 100. So they intentionally fail out the rest. 

[alchyna]

I think we need to keep in mind that comparing US schools to European ones is quite unfair if you think about it.

 

Students going to Colombia SIPA for example will end up spending about 50k on tuition alone and if you add room/board it will cost about $70,000 for ONE year of study in a 2 year program vs let's say LSE's 1 year masters at less than $30,000 and Sciences Po costs 'only' 13,000 euros a year, and remember that's for internationals, IHEID is even cheaper than LSE/Sciences Po.

 

Less elite European universities are free for Europeans and just as cheap for internationals, there are small fees to pay but one does not need to bet on their financial future to attend and borrow an arm and a leg.

 

This is why I am leaving the US to attend a European institution, there is no way I am going to start working in the field of development saddled with 50 or 100K in debt. That's insane to me, maybe it makes sense for MBAs but not for us in my humble opinion.

 

School in Europe is much more accessible and they obviously cannot afford to coddle students like US universities do. If I'm spending $50,000 a year, I'm telling you those professors better be available to me and the administration better be top notch! The way cheaper schools can filter students is to make grading harder. Most students will fail and only the strongest survive. Failing a class in a US school means you really and I mean really didn't even show up.

 

So the European way of teaching will take some adjustment I'm sure, but schools like Sciences Po are moving slowly towards a more American style of teaching, PSIA is fairly new and it's a slow transition,

Edited February 19, 2014 by alchyna

[Calamari2013]

I've been following this thread with lots of interest because I am also keen on a career in international development mainly econ dev. Even though I am not targetting the same programs (I am looking at grad programs in economics/agricultural economics), I am also torn between US and European schools. Being European myself, I thought European schools would be a better fit (as most of the people here have articulated, they are cheaper and besides, I would not be restricted to on-campus jobs as I would be should I choose to attend an American school). However, I need a program that will make me more employable internationally and somehow I am yet to find persuasive evidence that the European schools in my field can achieve that. On the other hand, the US schools I applied to seem to really know what they are doing - most of the faculty in the US I researched also work as consultants with big names such as World Bank, UNDP, FAO, IFPRI and I reckon it will be easier to use the network in order to find meaningful employment down the line. I personally have applied to both US and European programs and I am going through a major dilemma.

 

I know someone, a former classmate who did her masters in development at the LSE and a couple of years down the line she is, to my knowledge, still volunteering in a developing country trying to set her foot in the door, so to say. Last time I talked to her, she seemed disappointed with the post-LSE prospects. By no means I am looking to discourage people here but I thought I would give my 2 cents in the US-European school debate. I find it very interesting and whatever I have written above can be, I am sure, argued pro and against.

[Katrun]

I realized I sounded super down on European schools. I think it really matters where you want to end up. I think European schools offer a huge diversity of education and a different perspective that can be vital.

 

If your end goal is to end up at a big finance firm then going to the school in the US is worth it because you will easily pay off the debt and it will be fine. If your goal is to work at a small non profit, then it is probably not the best financial choice. 

 

Likewise if you just want to work at the EU then going to school in the US is kind of an odd choice. There are a million options either way, but so far the consensus from professionals, professors, and students is that if you want to work for the US government or a big US organization/company then you better stay in the US. 

 

I really think it depends on your type of studying too. If you are really independent and love self study then Europe is probably a great place for you, you are right there is no hand holding. I personally love a good discussion and need that kind of mental stimulation in class, not just from a textbook. But you are right, for how much I paid to go to a university in the US I expect a professor to show up, be engaged in the class, hold discussions and be available outside of lecture.  It is a completely different system. 

[Katrun]

I've been following this thread with lots of interest because I am also keen on a career in international development mainly econ dev. Even though I am not targetting the same programs (I am looking at grad programs in economics/agricultural economics), I am also torn between US and European schools. Being European myself, I thought European schools would be a better fit (as most of the people here have articulated, they are cheaper and besides, I would not be restricted to on-campus jobs as I would be should I choose to attend an American school). However, I need a program that will make me more employable internationally and somehow I am yet to find persuasive evidence that the European schools in my field can achieve that. On the other hand, the US schools I applied to seem to really know what they are doing - most of the faculty in the US I researched also work as consultants with big names such as World Bank, UNDP, FAO, IFPRI and I reckon it will be easier to use the network in order to find meaningful employment down the line. I personally have applied to both US and European programs and I am going through a major dilemma.

 

I know someone, a former classmate who did her masters in development at the LSE and a couple of years down the line she is, to my knowledge, still volunteering in a developing country trying to set her foot in the door, so to say. Last time I talked to her, she seemed disappointed with the post-LSE prospects. By no means I am looking to discourage people here but I thought I would give my 2 cents in the US-European school debate. I find it very interesting and whatever I have written above can be, I am sure, argued pro and against.

 

Where did you apply to in the US? I applied to a couple more economics/agricultural programs. 

[mickun88]

I have an idea. I think we should summarize all our information here and publish a book called Picking the Perfect School for Development Studies. By then we would have at least one publication. 

 

 

Going back to the discussion about job perspective. I have some different experience. i met a LSE Chevening Scholar guy. After his Master in Development Studies, he got a job in the Red Cross. Another guy who did his master at Sussex became a senior manager at a large international NGO.  My current boss got a PhD in Political Sciecne from a prestigious Latin American university, but in terms of international prestige, his school is far from, not even on par with Science Po Paris, let alone LSE or Harvard. But he worked for the Interamerican development bank and trained the ministers of Social development from the whole Latin America. The other day he just had a meeting with an ex-minister of social development from an important Latin American country at our office. He is also a consultant for UNCIEF, CEPAL and other international organzitions on social policies and development issues. At the end of the day, it all depends on the person. The school could only help you get your first job. 

 

Another reflection about the issue is the skills the students can provide. The curriculum of Development Studies schools from different schools  do not differ very much. After the master, the students from LSE or Sciences Po or other US schools basically have more or less the same knowledge. The courses might be different. But most courses teach hard facts. If you can get into all those elites schools, you also have the ability to learn all these hard facts on your own. So now the question is how can you stand out from the group by offering different skills, the skills that other Development Studies graduates do not have. 

 

There are many skills. I just list out two important skills here which can differentiate yourself from the others. Language (and knowledge in certain regions) and an expertise in certain area. 

 

About the language and region factor, I would like to explain it with Latin America in which I have more knowledge. Imagine, a LSE DS graduate who has no previous knowledge in the region or in spanish (portuguese) , a graduate from a prestigious Latin American university who grew up in the region, speak the language, know the poverty problem in the region and volunteered in different poverty setting. Now the WB or Interamerican Development Bank, or CEPAL or UNICEF hires a project manager and policy analyst to work in Latin America, who would get the job???? If you specialize in, say social policies, or rural development urban habitat, among others, you will also have a higher chance of getting employed. By specialize, i mean at least a few years in the field. Having done two courses in your master does not count. Not just big IOs and NGOs, local development agencies and NGOs also want to hire specialists or very all-rounded generalists. For example, my think tank is hiring a specialist in health policy. They are asking for a minimum of 5 years of experience with a master degree. It is just a local think tank. IOs and big NGOS, of course they will ask for more. 

 

The problem with European schools is IN GENERAL, students go straight to Master right after undergraduate. They may have some internship experience. But it is far from enough. This may explain why students from American universities have  a better job perspective. Because in general, they are older, more mature and have more work experience than their European counterparts. 

 

My opinion is if you can get in the elite schools that we have been talking in this thread, first congratulations, and second, you should develop some skills which can differentiate yourself to the rest. The school name itself cannot help you that much. 

[alchyna]

I have an idea. I think we should summarize all our information here and publish a book called Picking the Perfect School for Development Studies. By then we would have at least one publication. 

 

 

Going back to the discussion about job perspective. I have some different experience. i met a LSE Chevening Scholar guy. After his Master in Development Studies, he got a job in the Red Cross. Another guy who did his master at Sussex became a senior manager at a large international NGO.  My current boss got a PhD in Political Sciecne from a prestigious Latin American university, but in terms of international prestige, his school is far from, not even on par with Science Po Paris, let alone LSE or Harvard. But he worked for the Interamerican development bank and trained the ministers of Social development from the whole Latin America. The other day he just had a meeting with an ex-minister of social development from an important Latin American country at our office. He is also a consultant for UNCIEF, CEPAL and other international organzitions on social policies and development issues. At the end of the day, it all depends on the person. The school could only help you get your first job. 

 

Another reflection about the issue is the skills the students can provide. The curriculum of Development Studies schools from different schools  do not differ very much. After the master, the students from LSE or Sciences Po or other US schools basically have more or less the same knowledge. The courses might be different. But most courses teach hard facts. If you can get into all those elites schools, you also have the ability to learn all these hard facts on your own. So now the question is how can you stand out from the group by offering different skills, the skills that other Development Studies graduates do not have. 

 

There are many skills. I just list out two important skills here which can differentiate yourself from the others. Language (and knowledge in certain regions) and an expertise in certain area. 

 

About the language and region factor, I would like to explain it with Latin America in which I have more knowledge. Imagine, a LSE DS graduate who has no previous knowledge in the region or in spanish (portuguese) , a graduate from a prestigious Latin American university who grew up in the region, speak the language, know the poverty problem in the region and volunteered in different poverty setting. Now the WB or Interamerican Development Bank, or CEPAL or UNICEF hires a project manager and policy analyst to work in Latin America, who would get the job???? If you specialize in, say social policies, or rural development urban habitat, among others, you will also have a higher chance of getting employed. By specialize, i mean at least a few years in the field. Having done two courses in your master does not count. Not just big IOs and NGOs, local development agencies and NGOs also want to hire specialists or very all-rounded generalists. For example, my think tank is hiring a specialist in health policy. They are asking for a minimum of 5 years of experience with a master degree. It is just a local think tank. IOs and big NGOS, of course they will ask for more. 

 

The problem with European schools is IN GENERAL, students go straight to Master right after undergraduate. They may have some internship experience. But it is far from enough. This may explain why students from American universities have  a better job perspective. Because in general, they are older, more mature and have more work experience than their European counterparts. 

 

My opinion is if you can get in the elite schools that we have been talking in this thread, first congratulations, and second, you should develop some skills which can differentiate yourself to the rest. The school name itself cannot help you that much. 

Ok yeah guys... that's exactly everything I wanted to say! lol

 

The only problem is that there is a catch 22 many of us find ourselves in:

To get a job one needs years of work experience

To get work experience you try to find internships to get your foot in the door

But to get an internship you need to be enrolled in a program

But to get in a good program often requires relevant work experience....

 

SHOOT ME... it's the vicious circle I find myself in right now.

[Calamari2013]

Where did you apply to in the US? I applied to a couple more economics/agricultural programs.

I applied to UC Davis, Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Univ of Maryland, Michigan State Univ and UIUC. In Europe I am considering the PPD program from Paris School of Economics, the agricultural econ at Univ of Bonn and probably the development economics program from Univ of Goettingen. So far I've got an offer from Wisconsin -Madison and i am excited as their program is ranked 4th in the US and it's one of the best in the world. Sadly, no funding, it seems the dept is going through a hard year. What programs did u apply for?

[k_angie]

I heartily and totally agree with you Alchyna! It's like you just read my thoughts.

Wherever I apply for internships either they want more experience or they want to be enrolled in masters. For masters, again internships are reqd. The thing is how would I get any experience if no one takes me in or gives me a break.

Sucks!

[ZakV]

Hey K_angie, know you from The Student Room . Applied to the January deadline for the MPhil at Oxford, put all my eggs in one basket but I have my heart set on doing a DPhil there. 

 

I notice that you've been accepted to a a fair few courses K_angie congratz!! Where have you been accepted to and from who are you waiting for a reply?

 

 

Ok yeah guys... that's exactly everything I wanted to say! lol

 

The only problem is that there is a catch 22 many of us find ourselves in:

To get a job one needs years of work experience

To get work experience you try to find internships to get your foot in the door

But to get an internship you need to be enrolled in a program

But to get in a good program often requires relevant work experience....

 

SHOOT ME... it's the vicious circle I find myself in right now.

 

Well at least you can prepare yourself . A lot of people who go into development related graduate degrees don't understand the difficulty of finding a job afterwards and fall on the first hurdle x). For my degree application I had to highlight what sort of feasible direction I would like to take upon graduation.

 

 

The problem with European schools is IN GENERAL, students go straight to Master right after undergraduate.

 

I disagree, I think pinning it on the undergrad to masters with little experience simplifies/reduces it too much. In my opinion the issue of employment is more that a lot of people go into development studies and the likes thinking that it is almost vocational, as a stepping stone into a job "helping people"- in the UK it's a very middle class thing to have a gap year, help build a school and to take some moral grandiosity from it all. 

 

Unlike say engineering where you get the training and BAM jobs are thrown at you, with development studies you need a passion beyond sympathy in a specialisation that you can excel at and make real contributions to field/peoples lives that others can't. So when people apply to this field without specific research/employment interests then that is where the issues lies. In fact it irritates me a little when I read about seemingly random applications to these sorts of courses. While this does relate to experience, people can come from undergraduate with the right mindset. I'm not disagreeing with the statement as such but how it generalises experience, e.g. experience within a particular role or wider wisdom that experience affords. Excuse my rambling haha!

Edited February 20, 2014 by ZakV

[k_angie]

Hey K_angie, know you from The Student Room . Applied to the January deadline for the MPhil at Oxford, put all my eggs in one basket but I have my heart set on doing a DPhil there. 

 

I notice that you've been accepted to a a fair few courses K_angie congratz!! Where have you been accepted to and from who are you waiting for a reply?

 

 

 

Well at least you can prepare yourself . A lot of people who go into development related graduate degrees don't understand the difficulty of finding a job afterwards and fall on the first hurdle x). For my degree application I had to highlight what sort of feasible direction I would like to take upon graduation.

 

 

 

 

I disagree, I think pinning it on the undergrad to masters with little experience simplifies/reduces it too much. In my opinion the issue of employment is more that a lot of people go into development studies and the likes thinking that it is almost vocational, as a stepping stone into a job "helping people"- in the UK it's a very middle class thing to have a gap year, help build a school and to take some moral grandiosity from it all. 

 

Unlike say engineering where you get the training and BAM jobs are thrown at you, with development studies you need a passion beyond sympathy in a specialisation that you can excel at and make real contributions to field/peoples lives that others can't. So when people apply to this field without specific research/employment interests then that is where the issues lies. In fact it irritates me a little when I read about seemingly random applications to these sorts of courses. While this does relate to experience, people can come from undergraduate with the right mindset. I'm not disagreeing with the statement as such but how it generalises experience, e.g. experience within a particular role or wider wisdom that experience affords. Excuse my rambling haha!

 

Hi ZakV!

 

Good to see you here!  

Yes I have accepted by 7 schools as of now which are; Sciences Po Paris, SOAS, Kings College London, IDS Sussex, University of Manchester, Bristol & Birmingham. While I have two pending notifications from IHEID Geneva & Goldsmiths University of London. My top choices are IHEID & Sciences Po. Though funding will be a huge factor in deciding where I go. 

 

Good luck with your Oxford application and do tell how was your experience there. 

 

As for what you said, I totally agree with two things you mentioned; first that in a career in development people need to look beyond compassion (which is quite a necessary but not the only deciding factor for which people should take up this field). Secondly, undergraduates can actually come in with the right mindset. Though I equally think, that having practical hands on experience is very imp as it actually does sort out the dreamy eyed people who think a job in development is nothing but travelling and doing cool stuff. However, on the other hand there are some people who are very sure of themselves right from the start and are involved in the issues. So well, to conclude I think there are both pros and cons with the admittance of students in both American & European systems. While one weeds out the confused souls, the other gives respite to people from the compulsory 2-3 years of experience.  

[ZakV]

 

Yes I have accepted by 7 schools as of now which are; Sciences Po Paris, SOAS, Kings College London, IDS Sussex, University of Manchester, Bristol & Birmingham. While I have two pending notifications from IHEID Geneva & Goldsmiths University of London. My top choices are IHEID & Sciences Po. Though funding will be a huge factor in deciding where I go. 

 

Good luck with your Oxford application and do tell how was your experience there. 

 

Ah you must be really happy that you have quite a few options though and oooo tense then waiting for IHEID to respond . 

 

Thanks for the good luck, you too- I'm also hoping to get MPhil/DPhil funding so exciting times .

[Katrun]

I have an idea. I think we should summarize all our information here and publish a book called Picking the Perfect School for Development Studies. By then we would have at least one publication. 

 

 

Going back to the discussion about job perspective. I have some different experience. i met a LSE Chevening Scholar guy. After his Master in Development Studies, he got a job in the Red Cross. Another guy who did his master at Sussex became a senior manager at a large international NGO.  My current boss got a PhD in Political Sciecne from a prestigious Latin American university, but in terms of international prestige, his school is far from, not even on par with Science Po Paris, let alone LSE or Harvard. But he worked for the Interamerican development bank and trained the ministers of Social development from the whole Latin America. The other day he just had a meeting with an ex-minister of social development from an important Latin American country at our office. He is also a consultant for UNCIEF, CEPAL and other international organzitions on social policies and development issues. At the end of the day, it all depends on the person. The school could only help you get your first job. 

 

Another reflection about the issue is the skills the students can provide. The curriculum of Development Studies schools from different schools  do not differ very much. After the master, the students from LSE or Sciences Po or other US schools basically have more or less the same knowledge. The courses might be different. But most courses teach hard facts. If you can get into all those elites schools, you also have the ability to learn all these hard facts on your own. So now the question is how can you stand out from the group by offering different skills, the skills that other Development Studies graduates do not have. 

 

There are many skills. I just list out two important skills here which can differentiate yourself from the others. Language (and knowledge in certain regions) and an expertise in certain area. 

 

About the language and region factor, I would like to explain it with Latin America in which I have more knowledge. Imagine, a LSE DS graduate who has no previous knowledge in the region or in spanish (portuguese) , a graduate from a prestigious Latin American university who grew up in the region, speak the language, know the poverty problem in the region and volunteered in different poverty setting. Now the WB or Interamerican Development Bank, or CEPAL or UNICEF hires a project manager and policy analyst to work in Latin America, who would get the job???? If you specialize in, say social policies, or rural development urban habitat, among others, you will also have a higher chance of getting employed. By specialize, i mean at least a few years in the field. Having done two courses in your master does not count. Not just big IOs and NGOs, local development agencies and NGOs also want to hire specialists or very all-rounded generalists. For example, my think tank is hiring a specialist in health policy. They are asking for a minimum of 5 years of experience with a master degree. It is just a local think tank. IOs and big NGOS, of course they will ask for more. 

 

The problem with European schools is IN GENERAL, students go straight to Master right after undergraduate. They may have some internship experience. But it is far from enough. This may explain why students from American universities have  a better job perspective. Because in general, they are older, more mature and have more work experience than their European counterparts. 

 

My opinion is if you can get in the elite schools that we have been talking in this thread, first congratulations, and second, you should develop some skills which can differentiate yourself to the rest. The school name itself cannot help you that much. 

 

I think that's really well said. I agree also that there are always exceptions to the rule and people can come straight from undergrad with the right mindset and an unusual level of maturity, I guess that's what job interviews are for hahaha.

 

 

 

I applied to UC Davis, Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Univ of Maryland, Michigan State Univ and UIUC. In Europe I am considering the PPD program from Paris School of Economics, the agricultural econ at Univ of Bonn and probably the development economics program from Univ of Goettingen. So far I've got an offer from Wisconsin -Madison and i am excited as their program is ranked 4th in the US and it's one of the best in the world. Sadly, no funding, it seems the dept is going through a hard year. What programs did u apply for?

 

The only more agricultural economics program I applied to is at Brandeis. I applied to the MA in Sustainable International Development. I am currently doing a lot of ag development and loving it. I hear from them in 9 days so here is to hoping. 

 

Also the undergrad institute I came from, Texas A&M Univeristy, has a big agricultural development program and has the Borlaug Institute so there is a lot there. I didn't want to stay in Texas though nor at the time was I sure that I was so interested in agricultural development. 

[mickun88]

I disagree, I think pinning it on the undergrad to masters with little experience simplifies/reduces it too much. In my opinion the issue of employment is more that a lot of people go into development studies and the likes thinking that it is almost vocational, as a stepping stone into a job "helping people"- in the UK it's a very middle class thing to have a gap year, help build a school and to take some moral grandiosity from it all. 

 

Unlike say engineering where you get the training and BAM jobs are thrown at you, with development studies you need a passion beyond sympathy in a specialisation that you can excel at and make real contributions to field/peoples lives that others can't. So when people apply to this field without specific research/employment interests then that is where the issues lies. In fact it irritates me a little when I read about seemingly random applications to these sorts of courses. While this does relate to experience, people can come from undergraduate with the right mindset. I'm not disagreeing with the statement as such but how it generalises experience, e.g. experience within a particular role or wider wisdom that experience affords. Excuse my rambling haha!

 

I agree that one needs passion. One needs a tremendous amount of passion in order to withstand the harsh and potentially dangerous environment of your future work place in marginalized areas, unless you want to sit in an office in the middle of Geneva.  But passion won´t bring you any skills. Having experience in the field does. 

 

When I talk to people with lots of experience in the field, like my boss or that senior manager of a NGO, without exception, all of them highly recommend that one have at least one to two years of volunteering, internship or actually living in the field, be it a favela in Brazil or an African village, depending on your interest, before a Master in Development Studies, or relevant disciplines.  

[mickun88]

ZakV,

 

by the way, i also applied to Oxford, Latin American Studies. 

 

Do you know the notification date?  They say late march onwards. But it seems that if you call the department, you can get the result early.

 

As the applicants of Latin Americam Studies are quite few, maybe they dun need that much time for the selection process. As the Graduate Cafe Result Search showed, people from this programme usually called the department early march and the result was already out.

 

Any thoughts???????

[k_angie]

Ah you must be really happy that you have quite a few options though and oooo tense then waiting for IHEID to respond . 

 

Thanks for the good luck, you too- I'm also hoping to get MPhil/DPhil funding so exciting times .

Well yes in was happy for a little while but now I am hellishly confused. Plus yes waiting for IHEID has been quite a challenge. Anyway hope you get funding and all.

[ZakV]

 But passion won´t bring you any skills. Having experience in the field does. 

 

My point is that development has more to it than project officer roles and that notions of experience are being amalgamated with direction or focus in a way that may be veiling. 

 

ZakV,

 

by the way, i also applied to Oxford, Latin American Studies. 

 

Do you know the notification date?  They say late march onwards. But it seems that if you call the department, you can get the result early.

 

As the applicants of Latin Americam Studies are quite few, maybe they dun need that much time for the selection process. As the Graduate Cafe Result Search showed, people from this programme usually called the department early march and the result was already out.

 

Any thoughts???????

 

Departments at Oxford are quite independent and really have their own way of doing these things, within reason. I've heard that calling or emailing can give you an idea of thoughts on an application but 'official' responses are usually distributed alongside others as noted.

[alchyna]

I agree that one needs passion. One needs a tremendous amount of passion in order to withstand the harsh and potentially dangerous environment of your future work place in marginalized areas, unless you want to sit in an office in the middle of Geneva.  But passion won´t bring you any skills. Having experience in the field does. 

 

When I talk to people with lots of experience in the field, like my boss or that senior manager of a NGO, without exception, all of them highly recommend that one have at least one to two years of volunteering, internship or actually living in the field, be it a favela in Brazil or an African village, depending on your interest, before a Master in Development Studies, or relevant disciplines.  

Mic,

 

Ideally yes it would be great to be able to go volunteer for a year half way across the world but keep in mind that not everyone is able to do that. After undergrad most have loans to repay or personal responsibilities that make it difficult to just drop everything and go work in the field for years. If you do not live in a developing country there are still volunteering opportunities, but few are focused on development unless you live in NY or Geneva where those big organizations are. And even so, It's hard to grow your skill set when you are asked for experience to even offer your free time as a volunteer in most cases I've encountered.

 

I agree with those who say that beyond passion you need a realistic picture of what working in development means. This field is so competitive, few spots for many many graduates. A good program in an elite school can certainly give us a leg up but it is not everything.They do favor practitioners who can bring language and technical skills to the table or have a specific field of expertise. If you don't have any of that then you need a gazillion years of experience.

 

I feel like as long as one is realistic in their post graduation goal, has a coherent career plan and is prepared to pay their dues then that person will be just fine. But most students who think it's all glamorous traveling on various conferences and cushy Geneva job will be disappointed... unless they know someone who knows someone LOL

 

Oh and welcome to all the new posters enriching the conversation like Zak and Calamari

[mickun88]

https://emea58402208.adobeconnect.com/_a843983480/p4kvkys818f/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

 

 

An online session provided by IHEID. At the second part of the discussion, they mentioned our concerns about the teaching quality, IHEID´s reputation, job perspective etc. 

[CBru]

Hi everyone, 

I am new to this thread. I have applied to several LLMs, but my first choice has always been the LLM in International Law at the IHEID. Yesterday I checked the online follow up form and it says admitted. However, I haven't received an email or anything. I was wondering whether any one else has heard anything. I was also wondering whether the IHEID usually grants conditional offers to applicants, and if so, what these conditions are. 

 

I would be extremely grateful for any information. 

 

All the best to everyone with their applications. 

 

Mimi

[mych]

Hi everyone, 

I am new to this thread. I have applied to several LLMs, but my first choice has always been the LLM in International Law at the IHEID. Yesterday I checked the online follow up form and it says admitted. However, I haven't received an email or anything. I was wondering whether any one else has heard anything. I was also wondering whether the IHEID usually grants conditional offers to applicants, and if so, what these conditions are. 

 

I would be extremely grateful for any information. 

 

All the best to everyone with their applications. 

 

Mimi

 

Congratulations!!! That's wonderful news. You're the first person I know of who has been admitted for the 2014/15 intake. From what I understand "admitted" means an unconditional admittance - all you need to do is pay your pre-registration fees and you will be confirmed (or have your scholarship confirm it).

 

Was the LLM in International Law always scheduled to release its admittance results around this time? MDEV (which I applied to) is only scheduled to announce theirs in March.

 

[k_angie]

Hi Mimi!

Congratulations for your acceptance to LLM. I just checked my follow up page after reading your post but it still says under condition. Though well i have applied for Masters in Dev Studies.

If i am not wrong, IHEID mentions how the email should reach the candidate in 1-3 days after their online status has been changed. Still I would suggest you write and confirm with the admissions.

Yes there are conditional acceptances. Here are the following mentioned;

There are various types of conditional offers of admission:

Conditions on language: Candidates are admitted on the condition that they prove a sufficient level in English for the programme to which they have been accepted.

Conditions on undergraduate degree: Candidates are admitted, but must provide, no later than the time of registration, proof of successful completion of the degree required by the programme to which they have been admitted. Students who cannot provide proof of a degree are not allowed to register for study programmes at the Institute.

Other conditions set by the admissions Committee and detailed on the admission letter.

[k_angie]

Congratulations!!! That's wonderful news. You're the first person I know of who has been admitted for the 2014/15 intake. From what I understand "admitted" means an unconditional admittance - all you need to do is pay your pre-registration fees and you will be confirmed (or have your scholarship confirm it).

 

Was the LLM in International Law always scheduled to release its admittance results around this time? MDEV (which I applied to) is only scheduled to announce theirs in March.

I think LLM follows a diff pattern than the other master programmes. Last year IHEID took their results out by Feb end rather i received my rejection on 27th Feb.

[Curious_Grad]

Hello everyone, 

who else applied to IHEID for MIA (Master in International Affairs) ? It seems everyone who are active in this page applied for MDev program. Any info regarding how many students do they take for MIA program ?

Edited February 21, 2014 by Curious_Grad

[alchyna]

https://emea58402208.adobeconnect.com/_a843983480/p4kvkys818f/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

 

 

An online session provided by IHEID. At the second part of the discussion, they mentioned our concerns about the teaching quality, IHEID´s reputation, job perspective etc. 

Thanks mickun! I watched the whole thing... why is there not a 'forward' button on these videos! The second part was indeed interesting with that alumni talking about employment opportunities post graduation. But then I thought what else can he say but great things about the school while he is sitting next to the Admissions Director? I'd like to hear a more balanced view.

 

I've heard criticism about every school LSE, Sciences Po, SOAS etc and I have yet to hear one bad thing about IHEID...