Pass up MSFS?

[mpolampola]

I'm still in shock and awe over my admission into MSFS. There is no question that the school offers the total package especially for someone like me who wants to focus on international development and land a job with USAID or the UNDP after school.

I managed to earn a merit scholarship for year one but year two funding is based off your year one gpa. I learned during a recent admitted students chat that a gpa of 3.5 earned about $6k. Total costs are estimated at 60k. Ouch.

I'm very pragmatic and aware of idev salaries so I haven't accepted MSFS. I'm debating between Fletcher and MSFS. Fletcher appeals to me for many of the same reasons at MSFS but it is in Boston. On the flip side, Fletcher will be about 35-40k cheaper overall given my scholarship and the "cheap" dorm option (this will feel like luxury after an african village).

Would I be silly pass up MSFS? Do I take the more economical route or hop on the Gtown express? I'm stressing out as I'll need to decide in a few weeks.

What do you think?

[zourah]

What do you think?

At the Fletcher NYC reception, there was an alum there who was on a consultant contract (not a consulting firm, just a way of bringing in temporary project staff without necessarily having committed to hire them afterward) with UNDP and another who was a regular staff member at DPKO. If you're concerned about getting where you want to go from Fletcher, stop worrying.

That said, go where you feel compelled to go. If the debt worry is going to ruin your sanity, don't take it on. If passing up the dream option of MSFS will lead you to forever wonder how far you could have gone, don't pass it up. I realize this is kind of like telling you to flip a coin, as both are probably concerns.

[aurora]

I'm also considering Georgetown v Fletcher at the moment, both gave me the same amount of scholarship (approx. 50%).

I am still leaning toward Fletcher, mainly because the courses are a better fit for me. I have met several Fletcher alumni and really would not worry about future career prospects - I think this is mainly down to how proactive you are building a network, attending career events in NYC and DC, writing a relevant thesis, getting the right internships etc. Apart from the internship option while studying (at G-town), I think internship opportunities between first and second year are the same. I have certainly met plenty of UN staff who are Fletcher alumni. I am still feeling like it's pretty 'luxurious' to say 'thanks, but no thanks' to G-town, but at the end of the day I think both these schools are very good and it has to be down to content of courses, and faculty. Let us know what you decide?