Int'l Dev - SAIS vs SIPA vs MSFS vs Fletcher

[sh88k]

Congratulations to all the people who made it this year.

 

I read a lot of gradcafe discussions concerning Int'l Development. When I was applying, I was hoping that I get into at least one of the 7 schools I applied. I was very lucky to have been accepted into a couple of them..!! But now, I don't know what to do... 

 

JHU SAIS - Was THE reason I wanted to study in grad school. All the others schools just sort of snowballed as I prepared for it. Going to Bologna for one year and then DC for another seems like getting the best of both worlds (community/academic integrity + professional setting). Rigorous econ and quant program will also go a long way even after landing a job after SAIS. 

 

SIPA is an amazing program but I feel, in terms of idev, SAIS prepares individuals better. SIPA seems too big and students need to be super proactive to make full use of school resources. Big school..less communication. I am not expecting graduate programs to spoon-feed students but I have had no work experience except two years of mandatory military service, which has no relations to idev..so I feel like I need the school support and faculty-student relationship. 

 

MSFS was very very attractive in this sense. Small classrooms, good faculty-student ratio, great great program. But I heard that it was fairly new in international development. I am not sure (since I am not an American) if I will get most out of MSFS.

 

Fletcher is a top 5 IR program. but location is a minus. flexibility but lack of depth(?) for idev is a minus. The Fletcher Mafia..? I feel like they are only in US government agencies. Again. great for most US citizens but so much for international students. 

 

I want to eventually work in IOs or consulting in development. I am not sure what kind of high position jobs are out there at the World Bank, IMF, the UN, or consulting agencies, but I have 15 + years of international experience in both the developing world and developed. I worked with development agencies for 6 months during my military service. But that's about it. 

 

Any thoughts on which school would be a great fit for me? 

 

Hope to hear everyone's insights.

THanks!

[hj2012]

From your description, SAIS sounds like the school that you really want to go to, and it's the one I would suggest for you. The only other consideration: if you're thinking that you'll be primarily searching for employment in Korea, the name-brand value of Columbia might be a boost.

 

Good luck to you!