Masters student planning on a second Masters

[Swain]

Greetings all

 

I'm currently completing my first year of Masters in Economics at the Delhi School of Economics. I've come to realize that completion of my course here will not really open up avenues I'd like to pursue further ahead in life. Furthermore, the completely apolitical nature of the course has been unsatisfying. I've been exploring programs in IR and Development. I'd eventually like to work in an international body (the kinds centered around Geneva) or someplace where I get to be engaged in public/international policy channels.

 

I've trawled through quite a few discussions regarding good programs, admissions criteria and the like. But I haven't found much on how universities evaluate applicants who already have a masters.

 

I completed my undergraduation in Economics from Delhi University, from an unremarkable college and with an unremarkable 69%. I cleared the entrance examinations and secured scholarships for the best Masters Programs in the country (ISI Delhi, DSE).

 

My conundrum is that scoring well in DSE is an intensely difficult proposition. Even though the entrance exam is intensely competitive, the rate of attrition over here is alarmingly high (for perspective 91/200 failed at least one subject out of three in the first semester, 45 failed all three). I currently hold a 62% (which puts me somewhere in the upper quartile of those who didn't fail). And I'm not even sure if I can keep this up for the rest of my time here.

 

Regarding internships, I have one lined up over the coming summer in a public policy think tank which will allow me to closely work with high level civil servants. I've also managed to squeeze language lessons in French for half a year and I can probably squeeze in another half a year if it'll be of any help anywhere.

 

Now my question here is that given my background, do I have any chance of securing a good program like IA/IHEID or MALD/Fletchers or SIPA? What sort of scores should I be aiming for during my masters? Would it help my odds if I garnered work experience before applying (although I can probably only manage corporate placements in analytics/consulting)?

 

It'd be nice to have some answers and perspective before I begin devoting a significant share of my attention and energy towards applications.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Swain

[AuldReekie]

Greetings all

 

I'm currently completing my first year of Masters in Economics at the Delhi School of Economics. I've come to realize that completion of my course here will not really open up avenues I'd like to pursue further ahead in life. Furthermore, the completely apolitical nature of the course has been unsatisfying. I've been exploring programs in IR and Development. I'd eventually like to work in an international body (the kinds centered around Geneva) or someplace where I get to be engaged in public/international policy channels.

 

I've trawled through quite a few discussions regarding good programs, admissions criteria and the like. But I haven't found much on how universities evaluate applicants who already have a masters.

 

I completed my undergraduation in Economics from Delhi University, from an unremarkable college and with an unremarkable 69%. I cleared the entrance examinations and secured scholarships for the best Masters Programs in the country (ISI Delhi, DSE).

 

My conundrum is that scoring well in DSE is an intensely difficult proposition. Even though the entrance exam is intensely competitive, the rate of attrition over here is alarmingly high (for perspective 91/200 failed at least one subject out of three in the first semester, 45 failed all three). I currently hold a 62% (which puts me somewhere in the upper quartile of those who didn't fail). And I'm not even sure if I can keep this up for the rest of my time here.

 

Regarding internships, I have one lined up over the coming summer in a public policy think tank which will allow me to closely work with high level civil servants. I've also managed to squeeze language lessons in French for half a year and I can probably squeeze in another half a year if it'll be of any help anywhere.

 

Now my question here is that given my background, do I have any chance of securing a good program like IA/IHEID or MALD/Fletchers or SIPA? What sort of scores should I be aiming for during my masters? Would it help my odds if I garnered work experience before applying (although I can probably only manage corporate placements in analytics/consulting)?

 

It'd be nice to have some answers and perspective before I begin devoting a significant share of my attention and energy towards applications.

 

This isn't really the correct forum for this question, try reposting this in Government Affairs.