Best Programs for Multilateral Orgs

[ub3rmensch]

Can any speak of the best programs that send grads to multilateral orgs? Should I just focus on schools in DC?

[Ben414]

5 hours ago, ub3rmensch said:

Can any speak of the best programs that send grads to multilateral orgs? Should I just focus on schools in DC?

I would recommend looking for the schools' posted first employers, rather than the school's location. HKS, WWS, SIPA, SAIS, and Tufts seem to be strong at placing students into multilateral organizations, but some schools place better into certain organizations.

[ub3rmensch]

14 hours ago, Ben414 said:

I would recommend looking for the schools' posted first employers, rather than the school's location. HKS, WWS, SIPA, SAIS, and Tufts seem to be strong at placing students into multilateral organizations, but some schools place better into certain organizations.

By that do you mean the employment statistics section? 

[Ben414]

9 hours ago, ub3rmensch said:

By that do you mean the employment statistics section? 

Yes. They will give you some combo of first job titles, geographical distribution, and industries. The ones that give you full data for full years are especially relevant so you can estimate your likelihood of getting the jobs you want.

[OxfordApplicant]

if you are talking about the UN family and stuff like that then definitely not the schools in DC...

[went_away]

6 hours ago, OxfordApplicant said:

if you are talking about the UN family and stuff like that then definitely not the schools in DC...

I don't have a good read on this topic, but I get the sense that non-Americans, particularly from developing countries, have a massive advantage in gaining UN jobs. SIPA would seem to be the best choice here, and I'd say Fletcher, as far away as it is, is another strong choice for non-Americans looking to work at the UN. 

[ub3rmensch]

On January 28, 2016 at 6:26 PM, Ben414 said:

Yes. They will give you some combo of first job titles, geographical distribution, and industries. The ones that give you full data for full years are especially relevant so you can estimate your likelihood of getting the jobs you want.

Looking at the employment statistics, I still don't truly understand the difference between MPP and MA programs. For example, at GWU would it make more sense to enroll at Trachtenberg or at Eliott? They both tend to send grads to similar places. I guess the question comes back to MA (SAIS, SIPA, Wilson, MSFS, Fletcher and Eliott) vs. MPP (JFK, McCourt, Trachtenberg, Sanford, Harris etc.). It's confusing because there's too much overlap. 

[Ben414]

14 hours ago, ub3rmensch said:

Looking at the employment statistics, I still don't truly understand the difference between MPP and MA programs. For example, at GWU would it make more sense to enroll at Trachtenberg or at Eliott? They both tend to send grads to similar places. I guess the question comes back to MA (SAIS, SIPA, Wilson, MSFS, Fletcher and Eliott) vs. MPP (JFK, McCourt, Trachtenberg, Sanford, Harris etc.). It's confusing because there's too much overlap. 

Don't worry about the MPA/MPP distinction. However, I would make a distinction between MPA/MPP and an MA in an IR field (e.g. SAIS, SIPA, MSFS, Fletcher, Elliot). The latter have more international students, focus their curriculum around international fields, and place more students into international-related jobs. HKS and WWS seem to place well everywhere, but I wouldn't get an MPP/MPA at Duke/Chicago/GWU/GU if I wanted a career in a multilateral organization.

 

 

[beefmaster]

6 hours ago, Ben414 said:

Don't worry about the MPA/MPP distinction. However, I would make a distinction between MPA/MPP and an MA in an IR field (e.g. SAIS, SIPA, MSFS, Fletcher, Elliot). The latter have more international students, focus their curriculum around international fields, and place more students into international-related jobs. HKS and WWS seem to place well everywhere, but I wouldn't get an MPP/MPA at Duke/Chicago/GWU/GU if I wanted a career in a multilateral organization.

 

 

What is your reasoning for this conclusion?

[monocle]

Duke Sanford  -  Int'l Gov/Org/NGO Employment < 5%  https://sanford.duke.edu/academics/mpp/career-services
GWU Trachtenberg- Intl Dev/Intl Orgs/Human Rights/Conflict Resolution ~4% http://tspppa.gwu.edu/2014-alumni-achievements
Harris - Not many multilaterals (none for United Nations or World Bank) based on this list of 2014 grads' employers, though no statistics published  http://harris.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/Full%20Time%20Employment%202014%20Graduates.1.pdf
Georgetown McCourt MPP -- Couldn't find much info, though didn't try very hard... Should be noted that Georgetown has its very famous School of Foreign Service which would likely have more people placed into multilaterals

Note: Possibly due to self-selection, but wouldn't you rather be around like-minded students or join a network that might help you find that job with a multilateral?

For GWU and GU, probably a safer bet to go with the Elliott school and SFS respectively.

[monocle]

^^ Georgetown SFS  - 16.5% in Multilateral https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/x2y7tz8hc3eubk5qizmn7eny88dxmcky

 

[beefmaster]

I would assume it is most probably due to the fact that there are only limited "entry level" jobs at multi-lateral organisations. In addition to the majority heading to those types of organisations post-graduation having extensive pre-grad school work experience. 

[ub3rmensch]

I would love to get some more work experience related to multilateral jobs but without a masters degree, there aren't any positions available to me. The worst catch 22.

[beefmaster]

28 minutes ago, ub3rmensch said:

I would love to get some more work experience related to multilateral jobs but without a masters degree, there aren't any positions available to me. The worst catch 22.

I am sorry, but this is certainly not the case......(source, I work for a multilateral org.)

Start at an NGO/INGO in an entry level position (certainly does not require a masters degree) then make the transition into an entry level (p1/p2) in a multilateral org

[Ben414]

11 hours ago, beefmaster said:

What is your reasoning for this conclusion?

They don't place well into multilateral orgs. Alumni network matters a lot, and yours will be at a severe disadvantage for multilateral orgs if you go an aforementioned program. There's also fewer international-focused classes.

Assuming you only asked the question because you disagree, what is your reasoning for concluding that it's a good idea to go to a program that is designed primarily for domestic work and places very few grads in the multilateral orgs if your goal is to work with a multilateral org?

Edited February 3, 2016 by Ben414

[beefmaster]

16 hours ago, Ben414 said:

They don't place well into multilateral orgs. Alumni network matters a lot, and yours will be at a severe disadvantage for multilateral orgs if you go an aforementioned program. There's also fewer international-focused classes.

Assuming you only asked the question because you disagree, what is your reasoning for concluding that it's a good idea to go to a program that is designed primarily for domestic work and places very few grads in the multilateral orgs if your goal is to work with a multilateral org?

 

I disagree because of first hand experience...on this forum I think too much emphasis is put on the institution / program when in reality the overwhelming factor that secures employment in multilateral organisations is work experience (as described in my previous post). 

[ub3rmensch]

Working for a multilateral organization is a long-term goal, and I would like to attend graduate school (while pursuing relevant internships) instead of working for a nonprofit. So here are the schools I'll be applying to (still subject to change): 

1. GWU - Elliott

2. Georgetown - McCourt/MSFS

3. Harvard - Kennedy 

4. Columbia - SIPA

5. JHU - SAIS

6. Tufts - Fletcher

7. American - SIS

[Ben414]

12 hours ago, beefmaster said:

 

I disagree because of first hand experience...on this forum I think too much emphasis is put on the institution / program when in reality the overwhelming factor that secures employment in multilateral organisations is work experience (as described in my previous post). 

So you think an alumni network that is 10-20 times as large in the multilateral org sector is an insignificant factor? Because my opinion is based on hearing many people's first-hand experience that disagree with you. I can't think of anyone that has said to ignore the size and strength of the alumni network.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Ben414