<p>Finally, I get to <em>ask</em> rather than answer a question!</p>
<p>A close family friend (whom I call "my brother") is a Haitian national who will soon be finishing his University degree in Haiti. He has been studying government and international relations, and is ranked first in his class. He intends to apply to IR programs in the US. He has experience administering a small Haitian/American (religiously-affiliated, but grassroots) NGO. He is fluent in Kreyol, French, English, and Spanish, and has been studying German and Chinese at university. He is visiting the US again this week, and will be touring Harvard's KSG, The Fletcher School at Tufts, and MacMillan at Yale. (He is staying in Massachusetts, and is limited to visiting relatively nearby campuses.)</p>
<p>His career aspiration is to work in some diplomatic capacity at the United Nations. </p>
<p>Because of his particular interest in the UN, would Columbia's SIPA be more appropriate? </p>
<p>Are any top IR programs particularly noted for their faculty expertise or interest in Haiti and the Caribbean?</p>
<p>Thanks for any assistance any of you can provide for my dear brother.</p>
<p>I don't see why SIPA would be any more appropriate than the other schools you listed. I would say, actually, that the Fletcher School has probably the very best placement in NGOs and the UN. KSG is a more government-focused school. Yale's school is not particularly well-known. He might want to use the train ride down south to visit SIPA instead of Yale.</p>
<p>There is a scholarship at KSG for Haitian nationals for which he is eligible. I think that explains his interest in Harvard. Yale is the alma mater of a family friend, and they are taking him there. IR is certainly not my field of expertise, so I have only rudimentary knowledge of programs. I anticipate that the Fletcher School will impress him. I have been told of its emphasis on diversity. I'll speak to my brother about SIPA. Thank you, lolabelle!</p>
<p>If you don't mind, Professor X, I'd like to piggyback onto this thread and ask another question. I've noticed in prior threads that people have off-handedly mentioned HEI, LSE and Sciences Po as schools one might consider for IR degrees. My ultimate goal is professorship back here in the U.S., preferably at a law school. If I went abroad to one of those schools for a master's degree, are my chances of getting into a U.S. school for a PhD reduced? What about my chances of getting a job in academia? </p>
<p>I have a particular interest in economics and development and my former law professors are very encouraging about my taking this interdisciplinary route to academia. Please note that I plan to apply to schools in the U.S., I'm just wondering how much/whether I should also consider these other schools.</p>
<p>SIPA is not more appropriate; that's more of a professional degree that is designed for people who already have experience in the field and want to take their career higher. If he's coming fresh out of school, it's not for him.</p>
<p>It's rough getting into the top 10 or so IR programs without some full-time work experience, but well-qualified undergrads and internationals seem to skirt this on occasion.</p>
<p>The Caribbean is a pretty under-studied region as far as IR goes. I can't think of any regional experts off the top of my head, as it's not usually see as being one of the "hotspots" right now.</p>
<p>KSG is an all around excellent program. It also carries plenty of cachet abroad.</p>