Columbia SIPA, JHU SAIS, grad school questions in general

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I want to do human rights/humanitarian aid/international law. </p>

<p>I'll be headed to McGill (should I get a B.A & Sc or just a B.A) or UVA college of arts and sciences. Which school would be better? </p>

<p>Considering what I want to do in the future, what should I major in? Most people going into this field seem to major in political science while minoring in a foreign language or something. </p>

<p>I was also considering transferring to Columbia for their 5-year joint program for international affairs that could get me a BA and MIA...what do you think of this? Should I just complete 4 years at one institution w/o transferring or should I pursue this route? Also, what's up with people who are enrolled in this 5 year program going straight into SIPA right after their undergrad at a young age? How common/beneficial is this?</p>

<p>If most people graduate undergrad at ~21, and the average age at SIPA and SAIS is 27, what do they do for 6 years? I can understand taking a couple years to go abroad and gaining professional experience...but I can't imagine what people would do for the remaining 3-5 years between undergrad and grad. </p>

<p>Speaking of age and admissions, what are the most important factors for getting accepted? College GPA, GRE, professional experience, internships, recommendations... any other key or inside info. that I should keep in mind while in college? </p>

<p>ALSO! another big question...if I want to work with human rights/international law stuff, and possibly the UN, would it be best for me to choose this route of:</p>

<p>College --> Experience --> SAIS/SIPA??</p>

<p>What if I choose an easy major in college, stack up on GPA and LSAT and go into law school for international law...? What would this route entail for my future? and what would be the main difference between doing this and going to SIPA/SAIS,etc?</p>

<p>I understand I am only 18 and that plans could largely change...but I want to know my background info. before taking classes, declaring majors, etc. Also, I really do want to transfer to Columbia for the location and its 5 year program, so the more info I have, the quicker I can act. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any insight/answers/feedback/comments</p>

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<p>powerbomb</p>

<p>you’re overthinking it. very few kids do the 5 year program (especially after transferring). i’d do 4 year program.</p>

<p>SIPA v. SAIS is pretty close depending on your intellectual interests. columbia tends to be more int’l focus, sais is more us for pol focused (if we are forced to differentiate). but you’ll get there when you’re there. </p>

<p>most of those schools also prefer having outside experience before you go there (which is also why the 5 year program is very competitive).</p>

<p>overall you’re overthinking it. what if something happens that diverts you? have long term goals of course, but have short term goals more often. what are you doing for the rest of the school year, what will you do frosh year. think that way.</p>

<p>in a phrase: calm down.</p>

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<p>I am interested the MA in economic and political development at SIPA. What are my chances if I have the following: I speak three languages, have more than 4 years of experience working for an NGO in another country. I am a dual citizen now and interned two summers with Deliotte in auditing and tax. I started college as an accounting major but decided to add international relations major so as to pursue a graduate school in this field. Due to my accounting classes, I have overall 3.4 GPA, however I will have 3.6 in the international relations major. So, please tell me what are my chances to being accepted in to schools like SIPA or Elliot…thanks!</p>