Fletcher vs. SAIS

Graduate School
61

<p>Twirlingwind: There's no school I know of to teach you how to enhance "autonomous civil society participation" in a country. I think you could go two or three routes: </p>

<p>1)a SAIS degree then go out in the field and do it (maybe the Asia Foundation would be a org. to work with, though they tend to be really PhD biased -- which is probably about all they can be since they have a very mixed record of effectiveness and rarified academic snobbery is always a good fall-back when you don't actually accomplish anything; actually, I have great respect for some people who work in that organization, so don't take it as a total slam). I think this is a goal similar to "poverty reduction in LA." A good goal, a worthy need, but where do you fit this goal into your real-world life plan involving real organizations or funding sources? SAIS is a good platform for asking those questions, in my opinion, though it may not put you out on the other end with you having found a good answer or a job in your proposed field.</p>

<p>2) Go to law school, since there is a connection there somewhere with civil society.</p>

<p>3) Get a PhD studying the subject and be a pontificator about it.</p>

<p>Your experience sounds great. I think that you would find there are things which you far outpace your fellow students on, but if you didn't study East Asian studies as an undergrad, there are probably a lot of holes you need to fill in.</p>

<p>If your goal is to do more of exactly what you are doing with China, forget SAIS and go to an MBA program (or the SAIS/Wharton program) or a law program. It will move you further down the road you've been on. Or just stay on the road you are on. But it sounds like you want off.</p>

<p>An MA buys you more credibility generally, but with the kind of expansive goal you have, doesn't necessarily slot you into a job doing exactly what you want. I used the MA to put "paid" to the time I spent in Asia (so it looked like I was directed), took a lot of economics, and really enjoyed the China Studies program at SAIS as it existed at the time. One of the best courses I have ever taken was co-taught by three amazing profs called State, Society, and Culture in Modern China. Very much a kind of fluffy-sounding class that taught me more about how to look at what was going on, and had gone on, in China than any other more standard course I ever took; it talked about civil society, or the lack thereof, in China. That's an example of a good experience you can have.</p>

<p>I would do the following if you stick with your goal:</p>

<p>1) Go to SAIS and use it as a launch platform for figuring out how to translate your stated focus into the real world. Be aggressive in pursuit of this. Or defer for a year and do this in deciding which school program would be the best.</p>

<p>2) Recognize you may need to get another degree anyway, but it could be that SAIS is a great precursor to doing so. One criticism of programs like SAIS or Fletcher is that it graduates a bunch of people ready to be Ambassadors, but there's no clear path from here to there. That is, you've got to do something in between. So quite a few decide they need the other degree. But few I know who do this regret their SAIS experience.</p>

<p>As UCLAri says, economics training is always good. I took far more than the average amount of econ. at SAIS. It has stood me in good stead.</p>

<p>This was kind of rambly, but I hope it helps.</p>

<p>Another thing is: you don't have to stick with China Studies npw that you're in...</p>

62

<p>Incredulous,</p>

<p>
[quote]
One criticism of programs like SAIS or Fletcher is that it graduates a bunch of people ready to be Ambassadors, but there's no clear path from here to there.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You mean that i-banking isn't a clear path to ambassadorship?</p>

<p>Huh...</p>

63

<p>Incredulous – thanks so much for all of your great suggestions and advice so far it has all been extremely interesting for me.</p>

<p>I want to make sure I am totally clear that I think both Fletcher and SAIS are absolutely amazing schools. I did a great deal of research before deciding which schools to apply to and I am thrilled to get accepted to my top two choices. That said, right now Fletcher is definitely the favorite, but certainly SAIS is still in the running. Partly because I haven’t heard yet about funding (though I know I am unlikely to see much either way), but mostly because I haven’t had the chance to visit SAIS yet, and I want to be able to make the assessment based on equal footing. I can’t really judge SAIS for certain without visiting.</p>

<p>So why is Fletcher my favorite so far?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Flexibility of the Fletcher program – I realize that doing a Masters is about getting ready for Professional experience and that I need to focus. However, I am also trying to figure out which aspects of IR are most interesting to me, so for me this degree definitely needs to have an exploratory component. Without any real core courses at Fletcher, I would have time and flexibility to explore my different areas of interest and then choose two different concentrations from among my interests that include (Developing Economies, International Political Economy, Law and Development and International Monetary Theory/Policy). I realize that pretty much all of these courses are available at SAIS, but I am not sure I would have the flexibility to explore multiple areas as I formulate my concentration.</p></li>
<li><p>Fletcher’s focus on functional rather than regional areas actually appeals to me since I could never pick just one area of the world that interests me. I also like the way Fletcher encourages students to explore courses at MIT and Harvard as well as at other departments at Tufts. Oh and the thesis requirement is another plus since I am considering doing a Phd.</p></li>
<li><p>Fitting in - I was very impressed when I visited Fletcher. Everyone was friendly, helpful and very interesting to talk to. I felt like I would fit in well and that the school would nurture my interests. Fletcher students really seem to love their school. I didn’t really love my experience in undergrad and would like to make sure I am going to be happier in my gradate experience. Of course, not having visited SAIS I don’t really have grounds for comparison yet.</p></li>
<li><p>Size – Fletcher is a significantly smaller program than SAIS. It is a very tight knit community and I think that would give me a lot of opportunity to get to know my professors and fellow students.</p></li>
<li><p>Tufts Campus – I went to NYU for undergrad and missed out on the experience of having a campus. Going some place that actually looks and feels like a traditional university definitely appeals to me for graduate school. It isn’t a deal breaker, but I think it would make me happy. It is also nice to have the resources of the university available – the gym, the library, the other academic departments where Fletcher students can take or audit classes, the tennis courts (which are right next to Fletcher - I love tennis)etc.</p></li>
<li><p>My girlfriend and I both love the Boston. We lived there for 2 years right in the city and would be very happy moving back, especially to someplace a little outside the city like the Somerville / Medford area. We have a few close friends living nearby. Plus it is really easy to get away for a weekend to go skiing in VT or Maine. I know DC is a great city, but I really just don’t know that much about it. I think this is probably one of the most important reasons why I need to visit SAIS for comparison.</p></li>
<li><p>My girlfriend considering going to graduate school in the near future. She has been looking at some programs in the Boston area. DC has lots of great schools, but I believe she is more likely to find a program that she really likes in Boston.</p></li>
<li><p>Since I got in ED back in December, Fletcher has been working really hard to convince me. I have received more than a few emails and phone calls from students and staff. Everyone has been extremely pleasant and genuinely excited about Fletcher without making me feel pressured at all. It is nice to feel like they really want me at their school. We’ll see what happens with funding though if they really want me, then maybe they will show me some love :) - I know wishful thinking.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I know I need to visit SAIS and I am looking forward to doing so. I really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions based on my opinions at this stage. Also, here are two quick questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is there a noticeable difference in prestige between SAIS and Fletcher? My guess is that whether it is jobs or a Phd, both schools have the prestige to open doors, but neither of them are going to seal the deal based on prestige alone, unless you have the experience/grades/research etc. that employers or schools are looking for. What do you think?</p></li>
<li><p>Incredulous and UCLAri both mentioned the importance of economics. I have an undergrad degree in Econ and I am planning to pursue more economics / econometrics in graduate school regardless of which program I attend. I know SAIS has a strong reputation for economics, but since I am going to take these classes either way, is this an important consideration? Does SAIS’ reputation for Econ come from that fact that it is required for all students or is it because the economics courses are actually better or stronger than at other programs like Fletcher? I know this is probably a hard question to answer, especially because Fletcher students can take courses at Harvard and MIT, but I really do appreciate any feedback you can give.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Congrats to everyone who has been accepted and thank so much for your wonderfully insightful thoughts and comments.</p>

64

<p>Hey incredulous,</p>

<p>Sorry to bother you again on another thread, but I want to take full advantage of your availability while I can. I promise I'm not stalking you!
I am planning on applying to some mba-ma programs during my first year at SAIS (I believe I am too late for Wharton, though I honestly doubt I would be very competitive. I am very interested in the Tuck program though). Down the line, I'd like to get into non-profit management in Latin America, and I think the mba would provide me with valuable skill-sets that SAIS couldn't offer by itself.
The only problem is..and I know this is a big one, I have no private sector experience. What I do have going for me is, though I'm afraid it won't quite compensate is an 800 on the GRE Math, what I believe will be a high GMAT score (I've been getting close to perfect on the math sections on the practice tests), and the Peace Corps- I managed several large projects, including some that brought in significant profits for the organizations I worked with. </p>

<p>I figure perhaps procuring an internship with a DC non-profit during my first semester (and a recommendation) would significantly strengthen my application. I'm not sure how admission commitees look at applicants interested in non-profit either. Again, any advice is always appreciated.</p>

65

<p>Hi freemumia,</p>

<p>I am also interested in the Wharton/SAIS joint program. What do you mean by it's too late to apply?? thanks!</p>

66

<p>Freemumia (and twirlingwind): I was going to post this on the other thread below actually, but then I see you asked the question I anticipated, based on our earlier conversations.....</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=310391%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=310391&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>First of all, the later in the year you apply to Wharton, the harder it is, so apply early. Get it done for submission at the beginning.</p>

<p>People who were in the Peace Corps can get into Wharton, assuming they can show other managerial experience. Your experience getting organizations up to profitable is great. Where were you in the Peace Corps?</p>

<p>You might consider an unusual approach: if you are open to something like I-Banking, get into the finance classes and work your butt off and get a great internship in an Asia I-bank (with your Japanese, you may have a leg up) or even American. Take off your second year and work a year or two. And then apply with more experience.. </p>

<p>Another approach, off-beat but doable: go up to Wharton and get yourself into the office of Professor Ian MacMillan. He does Social Entrepreneurship programs in Africa. Learn about this stuff. Be interested and knowledgeable. And see if you can talk to him. You probably won't get any kind of rec from him, but if you know what he does and show that level of knowledge in your application and tie it to your Peace Corps stuff, you'll up your chances.</p>

<p>One way to test whether this is a good suggestion is to apply this year. If they let you in, then you're set. If they don't, you can reapply after following the plan I suggested, but use their feedback mechanism to find out if the plan I laid out would put you into admission range. It does two things: ups your chances 'cause you can tailor your app and demonstrates you really want to go. One question they might have now is why you didn't apply before you went to SAIS. If you did apply to G'Town dual degree, you can at least use that as ammunition for the "I always DID want an MBA" argument.</p>

67

<p>
[quote]
You mean that i-banking isn't a clear path to ambassadorship?</p>

<p>Huh...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hah, it's probably actually more direct than the traditional route in these days of political contributors becoming Ambassadors! I guess that's probably what you meant. </p>

<p>I think the highest-ranking SAIS guy in State now is Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns (actually I think he went to Tufts undergrad, if I recall). There is a contingent of folks who go right into State and work their ways up quickly, but I think these guys might well have been stars with or without the SAIS degree is my guess.</p>

<p>Earlier in this thread I did a typology of where the typical SAIS students went with their degrees in terms of work. There were 8 or so categories. It's a few pages back, and is one of my first posts here.</p>

68

<p>Incredulous,</p>

<p>I have not taken the GMAT yet, do i need to take it asap in order to apply for Wharton? thanks!</p>

69

<p>Hey incredulous,</p>

<p>Thanks again...where does this wealth of knowledge come from?!
I served in Ecuador, and will be specializing in Latin American Studies.</p>

<p>According to the sais website, you have to start the Wharton program first, which I assume means you would have to have been admitted already.</p>

<p>Those are some great tips that I will definitely look into.
I think it's safe to say that the Tuck program is not nearly as hard to get into (though certainly not as "door-opening" as Wharton).</p>

<p>Ah, so much to decide, but at least I have an idea of what's required of me.</p>

<p>Incredulous, what are you up to these days, if you don't mind me asking. Are you in the area?</p>

70

<p>Incredulous' zig-zagging life after SAIS: decided not to go back to China after SAIS, development consulting for 4 years (based in DC, Africa and Asia-focused) => corporate consulting for 2 years => tech bus development for 3 years => political consulting 1 year = > headed up domestic economic development for a major US city based at the Chamber of Commerce => work at a top-tier business school doing corporate partnerships now.... </p>

<p>All over the map, in other words. </p>

<p>I really like what I do now, and I was happy to have found out that I went up against an experienced MBA grad. from the school I work for to get the job I have now, thereby vindicating my decision to forgo the MBA, even though I had applied and got in twice. I ended up doing part of a CFA and piecing together my own business education....</p>

<p>Programs like SAIS and Fletcher do have a contingent of people who get to be about 35 and decide they don't want to be overseas anymore. It doesn't happen to everyone, of course. I was one of those. I did my share of spending time in dusty towns or capital cities in places like Tanzania or Indonesia. It was fantastically interesting, and overseas life has continued to be what I do for vacations. </p>

<p>Now that I'm marrying a Brazilian and we're having a kid soon, I will live a dual national life vicariously through my daughter.</p>

<p>twirlingwind: are you still thinking of applying to Wharton this year? If you haven't done so yet, you should know you are very, very late. It's nearly impossible to get in now. Wait until next year, but apply early since it's easier. Also pay attention to what FM said, 'cause my recollection was the joint degree guys started at SAIS, left the next year and a half for Wharton, and then finished off at SAIS. If they insist on a Wharton start, that ship may have already sailed. I had thought what was important was not really when you went to SAIS or Wharton, but that you had to start in the Fall.</p>

<p>Both of you: SAIS has formal programs, but will accept informal alliances with a number of schools. Duke, Berkeley, Cornell, and other places are, I think, able to offer a kind of equivalent for joint degree program. Apply to other places. I think that getting the two degrees in 3 years is a fantastic idea.</p>

71

<p>Hi Incredulous,</p>

<p>Thanks for your kind advice. I was actually accepted to the Syracuse (Maxwell School)- SAIS joint MPA/MAIR degree program but after listening to you, thought that the Wharton/SAIS combination would be much more useful. I don't know yet whether I'll do this as I'm not a big fan of snow and cold weather.</p>

72

<p>It's starting to all come together, thanks to incredulous, and i'm actually considering forgoing language classes altogether and overloading my first year with finance classes to show MBA schools that i'm serious about the degree.
Also, I just realized that if I do the ma-mba, i'd only have three semesters at SAIS, and thus only three semesters for language (making my quest to become competent in chinese that much more futile). Am I correct?
I think it would also strengthen my work-experience-light application if I could pull off some good grades in these courses when I apply to the MBA programs.</p>

<p>By the way, congratulations on the news about your daughter!</p>

73

<p>
[quote]
It's starting to all come together, thanks to incredulous, and i'm actually considering forgoing language classes altogether and overloading my first year with finance classes to show MBA schools that i'm serious about the degree.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>But then I re-read my own advice and thought, but that's ridiculous. The whole point is you're not supposed to do the stuff at SAIS that you can do at Wharton. Re-think this. Try to get on Professor Gordon Bodnar's calendar, and find out what he thinks. Bodnar used to teach at Wharton (actually he still does adjunct). He may be able to give you some hints.</p>

74

<p>Twirlingwind:

[quote]
Thanks for your kind advice. I was actually accepted to the Syracuse (Maxwell School)- SAIS joint MPA/MAIR degree program but after listening to you, thought that the Wharton/SAIS combination would be much more useful. I don't know yet whether I'll do this as I'm not a big fan of snow and cold weather.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>With SAIS/Maxwell degree, it's hard or impossible to get most SAIS/Wharton jobs.
With a SAIS/Wharton degree, I think for the most part you can get a SAIS/Maxwell jobs.
(I think the SAIS degree is thought to have some overlap with the MPA.)</p>

<p>Anton:</p>

<p>I meticulously answered all your thoughts and then erased my response. Ugh!This will be shorter:</p>

<p>My conclusion was that you are right to have Fletcher as a first choice.</p>

<p>Prestige: Relative to let's say famous law schools, these degrees are not known outside a small circle. SAIS has a home team advantage to some extent in DC. Generally I don't believe the prestige factor outmatches one against another, and I think all have prestige in their circles. </p>

<p>Flexibility: SAIS allows for far more than regional studies -- law, development, energy, etc.</p>

<p>Campus and size: Cuts both ways; SAIS may be bigger, but it is separate. Meaning that you're in classes almost always strictly with SAIS students. The lack of campus in the traditional sense didn't matter to me because of this other kind of cohesion.</p>

<p>Facilities: great, I've heard, at Fletcher</p>

<p>Econ: SAIS is known for this, in my opinion, 'cause it's required and therefore to some extent reflected in the entire program in terms of how things are discussed and seen. I don't think that for someone who majored and plans to take more, that this is a decisive factor.</p>

<p>What you should do: Keep an open mind when you go there and expect to be convinced that SAIS is the right choice. Go to the Friday Happy Hour. Figure out a way to talk to students at lunch. If you just walk in at lunch hour and find someone who doesn't have his/her nose in a book, you can test the friendliness/openness. Tell them what you are up to, what you are checking out. Talk to several, so you get different opinions.</p>

<p>If you keep your mind open, you will have more insurance so that if you don't like the program you choose, you can at least console yourself that you really investigated the other. I would say chances are if you didn't like one of these schools, you wouldn't like the other. But you never know.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

75

<p>The information from this discussion thread has been very useful. Thank you all!</p>

<p>I was accepted in SAIS, Fletcher, and SIPA. I'm also waiting to hear back from the KSG's MPA/ID (anyone has heard back from the KSG so far?). Now, I find myself with the challenge of deciding where to invest two years of my life and thousands of dollars. </p>

<p>As Anton, I am partly pursuing a Masters in International Affairs as an intermediary step towards a PhD (most likely in Political Science). My primary interest is to study issues of law and development, with a particular focus on property rights and land/natural resource management. Although my three years of work experience at the World Bank had provided me with relevant operational experience in institutional development and governance, I didn't feel I have a solid theoretical base to apply directly to a PhD program. Maybe not applying directly to a PhD was a mistake, but in general I liked the idea of taking the introductory courses in comparative systems and then continue specializing in the thematic area of law and development. I figured this will put me in a better position to get into a top PhD program. </p>

<p>With respect to the thread's original question of Fletcher vs. SAIS (I think I already eliminated SIPA from my list), I am feeling more inclined toward Fletcher. First, Fletcher offers an area of concentration in Law and Development and the opportunity to take classes at Harvard Law School. Second, I get the feeling Fletcher students are more focused on research than SAIS students (maybe for the obvious reason that Fletcher has a thesis requirement). Third, it seems that a number of Fletcher students decide to continue to PhD programs (although Incredolous points out that some SAIS students also continue to PhD programs). </p>

<p>It would be great to receive feedback on which school is better in preparing you for a PhD program in Political Science, considering as a factor the opportunities to engage directly in research.</p>

76

<p>Hi Incredulous,</p>

<p>I'm sure you're sick of me, but if you could help me with one more question.
Again, given my lack of business-related experience, what is something I could do this summer to rev up my resume for my application to b-school in the fall? Are there certain classes, summer programs that you recommend in the DC area? Or perhaps should I slave away at some bank in the area as an unpaid intern? I doubt again, given my experience only as a peace corps volunteer, that I have much of a choice.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

77

<p>incredulous,</p>

<p>I really appreciate you comments and I think you make a really good suggestion. I need to visit SAIS with an open mind allowing for the possibility that I will like it even better than Fletcher. They are both amazing programs and I think I would be very happy either way, so now I am really getting down to the nitty gritty of making a decision. I will definitely do my best to take you advice to heart. Of course, I have to wait for financial aid as well, because that might end up being a deciding factor.</p>

<p>tasba,</p>

<p>It really does sound like we are in a very similar situation with this decision. Although, unfortunately most of my work experience is in private sector consulting. That is wonderful that you have had the opportunity and it sounds like you have a pretty good sense of where you are heading. I think the Law and Development concentration at Fletcher sounds fascinating and at a very minimum I would want to take the intro law & dev class. </p>

<p>Research is going to be a big factor for me. I participated in a Fletcher online chat recently. One of the current students said that when it comes to choosing a Professor to be a thesis advisor, she had not heard of anyone who didn't get his/her first choice. I don't really know how this compares to SAIS, but it sounds promising.</p>

<p>Here is my dilemma:</p>

<p>Fletcher has its Open House on 4/10 and SAIS has its Open House on 4/11. I would really like to attend both, but that is going to be nearly impossible. Flying isn't going to be an option since I want my GF to come with to visit DC since we are going to live together wherever I end up. But driving is 8 hours assuming no traffic (like that would ever happen). It once took me 12 hours to get from Boston to Baltimore. I have already visited Fletcher where I had a tour, sat in on a class and had my interview. But that was back in November when I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting accepted. I know I really need to go to visit SAIS, but I am far more excited about Fletcher's open house. Is it worth going to an open house at Fletcher when I have already visited the school once?</p>

<p>Obviously schools try a lot harder to recruit once you are accepted than before you apply. If I skip Fletcher and just go the SAIS open house, will I have an unfair comparision?</p>

78

<p>
[quote]
It would be great to receive feedback on which school is better in preparing you for a PhD program in Political Science, considering as a factor the opportunities to engage directly in research.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I have serious doubts that either one is better on an overall basis. In Poli Sci in my year that I know a friend in African Studies who had gone to Brown and then was in the Peace Corps and then worked in Mexico City went to Berkeley and is now a professor at the Elliot School. A roommate went to Princeton for his PhD in Public Policy. A China Studies classmate applied: Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale (of the ones I know) and got into the East Coast schools, though not the West, in Poli Sci. A couple (he was a student and she was his girlfriend who wasn't a student there at that time) got into Chicago together for Poli Sci. And probably my best friend at SAIS went to Berkeley in Economics. Another classmate was looking at Harvard and Berkeley for Political Economy, etc. (I don't know what happened). You get the picture. Plus, in most of your classes, you have SAIS PhD students.</p>

<p>I think the more important question is what is the particular area in which you want to study. In your case, Harvard Law School classes seem to be the decisive draw. I think I recall SAIS students taking courses at G'Town law, and there is (or was) a formal dual degree with Stanford Law if you want to go the more formal law degree route.</p>

<p>I would differ from Anton in his opinion that one is anymore academically rigorous or focused than the other. Sure, you have a required thesis course at Fletcher, but there are several courses at SAIS in each department where you can effectively write theses, and if you want that focus, you can have it. And there are some departments where it is required.</p>

<p>If you want a completely academically focused experience, I would skip SAIS or Fletcher and go straight to PhD.</p>

<p>To go on in a PhD is poli sci., I would think either school would be better than KSG judging by the bureacratic management focus that KSG seems to have (I recall my friends were required to take courses that were all about government management). But I don't have a lot of data on this, so you should check. I do know that every year, it seemed a few KSGers showed up as transfers to SAIS because they apparently wanted more IR, less PA.</p>

79

<p>
[quote]
Again, given my lack of business-related experience, what is something I could do this summer to rev up my resume for my application to b-school in the fall? Are there certain classes, summer programs that you recommend in the DC area? Or perhaps should I slave away at some bank in the area as an unpaid intern? I doubt again, given my experience only as a peace corps volunteer, that I have much of a choice.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Get in touch with Ian MacMillan, professor at Wharton, and tell him you would volunteer to go to South Africa and work on one of his Social Entrepreneurship projects. (if you can afford it). Don't tell him you are applying to Wharton, unless he brings it up. (don't mention you got the idea off an internet board, of course; it should be part of your natural curiosity.</p>

<p>See if you can get a State Department internship in some country.</p>

<p>Since you were involved with bringing businesses to fruition (if I recall correctly) in the Peace Corps, your slant might be that you are entrepreneurial, particularly if this is borne out by other aspects of your life.</p>

<p>I think as fall-back, you could do a bank internship, but that could turn out very easily to look like empty credentialing. Depends on what you do there.</p>

<p>What about volunteering for a microfinance project in Latin American with Finca or something?</p>

80

<p>
[quote]
I know I really need to go to visit SAIS, but I am far more excited about Fletcher's open house. Is it worth going to an open house at Fletcher when I have already visited the school once?</p>

<p>Obviously schools try a lot harder to recruit once you are accepted than before you apply. If I skip Fletcher and just go the SAIS open house, will I have an unfair comparision?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You are convinced about Fletcher and know a lot about it. You'll have plenty of time to have a good time finding out about Fletcher if that's where you decide to go.</p>

<p>Challenge your assumptions and go to SAIS. Try to find some SAIS people who turned down Fletcher to go there and ask why and if they have any regrets.</p>

<p>Wherever you will end up, you will have a better sense of having chosen right if you genuinely weigh the options. Otherwise, why bother to consider SAIS further at all?</p>

<p>I think with SAIS, you could do a walk-in to lunch and ask a random coterie of people and you wouldn't necessarily get the party line. That's what you want -- i.e., to avoid the marketing schtick.</p>

<p>I don't think you'll be so easily led to your conclusions about which is better. With your girlfriend factor and your preference for integration with a university and your desire to stay in Boston, etc. Fletcher already has some big advantages in your mind. So, no, I don't think going to the SAIS open house would be deleterious. I mean, based on what I am hearing, about the only thing SAIS could do is put a wad of cash in your offer to possibly convince you readily and decisively. And I just don't think it'll do that. But, if you keep your mind somewhat open, you might discover other attractions. </p>

<p>You could try to talk to the financial aid office and negotiate with them, tell them you have other options (might work with Fletcher too, by the way). This worked for a good friend of mine at SAIS -- though she was African American and they really wanted her.</p>