<p>Does anyone know who has the best program(s) in international/economic development? Several of these programs are part of international relations schools. I'm aware that SIPA at Columbia, SAIS at JHU, Kennedy at Harvard, SFS at Georgetown, Fletcher at Tufts, Wilson at Princeton, among others are considered the top in international relations/government/policy. As far as the concentration of international development or economic development, do you know who stands out? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Fletcher has a great program named exactly what you're looking for: "International Development." It has 3 specialization study programs within the Intl Development degree to choose from: Political and Social Change, Sustainable Development, and Economic Analysis, Trade, & Investment. You can read more about the individual course requirements here: <a href="http://fletcher.tufts.edu/academic/certificate.shtml#International%20Development%5B/url%5D">http://fletcher.tufts.edu/academic/certificate.shtml#International%20Development</a>.
The program is considered top-notch especially for people who want to go into non-profit sector or international organizations like the UN. The number-two man for the secretary-general nomination this year was a Fletcher grad. He studied International Development, too.</p>
<p>Are you paid by Tufts to advertise for them? Honestly. All 258 posts of yours are about that school. I just find it a bit peculiar.</p>
<p>Most of my posts are about Tufts and I've been here a lot longer - my posts are on the verge of a thousand. We are passionate students that like promoting our school and helping others see that we found our experience to be very worthwhile..</p>
<p>MaverickLane,</p>
<p>There are a few programs that I can suggest, but indulge me with your area of study first. Then I can kinda tailor my answer a bit better.</p>
<p>Addwit - I go to Tufts. So I write about what I know. I second everything Snuffles said above.</p>
<p>Interesting... Ok. Just curious.</p>
<p>add,</p>
<p>Do you like to ask every poster that is heavily in favor of their alma mater if they in fact work for them? I think you will be asking a quarter of the posters on CC their employment status. Let people promote their schools if they want to. If someone blatently misdirects potentially students then it's unethical, otherwise it's fair game.</p>
<p>Haha, no, I only ask the very peculiar posters. You and lolabelle are the only people I've seen who post nothing except how great your alma mater is. No one else does that. Surely you can understand my curiosity.</p>
<p>Don't overlook other programs in Washington DC like the Elliot School at George Washington University and American University. You may have more opportunities to do internships if you are in DC. It seems that so many careers in "international affairs" are incredibly competitive. You really need to set yourself apart from your competition. Having name-brand internships will help. You have got to have foreign language ability-hopefully you have it in a language that is "in-demand" Try to get something published as well.</p>
<p>For MAs, I'd consider the following programs:</p>
<p>SAIS
SIPA
GWU
GTown
American
IR/PS (if you're into Latin America or the Pacific Rim)
KSG
Fletcher
and a few others.</p>
<p>Foreign language is pretty much a must. GPAs are usually in the 3.3-3.7 range, GRE scores usually rest around 650-700 in both sections (lower for verbal if non-native.) I recommend a solid background in differential calculus, statistics, and lower-div econ for most programs. </p>
<p>But if I know more about you I can offer more personalized advice.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Haha, no, I only ask the very peculiar posters. You and lolabelle are the only people I've seen who post nothing except how great your alma mater is. No one else does that. Surely you can understand my curiosity.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Understandable. This is our way of giving back to the university for giving us the opportunities it has afforded us. We take joy out of sharing our successes and the betterment of future alums to come.</p>
<p>add, </p>
<p>check out the X o X o . com website, & Priceton Review message board and you will see tons of people who do it. Keep in mind that for the next couple of months students are trying to choose where they will go next fall.</p>
<p>any others chools</p>
<p>What region are you interested in?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the help. You guys are great. For some info on me... I'm graduating this December in industrial engineering from a large state university that's quality but not prestigious. I'm getting a minor in business and certificate in leadership. My GPA should come out around 3.85-3.9. I've accepted a job as an industrial engineer at one of the large U.S. defense contractors.</p>
<p>However, I'm really interested in international development. Its an interest thats been growing over the past 2 or 3 years, and definitely increased when I spent a good part of this past summer doing development work in Africa. Im really considering going into international development long term. Im interested in someday leading an international development organization serving the worlds poorest people by working with all sectors (private, public, non-profit) to implement sustainable solutions to global poverty.</p>
<p>As far as location Im open to that, but sub-Saharan Africa is definitely an area of interest, since it has the highest proportion of people living in extreme poverty. South/East Asia is also a priority since it has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty. Some of the international development programs break the program down into different foci, such one dealing with finance/business/economics, another dealing with politics and government, another dealing with social change, etc. Im really not sure yet what specific area Id want to focus on most. I think all of those areas would be useful to have training in.</p>
<p>Im also considering a joint-degree, where Id maybe do a masters in international relations specializing in international development, and an MBA. Some schools allow you to do both 2-year programs in 3 years total by replacing a semester of each schools electives with the other schools three semesters. I may not actually want to do 2 degrees, but Im thinking about it. I think the study in international development would really give me a deep understanding of the problems facing the worlds poor regions, as well as ideas for how to solve these problems. And I think an MBA from a top program would really help prepare me for leadership in a large multinational development organization, as well as open up plenty of opportunities for me.</p>
<p>Im not necessarily looking at doing anything directly related to my degree. However, the IE degree gives me a quantitative background ad nauseam, with lots of calculus, upper level stats, economics, linear algebra, operations research, among plenty other such classes.</p>
<p>Since I dont have all the specifics nailed down yet, its just as well Im not going to apply for next fall. Between now and when I do decide to start a masters program, I plan to get more experience in business, and also work for a development organization overseas. Both of these I think will be really helpful in giving me the experience needed to do what I want to do. And they should both strengthen my applications for schools.</p>
<p>At this point there are not a lot of (if any) good opportunities for me in development organizations, because pretty much every single one wants people with work experience, especially business-oriented experience. It seems straight out of college, theyre not really interested in you, but if you work a couple years in consulting or something, even if it has nothing to with international development, they want you for your business experience. As far as consulting goes, Ill have to see about that. One of the great myths within consulting firms is that the only people that are worthy of doing consulting work are those from elite schools. Now I know that those people have no edge over me, other than the name on their diploma, but the consulting firms generally dont seem to recognize that. Anyway, Ill probably try to move over into consulting if possible, but well see.</p>
<p>One of the things Im trying to do now is pin down where the very best programs are in international development, so I can gain the most possible in my 1 ½ to 2 years there, if thats what I decide to do. So thanks for your help so far, and for any more ideas you have.</p>
<p>MaverickLane,</p>
<p>If you're interested in Southeast Asia, then seriously consider IR/PS. I don't like being a shill, but it really is a strong program for people interested in working in development-- particularly those looking to be involved in the Pacific Rim.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I think that most of the best APSIA programs are great. SAIS, GTown, GWU, SIPA, American, and Fletcher will definitely offer you great educations in the area. As far as joint programs go, I definitely recommend the KSG program. It's not exactly easy to get into both HBS and KSG at once, but if you can, you'll be a development star!</p>
<p>Your mathematical skills will be very much appreciated at any of these programs.</p>
<p>There are a couple of other schools not mentioned here. Monterey Institute for International Affairs, Brandeis -Heller School, School for International Training (Vermont)</p>
<p>These schools might be easier to get into. It seems that a lot of graduates at these schools are involved in some aspect of international development.</p>
<p>I have a number of concerns about this field -namely job availability, job competition, and career growth.</p>
<p>I think liberal arts colleges churn out people who all have interests in this area, they go to one of the graduate schools mentioned above, and because of limited demand and huge supply of qualified grads, people end up fighting for jobs that really aren't that great. </p>
<p>I have a Masters degree from Oxford and have been amazed at the lack of respect I get with my degree-the response seems to be -big deal. I graduated, went to DC and it was amazing how I was always told I needed more internships (despite having had two good internships in DC already). I met a number of people who went to really good schools and they were all struggling.</p>
<p>Moral of the story? I really think you have to set yourself apart from the herd. Doing a joint degree with the MBA might be a good idea.</p>