Johns Hopkins SAIS BA-MA program???

Graduate School
1

<p>hey, i recently got into a program which gives you a BA and MA all in five years. the BA is from JHU undergrad, and MA is an IR degree from SAIS. </p>

<p>But i wanna go to law school too. actually, the reason i applied to the SAIS MA program is that i thought having an MA from an elite school like SAIS would boost my chance at at top law schools, given that I will be able to do well in terms of GPA and LSAT of course. </p>

<p>do you think though there can be any disadvantage???? HLS website says that they prefer a more wide, thoretical education than a rather narrow vocational training...will my MA from SAIS hurt my chances at schools like HLS because they will view my MA as a narrow, professional training? plus, i will be receiving a BA only in 3 years if i decide to pursue this MA...will there be any disadvantage? b/c i'got an impression that schools like HLS prefer liberal arts education from places like Williams, Middlebury and such. an BA+MA in only 5 years isn't exactly THAT liberal a education in my opinion. </p>

<p>besides the fact that studies at SAIS would be challenging, i wanted to know if i am making a well-informed decision by trying to doing MA at SAIS</p>

2

<p>1) No way.</p>

<p>2) Ask Harvard this.</p>

<p>3) As a SAIS grad, I'll tell you it bills itself as a professional school, but that's really a stretch when compared to b-school, law school, med school. It's not narrow training. </p>

<p>4) The BA/MA people at SAIS were all very impressive (except maybe for 1 I knew who wasn't ready for the intensity, but who was really smart), and the fact that you were admitted is a huge feather in your cap that will help, not hurt you in the LS application process, IMO.</p>

<p>5) You can get a very cool internship through SAIS before your 2nd year and this will help you as you do your apps.</p>

<p>6) You can focus on economics which is, or should be, general training for any lawyer these days. This is not a vocational focus. This is the essence of what a liberal arts program will teach you.</p>

<p>
[quote]
plus, i will be receiving a BA only in 3 years if i decide to pursue this MA...will there be any disadvantage?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The only possible disadvantage I could foresee is if you curtail your activities in college because you'll be leaving soon. But you can pick up activities at SAIS to make up for this.</p>

<p>examples:</p>

<ul>
<li>angle to edit the SAIS Review</li>
<li>join student govt.</li>
<li>participate in the Moot Court competition</li>
<li>do an internship with one of the DC-based legal system/democracy-building institutes....</li>
</ul>

<p>etc., etc.</p>

<p>Start this on day 1.</p>

<p>
[quote]
b/c i'got an impression that schools like HLS prefer liberal arts education from places like Williams, Middlebury and such. an BA+MA in only 5 years isn't exactly THAT liberal a education in my opinion.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't quite get your point. Why isn't it a liberal education? Liberal artsy applicants such as Williams or Middlebury grads will be relatively a dime a dozen. You with good recs from SAIS/Hopkins profs will be unique.</p>

<p>What field are you thinking of?
Region?
etc.</p>

3

<p>I did the Hopkins BA/MA program--and then went to law school (and have practiced law ever since). I'll offer you the following thoughts:</p>

<p>1) The program was amazing--you'll learn a lot and be exposed to very smart, knowledgable classmates at SAIS. Most SAIS students are a few years older than those in the BA/MA program--so it will be a very different experience than at Homewood. Also, the people in the program, being all the same age, usually get very tight. As you know, its a small group. </p>

<p>2) It won't be a major leg up with regard to law school admissions. Law school admissions is largely a numbers game (GPA and LSAT)--and to put everyone on a level playing field, the grades you get in your fifth year won't count toward the gpa the admissions offices look at. Of course, having the masters is a plus--but probably less valuable from an admissions standpoint then you might think. </p>

<p>3) The major plus of doing the program (and then going to law school), apart from the knowledge and experience that you will gain, is that it probably will look good to prospective employers when you finish law school. SAIS has a great reputation. Another side benefit is that your fourth year GPA--which is important to law schools--will probably be higher at SAIS then if you stay at Homewood as a senior. In my experience, grading is a bit more liberal at SAIS than KSAS (anything below a B is a failing grade at SAIS, and almost no one fails).</p>

<p>4) I think the only downside of doing the 5 year program is the extra cost for one year. If money is not a significant issue--then I think its a no brainer. If, on the other hand, you are taking out loans to pay for the SAIS degree--It might not be worth it unless you are sure that you want to do some international type of practice after law school. If you are interested an an international area of practice (e.g., international trade law), then the SAIS degree will carry you as far or better then doing an LLM in international law after the JD.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

4

<p>hey, thanks very much guys.</p>

5

<p>Let us know what you decide.</p>

6

<p>How competitive is the 5 year program to get into? I believe I read somewhere that they only took 8 or so a year?</p>

<p>When do you apply? I also heard Sophomore year, but if so, what do you do Freshman year?</p>

<p>I’ve already applied to JHU, but it was only now that I heard of this program, and as an IR major, I’m fascinated.</p>