MA in IR: Comparing American, GW, and Georgetown

<p>I skipped many of the responses, so this may be outdated. I graduated with a BA from GW Elliott and I was just accepted to MA IA program and waiting on Gtown, for full disclosure. Gtown’s program is more internationally recognized. I am aborad A LOT and whenever I say that I got a degree in IAFF in DC everybody assumes Gtown. Period. With that said, in DC the programs that you got into are all respected. I’ve had Gtown MA grads tell me that Elliott is a better program.</p>

<p>I think you need to think about your future. If you want to work for State, I’d choose Gtown hands-down. Its an MSc degree in Foreign Service. Look at it’s course list and you’ll see that this is a really focused degree for Foreign Service Officers (diplomats). If you want to work for a private company, any of you’re three is game. However, if you want to work for congress / be an advisor to a congress person in the long-term then I think the GW program is better as it offers you the ability to fine-tune your education to become either a specialist or a generalist in a plethora of fields. I am unsure about which is best for those wanting to go into national security, though I would assume SAIS is king, with GW and Gtown tied for 2nd. </p>

<p>I am also confused as to why colombia and other non-Dc schools are rated above GW. They all seem to share the same professors from Harvard…</p>

<p>I’d go with whatever program offered the least amount of debt as the OP original post. AU, G-town and GWU all good as is Hopkins. And actually you see decals from just about every college possible at the Foreign Service Institute.</p>

<p>So I finally got a decision from Georgetown. I’m in!!! Very excited, as this has been my top choice for about a year now!</p>

<p>So between the DC trio, I’m in at American, with almost full funding plus stipend; in at GW, with no funding; in at Gtown and since GW didn’t give me anything, I’m willing to bet that I won’t get anything here either. I have no undergrad debt, and about a year left on my GI Bill, which won’t cover much of Gtown’s astronomical tuition. </p>

<p>Having looked at general debt calculators and projected salaries through this degree, I don’t know how I can really justify the intensely desirable brand name Gtown over a free degree at American. Advice and insight appreciated!</p>

<p>If you’re looking to work for the gov’t then where you went doesn’t mean *****.</p>

<p>any other DC grad students past/present wanna weigh in on this?</p>