<p>The rankings are out. Georgetown has taken the top position for IR schools for policy-related careers. But general consensus seems to be that SAIS desreves that spot, and that the MSFS is actually a "second-tier" IR program. Any thoughts on this? Is Foreign Policy Magazine the definitive standard for these rankings? If so, has Georgetown been underrated all these years?</p>
<p>Has anyone heard back from Gtown's SSP program yet?</p>
<p>Second-tier? At least from what I've seen just from the rankings, the SFS is usually up there, if not at the top... Not that it really matters TOO much!</p>
<p>freemumia,</p>
<p>"Second-tier" meaning what? That it's second to SAIS? That may be true. Or that it's somehow in a second grouping that's below a number of similarly ranked schools? That is probably unlikely. The consensus in the IR community seems to be that SFS is up there with SAIS on a lot of things, and is easily the best competitor for the spot of "best DC IR school."</p>
<p>does anyone have a listing of the ranking? Im just curious to see it.</p>
<p>These rankings still amaze me. Did you guys know that allegedly SUNY-Albany has the 6th best MPA/MPP program in America? Say what!?</p>
<p>
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The consensus in the IR community seems to be that SFS is up there with SAIS on a lot of things, and is easily the best competitor for the spot of "best DC IR school."
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</p>
<p>Then this will have changed drastically from when I was at SAIS a bit over a decade ago. Georgetown while good was not really thought of in the same breath as SAIS, Columbia SIPA, or Tufts Fletcher. These latter three tend to draw people who roughly consider them subsitutes. That, I think, is still the case, though I'll warrant things may have changed with G'Town.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you want to talk undergrad, I think G'Town probably has the best dedicated IR school in the nation.</p>
<p>I actually like the fact that the rankings have not really mastered all the variations and complexities of different IR and policy programs. I think it leaves more room for people to genuinely figure out what is important for them rather than falling into ranking hierarchy-directed choices.</p>
<p>A few pages back on a related thread I gave my assessment of the programs in terms of tiers. Maybe that's where G'Town came out to Tier 2. This is a completely arbitrary cut-off distinguishing G'Town from the other schools named here.</p>
<p>I tend to be wary of any ranking. For one, no one ranking can tell you whether or not you will gain from spending time and money at a particular program. I know that I would not have been happy at SFS or Fletcher. The only three I was really interested in were IR/PS, SAIS, and SIPA-- and IR/PS managed to "buy me" with the great SD weather and close proximity to my hometown haunts and significant other.</p>
<p>And really, how many rankings take into account the fact that San Diego has the best weather out of all of the programs? Or that UCLAri's girlfriend is in Los Angeles? Or that UCLAri is in-state in California?</p>
<p>None that I'm aware of.</p>
<p>UCLAri,</p>
<p>Actually there is a brand new ranking coming out entitled "Ranking the Nations Graduate Schools: The UCLAri Edition." I'm pleased to say that UCSD dominates accross the board, with the rankings concluding "There is obviously no match within the USA for UCSD. How do we know this? Firstly, our own rankings tell us so, and they are flawless. Secondly, UCLAri is a UCSD, which is pretty much the only reason we need to rank UCSD #1 in all categories, be it for quality, price, looks, sex appeal or appearance in swimwear."</p>
<p>It's on newsstands everywhere. You should definately pick it up.</p>
<p>jmleadpipe,</p>
<p>Hahahah, thanks for bringing a smile to my face as I slog through finals. A little levity goes a long way the last two weeks of an academic quarter! </p>
<p>:)</p>