<p>Like most of you, I'm currently in the midst of a grad school dilemma. I've received acceptances from Chicago's one year CIR MA program, GWU Elliot School's 2 year MA, and Oxford's 2 year MPhil in Politics and International Relations. </p>
<p>CIR is giving me a lot of money but I'm worried about the speed and workload of a fast paced, year long IR program. I'm also really excited about getting into Oxford's MPhil programs, since they're highly regarded and they only offer 30 spots out of 300 applications, and my professors have told me that an Oxford education would open doors for me later on, but as I'm an American citizen getting no aid, the cost is rather hefty. My family is excited about Oxford and doesn't mind the cost (which would probably end up costing around the same as GWU, actually)</p>
<p>I'm wondering how an Oxford degree is perceived by the foreign policy community here in the US, especially in NY or DC. Do think tanks and NGOs think Oxbridge is just as competitive as the best east coast programs? I've been told it can open doors, but a lot of the time that's for Marshall or Rhodes scholars (and that reputation matters less than their degree). I'm fairly certain I don't want to go onto a PhD, though law school is a possibility.</p>
<p>A degree from Oxford is a great door opener in general, its Oxford! But imho it will not get you into as many doors as UC program will for what you want to do. If you look at the Oxford classes they are extremely broad which will be more of a handicap compared to the kids in the states who take more in-depth courses which allows them to specialize. Lets say for instance you are interested in African politics, while you might have taken one course that was offered at the Mphil and did a thesis. A student at SAIS will have that concentration with multiple courses, a thesis, and internships to back it up. It puts you at a disadvantage while at UChicago you can take a few courses write a thesis. Also I think if you do well enough get offered to do the 2 year masters (I am not sure about that at all don’t take my word I thought I read it in the grad cafe). The Mphil is a research degree which is ideally for a person that wants to go for the Dphil. Also don’t let selectivity blind you to practicality, Oxford is far away from London which has the think tank connections that would help you get somewhere in American think tanks for example Chevening House. Since you are not going for a phD I’d suggest the one year at UChicago, you want to go to law school possibly why do the extra year and extra pay.</p>
<p>Just to clarify a few things. The MPhil, which takes one or two years to complete in Oxbridge, is not necessarily a research degree; in fact the vast majority of the MPhils are taught degrees, and most people studying for an MPhil do not wish to continue to the PhD level.</p>
<p>Secondly, I suppose that, with the help of Google maps anyone can realize that Oxford is not “far away from London”. Oxford and Cambridge are both about a 40 minute train ride from central London, and Oxford have a 24 hour bus connection to the city. I have no idea what people consider “far”, but I go to London fairly often, and I do not consider a 40 minutes ride to the city centre (not the outskirts, central London!) as a long one… All in all, the connections between the City and Oxford are immerse.</p>
<p>The question begs for careful consideration that do have Oxford the same connections with DC like Chicago? Somehow, I don’t think so. GWU’s biggest advantage is it’s location, although then the question rises; you did not apply to Georgetown? Chicago is clearly far superior to Georgetown, but in case of IR, DC rules, and not the Midwest. Summing up, if Chicago is willing to give you a lot of money, then, I think, maybe it’s wiser to go to Chicago…although it’s true that the Oxford brand name is strong, it offers a completely new experience, and in case if IR, it never hurt anyone if they spend some time in a foreign country (as far as the UK considered really “foreign” in the US :D)</p>
<p>Thanks Gerald.</p>
<p>I did get into an MA program at Georgetown (Democracy and Governance), but not the MSFS, which is the most rigorous and well known of their degrees (I didn’t get any funding either). I also got into GWU, also without funding. I don’t like their emphasis on night courses and working during the day, and outside of DC their brand name is limited. Without any funding for either of those two, I would be spending large sums of money anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah, well, even Georgetown isn’t in pair with Chicago and Oxford, but GWU is truly in an other league…although have to admit, it is rising on the rankings. And what about Princeton? The WW School comes to mind as a leading IR school, at a place with a brand name stronger than both Chicago and Oxford. Back to your dilemma, I think it’s fairly obvious that you should ask people related to IR that what they consider better (or, if not better, then better connected to DC) Oxford or Chicago? If the vast majority will vote for Oxford, then it would perhaps be wise to come here, but otherwise go to Chicago, as it is even willing to give you a lot of money. (And an other thing to consider: how one year MA-s treated in the US? I mean, as mentioned, most Cambridge and Oxford MPhils takes not two but one year (and the courses are, of course, quite intensive), but it’s the “normal” way of things, and everyone knows that. But in connection with the US, I rarely hear about one year MA-s…)</p>
<p>Initially I liked the one year program, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a vestigial remnant of the political science PhD program, since you basically take the same courses. Almost every other IR program in the country is two years, and I don’t see a CIR grad in the professional world being able to compete with someone with another year of experience and specialization. In fact, its the only one year MA I can think of in the field, at least in the US. </p>
<p>As for Princeton, I honestly can’t say why I didn’t apply there, since I made the decision not to a while back, but they don’t have a dedicated IR program and when I interned in DC I rarely heard about their MPA (though their PhD pops up a lot more), so I didn’t apply. Seems foolish now, but I had pinned my hopes on SAIS, SIPA, and Fletcher, none of which I got into. What’s done is done…</p>
<p>well, i am in a similar dilemma. choice is between the cambridge mphil IR and syracuse ma IR. even though i’ve received an assistantship from syracuse, i’m leaning towards cam since i get to write a thesis on my pet topic - plus its less than a year long so i graduate earlier. i nearly applied to oxford as well, but a 2 year course in the uk didn’t seem worth it esp since us courses were the same duration and combined an internship. however, since you’re american, the uk would be great for international exposure. whichever choice you make, you can’t go wrong!</p>
<p>aakash87, I decided to accept the offer for Oxford. I’ll be at Balliol College. It was a tough decision, but after talking with former professors, Oxford alumni in my home city, and former employers, I decided to go. </p>
<p>What decision did you end up making, aakash?</p>
<p>hey, i decided on cambridge. realised i can bridge the internship gap before the course starts which stunted the advantage that syracuse had with its internship prog. just got my confirmation at cambridge last week. will be studying the mphil ir at st john’s college, cam. are u on fb?</p>
<p>oh and i got thru georgetown’s msfs too but again no funding so that was out</p>