<p>Hallo!! I am very happy to take part in this discussion. </p>
<p>SAIS (MA) or Simon (MBA)</p>
<p>I am a 27-year-old Japanese. I worked in Ministry of Finance (MOF, Budged Bureau) for 2 years and now inspected regional banks as a financial inspector in Osaka. </p>
<p>I plan to study in the United States for two years in this July. I was financially supported by Japanese government.</p>
<p>Now I was admitted to Johns Hopkins University SAIS (MA, international finance and Chinese economy) and Columbia University SIPA (MIA, international finance). I feel attracted to SAIS than SIPA, because many Japanese go to SIPA and few Japanese are admitted to SAIS
In addition, I was asked by University of Rochester Simon School (MBA, finance concentration) to consider 2008 January entry option, though I was not admitted to enter Simon in September 2007. </p>
<p>Since I am very interested in both International finance and Chinese economy at SAIS and MBA (finance concentration) at Simon, it is very difficult for me to decide which school I should attend. So now I am trying to consult with my parents, my bosses, my friends, SAIS graduates, and Simon graduates. I want to know opinions of U.S. peoples and reputation of both schools in the U.S.</p>
<p>Since, in the short term, it is high possibility that I will work in Financial Services Agency (FSA,) I think Simon MBA is better. .But, in the future, I am interested in becoming a politician. So SAIS human network is very attractive to me. </p>
<p>At this point, I think there are three options about my future. </p>
<p>①2.0yr SAIS (July 2007 to June 2009)
②1.5yr Simon (+ an intensive English Language & US Culture program) (October 2007 to June 2009)
③0.5yr SAIS (July 2007 to December 2007) + 1.5yr Simon (January 2008 to June 2009)+ 1.0yr SAIS (July 2010 to June 2009)</p>
<p>SAIS has the formal joint-degree programs with Wharton and Tuck. In addition, it has Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs. In the past, SAIS admitted Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs with business schools like Columbia, UCLA, and University of Maryland. I feel that SAIS will admit Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs with Simon school, because Simon has a high reputation for finance.
<a href="http://www.sais-jhu.edu/admissions/ma/joint/jointadm.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.sais-jhu.edu/admissions/ma/joint/jointadm.html</a></p>
<p>So, I asked SAIS admission to admit Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs with Simon school, though I have not yet received SAIS response. </p>
<p>The option ③ seems very attractive to me, though the option ③ has several problems.
1. I get away from work for three years. It?s too long.
2. I feel that MOF will not admit option ③ , because basically MOF plans to send me abroad for two years.
3. MOF supports me financially for two-year study not for third year study. </p>
<p>It is true that I am still attached to SAIS, but I think that if I really want to study public policy (including international relation and politics), I can go to public school as mid career in the future. I feel that now is the best time to get MBA, though some MBA schools have executive MBA programs. </p>
<p>Therefore, my best plan I could consider is like this.
0.5yr SAIS (July 2007 to December 2007) + 1.5yr Simon (January 2008 to June 2009)
At SAIS, I will take what I really want to take, such as international monetary theory, financial crisis and so on as ?official? status. </p>
<p>If I talk about my best plan with SAIS admission, I am afraid that SAIS admission does not admit Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs with Simon school. Moreover, I am afraid that SAIS admission dose not allow me to enter SAIS.
So towards SAIS admission, I feel it is better to talk about option ③. And at the end of the second year, I will say to SAIS, `I have to go back to Japan, because MOF does not allow me to study more. I am not financially supported. I am very sorry.? </p>
<p>But this strategy has two disadvantages: first of all, since two degrees will be offered at the end of third year, it is possible that I cannot get any degree if I go back to Japan at the end of the second year. Japanese government requires me to take a master degree in two years. Secondly, it?s moral problem. I don?t want to tell a lie. </p>
<p>I want to get approval by SAIS that SAIS admits me to enter SAIS as ?official? status from July 2007 to December 2007. If you were in my position, what would you do? Of course, I have to wait for response from SAIS admission about ad hoc joint degree program with Simon. </p>
<p>The reason why I write in this thread is that in page 25, there are discussions about joint degree program. So I expect some of you are very familiar with it.
I am very sorry, RecentlyAccepted.</p>