<p>Hello everyone. I've just read through all 50 pages (three years worth I think?) of this thread and am hoping a lot of you (UCLAri especially since you seem to know a lot) are still around to answer my questions. I know it's been several months since anyone's posted here but please respond I really need you all's help!</p>
<p>Here's my situation:</p>
<p>I am currently a senior in college majoring in political science. I applied to and got rejected from SAIS, SIPA, and most likely Georgetown although I haven't heard back from them yet. I got in to the University of Chicago's CIR program.
I don't even really care about SIPA anymore, but I had my heart set on SAIS and am heartbroken like you wouldn't believe. In their letter they said that "Academically, I am a competitive applicant", but I do not have any professional experience. I should get work experience, and they would welcome an application from me in the future.
I don't know if they say that to everyone, but it did make me feel slightly better.</p>
<p>Anyways, my question is this:
Should I take a year and get some work experience before reapplying to SAIS, or should I go to the CIR program?
There are several factors at work here. I really, really want to go to SAIS. From the endless hours of research I did before and after applying to my four universities, SAIS has the greatest program for someone looking to get an MA in IR. They have a very strong economics base, which is something I need and would enjoy.
My problem, however, is that I might not be able to get work experience in an economy like this. What if I'm stuck dilly-dallying around for an entire year and end up with nothing to show for it?
My dad advised me to go CIR, and then reapply for SAIS sometime after. But I feel as if that would detract from my application, because why would I want two masters degrees in the same thing?
I know that they are essentially very different degrees, CIR is more theoretical (essentially the first year off a PhD program from what I've heard) and SAIS is many times more practical, but the paper degree still says it's a masters in IR. </p>
<p>On the other hand, the idea of going to UChicago and studying under such people as Mearsheimer and Robert Pape is unbelievably attractive. That's an opportunity I'm never going to get again. Besides which, the rigorous curriculum and finally being able to focus on IR (as opposed to all these bs classes they make you take as undergrad that have nothing to do with what you want to do) makes it sound like it would be a blast. </p>
<p>In the end, I want to hopefully do a dual degree from Stanford/SAIS, get an MA+JD and practice international law. I know that Stanford law is probably harder to get into than SAIS, but even if I do not get in, I still have a shot at SAIS and am unwilling to let that opportunity for the future slip out of my hands. Which is essentially what I would be doing were I to accept my UChicago offer. </p>
<p>So what would you advise? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>