<p>Long-time reader, first time poster. Having made my first firm decision about IR grad school (declining a spot at UCSD IR/PS), I'm left with 3 choices: SAIS (no $), LSE (MSc Development Studies, waiting on a scholarship outcome) and the Graduate Institute (HEI) in Geneva (MIA, full funding + stipend). I already work in government (international) and am looking for international experience from my masters, as well as networking opportunities for international orgs (humanitarian/political). Would I be crazy to go to SAIS (my top choice) if it means taking out $80k in loans? Would I lose anything by choosing LSE or HEI given I'm not after a US Foreign Service or World Bank position?</p>
<p>Well SAIS is a great program…no doubt - but I would shy away from 80,000$ in loans - when an MSc at LSE is going to only be about 25,000$ USD (without any funding) [also just FYI - funding from LSE at this point is running REALLY low as it is late in the season]. </p>
<p>LSE is a great school - for Europe - it will give you the education and contacts you need. However if you want to do IR in America…well then SAIS will give you the edge. However, LSE was just ranked highly by Foreign Affairs for MA degrees - so…yeah…it was below SAIS, but still in the top 10 I believe…</p>
<p>I don’t know how Geneva ranks near LSE… but LSE is at the top of the European field. </p>
<p>But then again I am being biased I guess - as I have accepted a spot at LSE.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar boat though I didn’t apply to SAIS and the like because I do not want to be in debt forever. I’m deciding between HEI and SOAS, London. I didn’t apply to LSE, even though I seriously considered it…I’ve talked to a lot of people about HEI and I’m leaning towards there at the moment, mainly because Geneva does have a ton of networking opportunities in the fields you mentioned. </p>
<p>I didn’t get a scholarship (you lucky cow) but if I did, I’d be there in a shot. I’m not American, though I did my undergrad here…and I’m interested in the study exchanges HEI has with Fletcher and the like. </p>
<p>So basically, my rambling reply is that. Do what feels right to you. I think you’d have a great education with great opportunities any place you decide but…do you really want to be in debt?</p>
<p>Consider if SAIS is going to be worth $1000 a month in loan payments for the 10 years after you graduate, because that’s how much you’re gonna be paying with $80,000 in loans.</p>
<p>What do I think the answer would be? Absolutely not. All graduates of recognized IR programs generally make the same salary rate no matter what IR program they’ve chosen - as long as it’s recognized. No school is really going to give you an edge that’s going to make that $1000 a month burden worth it.</p>
<p>Graduate with as little debt as possible.</p>
<p>I’m personally a big fan of the ‘graduate with as little debt as possible’ approach. Life is to short to spend it paying off debts.
That said, the opportunities available to SAIS grads, especially in the US, really outpace those available to grads from LSE and the HEI. People will pop in with anecdotal evidence to the contrary but SAIS is prestigious (and expensive) for a reason.
From your post, however, it seems like youre leaning more towards trying to break into the European job market, in which case HEI or LSE is probably a slam dunk, especially when taking price into consideration.</p>
<p>Can-bra,</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance to those great schools. I’m curious to know what you ended up choosing and how things are going for you? I’m about a year behind you in the whole process…just finished undergrad at GW with a 3.1 overall GPA and am trying to take some extra courses to strengthen my econ/stat background. After completing the courses, I’m going to apply to the same schools you did. Where did you end up and how did you make your decision?</p>
<p>Take HEI and the money.</p>
<p>It’s hard to argue against being debt free when your field is such a non lucrative one as IR.</p>