SAIS vs. MSFS

Graduate School
1

<p>I think most of us who have applied to international relations programs have heard back from all of the programs we applied to, and now it is decision time. I have been accepted to SIPA MIA, Fletcher MALD, Georgetown MSFS and SAIS. I think I have eliminated SIPA, and I am leaning towards either MSFS or SAIS. I know that these programs have been briefly compared on this forum before, but I thought it would be helpful to me and others to go into some more depth. Here are the observations that I have made so far. I look forward to hearing everyone else’s opinions.</p>

<p>Characteristics common to both programs: Location in DC, top notch faculty, small class size (per course), great employment opportunities</p>

<p>SAIS: Core curriculum is very heavy in economics, and all students complete one of their two concentrations in international economics. This includes at least 6 required econ courses. The good side of this is that SAIS graduates seem to come out as economic powerhouses. The bad side is that it could make the curriculum grueling, especially for someone who may not need that level of economics for their planned career. The SAIS brand name seems to be very strong, perhaps stronger than MSFS, but that is just my perception at this point. Typically graduates about 250 students/year. Employment statistics show 34% go to the private sector, 23% to the public sector, 20% to multilateral (I think this is included in the public sector in the statistics of other universities), 13% to non profits.</p>

<p>MSFS: Core curriculum is less heavy on economics, although there is still an economic component (2 courses required, many more available). Typically graduates about 90 students/year (this could account for the fact that people seem to see more SAIS people in various fields, they simply graduate nearly 3 times as many students). A member of the admissions staff told me that the acceptance rate this year was in the 20’s % , which I think may be more selective than SAIS, but I’m not sure. Employment statistics show 44% go to the private sector, 38% to the public sector and 15% to non-profits (96% of graduates have full time employment within the first six months).</p>

<p>To give a little bit of information on myself, I am hoping to pursue a career in the public sector, and am leaning towards foreign policy/diplomacy. I got no money from MSFS, so if I get anything significant from SAIS, I will go there. If not, this will be a tough choice. </p>

<p>What I take from the above is that neither of these schools is clearly better than the other. I think SAIS would give me a better concrete skill in economics, but it is unclear how useful that will be in my future career.<br>
Thoughts? Please share any further information or any analysis of the above. Anyone else facing the same dilemma?</p>

2

<p>With either program, you can make them as quant-focused as you want them to be.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the imput, Volscio. Many MSFS and Fletcher students have been quick to point out that their schools also provide plenty of econ and quant courses, they are just not required as they are at SAIS.</p>

<p>Do you find that the MSFS students are a pretty tight knit group?</p>

4

<p>Yeah, MSFS is a very tight-knit group. Especially during the first semester when everyone is taking the same courses. But the class size is so small and fathoms different than the other grad programs that our lives overlap constantly. We had three get-togethers this weekend, for example.</p>

<p>All that said, a lot of us have friends at SAIS, American, and G-Dub. So we're not closed in.</p>

5

<p>Hi All,
I am a current graduate student at the MSFS program. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this program is and I have been here for only 2 weeks. It is truly inspiring… I really don’t know where to begin.<br>
I want to address the econ and quant requirements. I was so hard-nosed about these requirements and their importance to me and to my professional career development and the “next step” after graduate school that I have completely lost sight of the reality – I am not going into a PhD program of any quantitative nature. There are no courses that SAIS or any “econy” program can offer you to put you at a significant edge or in a pool to compete for the “econ jobs” per se.
If your interest is quantitative methods or economics. My advice to you is to really think twice before going for any of the aformentioned programs.
But if you are interested in economics or business and finance, I want you to seriously consider MSFS because:
You probably like econ and you saw that there is a place for you to be the translator or middle point policy maker who can connect the economics with international affairs. That is great. And yes such jobs exist in all fields from strategic to conflict resolution to emerging markes. However, don’t lose sight of the fact that IR depends a lot on RELATIONS and MSFS will bat hard for you to find the right connections in that elusive middle ground. Knowing how to do regression better is not hte answer. It’s having a few keys that can open doors and the rest is learning on teh Job. This is something that I only began to learn the past few weeks as I continue to be suprised by the daily alumni events, connections made, and non-stop support from the entire MSFS staff (yes a whole staff dedicated to 95 people)!!!
The argument above also goes for business - but I have to say SPECIFICALLY for business and finance, leverging the business school has been amazing. Unless you are seriously considering going to Business School and don’t want an MBA at McDonough then might as well enjoy free business school resources for the price of one degree.
Please post questions here. I am really happy to clarify anything.</p>

6

<p>Thanks Dcaptamr for you insight on the MSFS. </p>

<p>I’m actually trying to decide between the MSFS and the MALD at Fletcher (early notification acceptance). I’m really interested in a career involving international economics, and i was accepted to SAIS in the past and thought it would be a perfect school for my interests,but it has a really strict language requirement and will not accept my second language proficiency in Armenian, whereas Tufts and GT will. But I’ve seen that both Tufts and GT gives students the freedom to focus on areas of their particular interests, so that doesn’t concern me at all.</p>

<p>Dcaptamr, how did the entirety of the first semester go there at GT?
Anyone out there go to or went to Tufts Fletcher? How does their professor/staff support compare to what Dcaptamr said about GT?</p>

7

<p>Why did you eliminate SIPA and Fletcher?</p>