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SAIS v. Elliott v. SIPA
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Date: March 30th, 2009 6:10 PM Author: Concupiscible market Subject: SAIS V. SIPA V. ELLIOT Hello All,
I've read a handful of threads regarding IR/IA school comparisons, but I have some unanswered questions, and hoping I can pick the brains of everyone out there.
SIPA v. SAIS v. Elliott.
The total costs (after scholarships/fellowships) SIPA: 90K SAIS: 90K Elliott: 55K
I am interested in wide array of careers: Financial Institutions, Think Tanks, Working on the Hill. I want to obtain a solid academic foundation in Int'l Economics and American Foreign Policy. The AFP background because I want to have a hand in forming/creating/influencing American Foreign Policy. The Int'l Economics because I may want a position in the private sector that actually pays money.
1. I immediately discounted SIPA after finding out I was admitted to SAIS and Elliott. I assumed DC would be the preferred location for IA/IR (for exposure, networking, etc). I've read threads regarding this topic (NY v Boston v London V DC). I also thought that overall, SAIS was better than SIPA in terms of prestige/competitiveness as well as student-faculty ratio. How important school prestige in the field of IA?
2. SAIS first year is in Bologna, which I see as a drawback for those who want to study American Foreign Policy (me)? Does anyone else think otherwise? Plus Bologna has less classes avalailable versus SAIS-DC (especially for American Foreign Policy). But the SAIS economics curriculum is unmatched. The guest speakers are less abundant at Bologna, and it seems many of the career seminars are held mostly at SAIS-DC?
3. Elliott seems to be the BEST school to prepare students for practical work, the real-world, and tackle day-to-day IA/IR issues very well, especially in govt. Drawback is that the curricula overall doesn’t seem that demanding (they recommend only 3 classes per term versus 4 at most institutions). Also, I know the Elliott name may not carry the same weight as SIPA and SAIS.
Are my conclusions/assumptions inaccurate, am I misled? Does anyone have aby contrary opinions? As you can tell I am having much difficulty choosing.
I appreciate any help!
NP |
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Date: March 30th, 2009 11:00 PM Author: white exhilarant lay Elliot if you are doing defense studies, SAIS if you really want to work at Int'l Institutions or the Govt, SIPA if you want private sector (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11291386) |
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Date: April 2nd, 2009 4:52 PM Author: snowy dashing dopamine Why would you do defense studies at Elliot rather than Strategic Studies at SAIS. The latter program is better and has more money (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11315895) |
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Date: April 3rd, 2009 12:08 AM Author: white exhilarant lay security studies at elliot is not run by a neocon
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Date: April 28th, 2009 11:03 PM Author: Aromatic fat ankles church what would "defense studies" translate into in terms of a career/job? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11577858) |
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Date: April 28th, 2009 11:31 PM Author: white exhilarant lay government usually, but also political risk consulting (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11578407) |
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Date: April 28th, 2009 11:36 PM Author: Aromatic fat ankles church Big Oil - do you think SAIS would be good for someone who wants to work for State Dept, DoD, etc. or is it more for people looking to make $$$ at the world bank, IMF etc.? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11578513) |
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Date: April 29th, 2009 2:37 AM Author: white exhilarant lay SAIS is almost a necessity to get IMF, World Bank. For State and DoD, it definitely makes you competitive, but so do many other schools (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11580998) |
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Date: April 29th, 2009 10:21 AM Author: snowy dashing dopamine I could tell you...but then I would have to kill you.
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Date: April 2nd, 2009 11:23 PM Author: avocado office The first year in Bologna is not a drawback. You will meet prof. Harper, I guess, and maybe prof. Del Pero. They are absolutely great professors. Actually, studying AFP out of navel-gazing DC may be quite healthy. Plus, Bologna is way better than DC as a whole. Re: career seminars: they're not so useful anyway. Also, Int'l Econ at SAIS is perhaps better than in other IR schools (although you can keep it quite easy if you want to). (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11320115) |
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Date: April 6th, 2009 2:48 PM Author: Insane French Senate Dingle Berry i totally agree; Prof. Harper is an awesome component of the AFP program. And Bologna & DC is much much better than just DC, even for AFP (or perhaps, especially for AFP).
ps: Harper is on sabbatical right now, but I think he is back by September...but u should check. |
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Date: April 19th, 2009 12:11 PM Author: snowy dashing dopamine Go ahead and drink your Bologna cool-aid (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11474130) |
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Date: April 3rd, 2009 9:24 PM Author: pink weed whacker bologna is an intense network. def. not a disadvantage.
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Date: April 14th, 2009 10:12 PM Author: federal bespoke principal's office Backcamp, sounds like we got exactly the same financial aid package from Elliott. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11429236) |
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Date: April 21st, 2009 11:19 PM Author: submissive keepsake machete brethren "Indebtedness" is a fact of life for most people, both rich and poor. The trick is to manage it properly. Go to SAIS or SIPA, you'll laugh at the $35K difference when you plunk down for a home mortgage later. Believe me, go to the best school/fit you are accepted into now. You won't regret it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=964155&forum_id=3#11502981) |
Date: March 30th, 2009 7:17 PM Author: Slap-happy honey-headed roommate theatre Hey,
I'm having a similar dilemma-Elliott will be sooo much cheaper, and I'm trying to figure out if SAIS and MSFS are worth an extra 40-50K.
Elliott has an excellent faculty and I think you're right in noting that they probably are the best for holding down internships etc. Having said that, I am wary about entering into Elliott without a very, very clear idea of what is I want to do. I think the school's employment rate has to do with people either continuing/returning to their previous jobs or internships. To some extent, your success in obtaining strong internships outside of the federal government (i.e. World Bank, Private Sector etc) is going to come from your prior WE and/or connections that you had. There are exceptions of course, but I feel it might be that much harder to pull it off. Or at least, this is my take on it after talking to some former students.
The other thing that does concern me with Elliott is the recommendation that you only take three classes. Another complaint I've heard is that wasn't particularly rigorous.
Of course, the same could be said with SAIS, SIPA, and MSFS, but I've talked to people who didn't have direct WE in their desired careers who've been able to land internships with private banks, multilateral institutions, and prestigious think tanks. Then again, take that with a grain of salt as they could just be the lucky few.
I am a Hoya alum and lived and worked in NYC. Gtown students (at least the undergrad) will say to your face all the right things about GW and AU being good schools, great for xyz etc. but at the end of the day, there was definitely a strong feeling of condescension towards those schools. It wasn't fair as I had a good amount of friends at GW who were much much smarter than many GU students, but that's how it was. For whatever reasons, I have a feeling this carries over into the grad schools as well. And in NYC, school name dropping was big.
I don't know if this carries over at the graduate level or not, but its something you should keep in mind. |
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Date: April 6th, 2009 8:04 PM Author: gay den There is a perception around DC of "SAIS arrogance" and even on this board when people refer to the SAIS Mafia and such. Some condescension is bound to exist.
I don't know about MSFS or Elliott, but the alumni network at SAIS is world-class and the program is small enough where the alumni truly do try to help their own. I don't think that I would have gotten my summer internship (private sector - finance) without having a SAIS alum work in the office. I know for a fact that the World Bank is the largest employer of SAIS grads (albeit for contract positions) and SAIS is well represented in government work and finance (at least as well represented as you can hope with an IR degree). |