Hidetaka

Hallo!! I am very happy to take part in this discussion.

SAIS (MA) or Simon (MBA)

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.

I plan to study in the United States for two years in this July. I was financially supported by Japanese government.

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.

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.

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.

At this point, I think there are three options about my future.

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)

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.
http://www.sais-jhu.edu/admissions/m.../jointadm.html

So, I asked SAIS admission to admit Ad Hoc Joint-Degree Programs with Simon school, though I have not yet received SAIS response.

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.

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.

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.

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.?

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.

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.

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.

024

RecentlyAccepted,

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/c...id=3718&page=1

^ for undergraduate rankings, GW is considered as one of the top ten programs in the nation while USC is not even ranked. even for master's programs, GW ranks as the seventh best school while USC finishes the list at number twenty. so in terms the IR porgram's strength, i would say that GW definitely outstrips USC.

however, as most people will say, decisions should not be based solely on prestige. it depends on preference, whether or not a campus suits you better than the rest. USC, in my opinion, would provide an good overall undergrad experience. for GW, i really don't know much about the school besides its academics (someone else might be able to fill you in). but if you decide to pursue a career in IR or attend grad school, there is no doubt that GW would provide the better preparation and education.

cost should not be too big of a factor in comparing these two since USC and GW both approach the $50,000 price tag. of course, if you do recieve a better fin aid package from one school, then it should be part of your decision.

oh and there is no doubt that GW has the better location. LA is nice but can't really compare to the capital of the nation.

UCLAri

Hidetaka,

おめでとう！ Then again, now you have the hard part ahead of you...deciding!

Personally, I don't think that there is anything you can do at Simon that you can't do at SAIS. SAIS has an excellent reputation for finance, and I think you'd do just fine there.

samantha444

Does anyone know anything about the strength of the northwestern political science major (with a focus in international relations) as compared to the UCs or other private schools?

UCLAri

For undergrad, I'd say that Northwestern's a great option. Again, I tend to be of the opinion that the strength of a department is not always the most important factor for choosing a program.

For example, I'd choose many LACs over large research universities for undergrad simply because of the quality of education.

coolfeet

thanks to those who responded to my earlier post!

Just wondering, what do people think of the MA program in International Affairs at New School University? How about the MS in Global Affairs at NYU? Any word on how helpful these schools might be in preparing their students career-wise?

Incredulous

Putting aside the moral question, you won't want to do this if it is important for you to have your degree. The joint MA/MBA is not given as two independent degrees as I understand. If you don't finish one part of it, you get neither, just as you wondered.

I simply wouldn't talk to SAIS at all about it, at least not unless you do it anonymously through another person (they might figure out it's probably you if you call up and talk to them about it directly).

Are you going to continue as a regional bank inspector, or do you want to move your way up in bank inspection? If so, you probably need financial modeling and risk management classes. Look and see if SAIS offers those now. I do know that SAIS has really beefed up their finance program in the past few years, so it's arguable as UCLAri said, you don't even need an MBA. But this should be measured against what you need to carry on your career. Finance is about the only area of an MBA education that I believe SAIS is redundant in. In other words, a SAIS degree and a Finance-focused MBA would be overkill if you took Finance courses at SAIS.

What do you want to do with your degree/s?

UCLAri

I've never heard of New School Univ. and it's not a member of APSIA, so I don't know how much I'd lean toward them. NYU seems like the better option to me.

bjung

Trying to decide between SAIS and UCSD IR/PS though leaning towards the former...

I want to work in the international development field (consulting, program/project development/management) within South East Asia, I was wondering what internships are available or advice that would point me to that goal. I plan on studying Thai, and am curious about the language programs and opinions of course offerings at both schools.

UCLAri

bjung,

Thai can be taken at IR/PS, but I don't know that our Southeast Asia program is quite as good as SAIS's (being honest here.) Development is quite good at IR/PS, however.

As far as internships go, that's all up to you. Neither school has more "available" than the other.

beberabozo

Ari, Thanks for the advice on p. 28. I still haven't decided between Syracuse Maxwell and IRPS, but leaning towards the latter.

Much like the last poster, I am interested in Southeast Asia. I see you've sighted that SE Asia program at IRPS is not as good as SAIS. What do you consider to be its weaknesses?

Also, RE: language requirements at IRPS. I checked the online course catalogue and see that only Bahasa is offer in the SE Asian realm...and only one single section (what would one do with the other 5 sections you are supposed to take?). Is this true that Bahasa is the only SE Asian option? You just informed the last poster that Thai is offered but I don't see this course listed. Lastly, if I settled upon SE Asia at IRPS, what do you suppose would be the most useful language between Thai, Bahasa, and Vietnamese?

Thanks again!

UCLAri

beberabozo,

A lot of languages that aren't offered directly at IR/PS are offered at UCSD or off-campus. They do try to make sure that everyone gets what they need!

I think the biggest weakness is actually that almost EVERY school has trouble in Southeast Asia. IR/PS, SAIS, and maybe SIPA are the only ones I know with any sort of specialization in the area. It's really the untouched frontier of IR and political studies in general.

bjung

I think in the acceptance package there was a newsletter indicating that IR/PS was offering Thai this fall.

UCLAri

Ohhh, really? I didn't even know that!

If they say it'll be offered, then that's great.

hamzahsaif

Hey all,

Does anyone know about the IR program at Seaton Hall University's Whitehead School of Diplmacy and IR. I am interested in their UN connection, but am wary because the school does not seem to be very reputable.

What do you guys think? Is the school any good?

Thanks!