Quote: (11-16-2014 12:11 AM)Laurifer Wrote:
Ok, if you want to go far in IR be ready fork out at least $80,000.
You will want to go to a top 10 school in it to get into any meaningful positions.
Number one master program for international relations is Georgetown University's Master of Science in Foreign Service in D.C. It's School of Foreign Service was created at the end of World War One to try and train people to get the Europeans to quit killing each other. For this degree you're looking at $130,000. Plus Georgetown is known for giving little to no financial aid. But it will get you into powerful positions in government. Georgetown is an institution that creates leaders, and many men in positions of great power in government and defense went there. Your teachers will often be former leaders from various positions, past president administrations, state department, defense etc.
In D.C. you also have great MA in International Affairs programs at Johns Hopkins (I'd say 2nd to GTU) and George Washington University. GWU is sub $100,000 last I checked and they're known for great financial aid packages.
Up in Massachusetts you have Tufts university that has an MA in International Law and Diplomacy or something like that, its a smaller school, not as well known, but still holds it own against the juggernaut Uni's in D.C.
And in NYC you have Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, might be worth it so you can live in NYC for a few years. Plus you have all sorts of networking opportunities with the UN if you want to work with them, I wouldn't.
There's also Harvard Kennedy School of Government. They have a Public Policy program that is a bit of a diploma mill. Its Kennedy's most popular program and I don't think it is as selective as its other programs are.
Anyways, your best bet is to choose a school that is in D.C. and be ready to pay a shit load of money.
Edit: By the way, you mentioned you have good grades from undergrad, one year internship experience, and are knowledgeable in French. Your chances of getting into a good program are very high. Apply to several programs and see what each one has to offer you. Remember, George Washington University is your best bang for buck because of their great financial aid packages.
Thanks a lot by the way, +1. But the only thing I'm worried about is that most schools' website suggest at least one year of work, and I'm straight out.
Here's another thing, I'm also applying to Sciences Po and IHEID Geneva. These schools are much, MUCH cheap per annum (think ~$8000 for Geneva and $15k for Sciences Po) but I'm not sure how good they carry in the U.S.
Just food for thought, I realize I'll have to pay a lot for it and take in a lot of debt.