jhu vs georgetown SFS - interested in IR

[Anonymous]

For those that work in the IR space, is one better than the other? DD interested in IR and really likes SFS but is torn because of the direct matriculation program offered at JHU where you are accepted into a 5 year program culminating in a SAIS degree directly as a 12th grader. Also is really interested in the 5 year JHU-Science Po program (3 years at JHU, 2 years at Science Po in Paris).

I'm nudging her towards JHU because I think she'll be happier there (she's a cool geek at heart but she strives to want to be one of the 'cool/attractive workhard/playhard' types you see at Georgetown, duke, and penn. Also the formal ba/ma programs look more interesting at JHU but I do get that being in DC year round would be great value.

she's interested after graduating in working as a foreign affairs correspondent, fso, something along those lines.

for those that work in the space, which is the better choice?

[Anonymous]

Georgetown. I went to neither (but went to a peer graduate program) and feel very strongly that Georgetown has a stronger undergraduate program.

I also think the direct matriculation program is a turn-off to employers. At my graduate program, maybe one student a year was admitted directly from undergraduate, and they had typically done something before starting undergraduate, like military service.

The best graduate programs are going to have folks who are practitioners, or have at least some on-the-ground knowledge of what it is actually like to live and work abroad. The SAIS joint matriculation program cheats those kids by not giving them the chance to bring their own experiences to the table in the classroom, making the MA program just an extension of undergraduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown. I went to neither (but went to a peer graduate program) and feel very strongly that Georgetown has a stronger undergraduate program.

I also think the direct matriculation program is a turn-off to employers. At my graduate program, maybe one student a year was admitted directly from undergraduate, and they had typically done something before starting undergraduate, like military service.

The best graduate programs are going to have folks who are practitioners, or have at least some on-the-ground knowledge of what it is actually like to live and work abroad. The SAIS joint matriculation program cheats those kids by not giving them the chance to bring their own experiences to the table in the classroom, making the MA program just an extension of undergraduate.

great point - didn't think of that.

[Anonymous]

I went to Hopkins for IR. It is an excellent program, and the university, overall, a more academic place than Georgetown, which is reflected in most college rankings. SAIS faculty come to Homewood to teach undergrads, and there are few truly large classes.

Admission to the five year joint program is not guaranteed and admission is competitive.

[Anonymous]

P.p continuing (Hopkins alum)

I went to a top 10 ivy league law school immediately after graduating. Grad school placement is a strength at Hopkins. The vast majority of ir majors do not chose the five year joint program, but there are many other reasons to chose Hopkins over Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Hopkins for IR. It is an excellent program, and the university, overall, a more academic place than Georgetown, which is reflected in most college rankings. SAIS faculty come to Homewood to teach undergrads, and there are few truly large classes.

Admission to the five year joint program is not guaranteed and admission is competitive.

the DMP program is guaranteed admission:

https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/direct-matriculation-programs/

naturally you have to maintain your grades once you attend to continue on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Hopkins for IR. It is an excellent program, and the university, overall, a more academic place than Georgetown, which is reflected in most college rankings. SAIS faculty come to Homewood to teach undergrads, and there are few truly large classes.

Admission to the five year joint program is not guaranteed and admission is competitive.

the DMP program is guaranteed admission:

https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/direct-matriculation-programs/

naturally you have to maintain your grades once you attend to continue on.

Not sure if that was an option when I 2as there but I would be hesitant to commit to the masters as a high school senior, one could also back out of the masters progeam, I suppose.

Was your daughter already accepted to both, or just thinking about applying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Hopkins for IR. It is an excellent program, and the university, overall, a more academic place than Georgetown, which is reflected in most college rankings. SAIS faculty come to Homewood to teach undergrads, and there are few truly large classes.

Admission to the five year joint program is not guaranteed and admission is competitive.

the DMP program is guaranteed admission:

https://apply.jhu.edu/apply/direct-matriculation-programs/

naturally you have to maintain your grades once you attend to continue on.

Not sure if that was an option when I 2as there but I would be hesitant to commit to the masters as a high school senior, one could also back out of the masters progeam, I suppose.

Was your daughter already accepted to both, or just thinking about applying?

applying for next year - wants to apply early to either jhu or gtown.

[Anonymous]

Have her visit both, it is a rare kid that will like both campuses equally. It seems that both are consistently ranked in the top 5 or even top 2 for ir programs so she can't really go wrong from that perspective.

[Anonymous]

I went to grad school at Hopkins and thought it seemed like a pretty miserable undergrad experience. I know it has changed some in recent years, but I wouldn't want my own child to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm nudging her towards JHU because I think she'll be happier there (she's a cool geek at heart but she strives to want to be one of the 'cool/attractive workhard/playhard' types you see at Georgetown, duke, and penn.

I just want to comment on this -- let her choose based on what she likes. At all competitive schools, there are lots of geeky kids reinventing themselves as "cool kids" at the beginning of freshman year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to grad school at Hopkins and thought it seemed like a pretty miserable undergrad experience. I know it has changed some in recent years, but I wouldn't want my own child to go there.

As the Hopkins alum, I disagree. There are plenty of social kids and plenty of geeky kids. Social options for each, including a pretty big fraternity/sorority scene. Excellent athletics for both Division 1 lacrosse and division 3 everything else.

[Anonymous]

I would say for the Foreign Service - all branches - where you went to school is not that important. I am a Foreign Commercial Service officer. Most of us joined with significant other life experience, either in private sector, elsewhere in government or the military. Initially, I came to the Foreign Service after several years on the Hill and then working in international higher education and in democracy and governance programs abroad. The State Department may take FSOS right out of college, and there were a few in my last language class at FSI. For USAID or FCS you need experience and then maybe a master's degree. My boss has only a BA from a SUNY school, but had lots of business experience. I see quite a few people with degrees in business from the likes of Thunderbird or the University of South Carolina. I graduated from GWU and later got a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh. I would seek out programs that have some practical focus, learn a hard language rather well and get some real works experience if you really want to succeed in IR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Hopkins for IR. It is an excellent program, and the university, overall, a more academic place than Georgetown, which is reflected in most college rankings. SAIS faculty come to Homewood to teach undergrads, and there are few truly large classes.

Admission to the five year joint program is not guaranteed and admission is competitive.

How would you know it is more academic? You didn't go to Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm nudging her towards JHU because I think she'll be happier there (she's a cool geek at heart but she strives to want to be one of the 'cool/attractive workhard/playhard' types you see at Georgetown, duke, and penn.

I just want to comment on this -- let her choose based on what she likes. At all competitive schools, there are lots of geeky kids reinventing themselves as "cool kids" at the beginning of freshman year.

Let your daughter choose whichever is the better fit. She won't go wrong with either school. Let her do some overnights at each school to get a good feel for them.