Georgetown School of foreign Service- is it really that good?

[Anonymous]

HI, is the SFS really such a good program? I know it is highly ranked but it's expensive and the Georgetown campus isn't great. Do students get good jobs after the program? What about grad school placement? Has the program declined due other the federal jobs cuts and budget cuts?

[Anonymous]

Yes it really is that good.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

My kid was rejected and went to GWU Elliott School of International Affairs instead (where he's very happy). But this rejected family can assure you that SAIS is that good.

Now, the GU dorms are nothing to write home about, and there are a ton of mosquitoes near some of the dorm entrances until October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

My kid was rejected and went to GWU Elliott School of International Affairs instead (where he's very happy). But this rejected family can assure you that SAIS is that good.

Now, the GU dorms are nothing to write home about, and there are a ton of mosquitoes near some of the dorm entrances until October.

SAIS is the Hopkins program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

My kid was rejected and went to GWU Elliott School of International Affairs instead (where he's very happy). But this rejected family can assure you that SAIS is that good.

Now, the GU dorms are nothing to write home about, and there are a ton of mosquitoes near some of the dorm entrances until October.

SAIS is the Hopkins program

Yes. Walsh is Georgetown’s.

[Anonymous]

Well it's good if you can afford it. My husband did it, but then decided he wanted to go on to law school and that law degree is what mattered more. Maybe save the high tuition for an undergrad degree and consider doing grad or professional school instead at Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

What makes it so good? Is the job placement good?

[Anonymous]

Also, will it hurt kids if they can't double major and want to go to grad school?

[Anonymous]

It is not good in the sense that it does not offer anything unique for those who really want a career in national security or diplomacy. How many professors teaching undergraduates have worked at significant decisionmaking levels at State, DOD, or CIA? How many students actually go to work in the USG vs. the blob of NGOs well-served by a gazillion people who major in International Relations and want to work in DC? Why do you need to go to a school of foreign service if you do not intend to go into the foreign service or other USG instrument? Georgetown's faculty and curriculum both inside and outside SFS are weak relative to schools with comparable selectivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, will it hurt kids if they can't double major and want to go to grad school?

I don't know if it will hurt, but it will certainly prevent full exploration of other disciplines at an elite level. Graduate school in foreign affairs renders unnecessary a focus or major in current events at the undergraduate level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

My kid was rejected and went to GWU Elliott School of International Affairs instead (where he's very happy). But this rejected family can assure you that SAIS is that good.

Now, the GU dorms are nothing to write home about, and there are a ton of mosquitoes near some of the dorm entrances until October.

Mosquitos? That's a new one. My DC was admitted early this year and is most likely going elsewhere. The condition of the campus (rats, mold, etc.) didn't play that much of a role in her decision, but she really gets eaten badly by mosquitos so that would put her over the edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, will it hurt kids if they can't double major and want to go to grad school?

I don't know if it will hurt, but it will certainly prevent full exploration of other disciplines at an elite level. Graduate school in foreign affairs renders unnecessary a focus or major in current events at the undergraduate level.

My kid entered CAS for more flexibility, but has a lot of coursework with SFS too.

[Anonymous]

So attending SFS could limit admission to grad school. Few SFS kids go into the foreign service, so what happens to them after they graduate? Or what if a student develops a strong interest in another subject and wants to double major but can't? Do those kids transfer into the CAS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not good in the sense that it does not offer anything unique for those who really want a career in national security or diplomacy. How many professors teaching undergraduates have worked at significant decisionmaking levels at State, DOD, or CIA? How many students actually go to work in the USG vs. the blob of NGOs well-served by a gazillion people who major in International Relations and want to work in DC? Why do you need to go to a school of foreign service if you do not intend to go into the foreign service or other USG instrument? Georgetown's faculty and curriculum both inside and outside SFS are weak relative to schools with comparable selectivity.

A really high percentage of my SFS student’s professors are high ranking officials in the departments you mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So attending SFS could limit admission to grad school. Few SFS kids go into the foreign service, so what happens to them after they graduate? Or what if a student develops a strong interest in another subject and wants to double major but can't? Do those kids transfer into the CAS?

Georgetown has very detailed information on the outcomes of its students. You should be able to find the SFS database online. SFS students’ outcomes are impressive.