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

[Anonymous]

Yes, but SFS really is specifically focused on Foreign Service.

I would not view SFS as a better option than some other less focused humanities programs for a humanities student who does NOT want to work in a foreign service field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but SFS really is specifically focused on Foreign Service.

I would not view SFS as a better option than some other less focused humanities programs for a humanities student who does NOT want to work in a foreign service field.

I wonder how many people from the program actually go into Foreign Service. Seems to me if you're paying all that money, you'll probably go into a career that makes more money. The one student I know currently at SFS is planning to go to law school. Will being in SFS give him a bump when he applies? Not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes it so good? Is the job placement good?

Career diplomats have to deal with a lot of rats, & they get plenty of experience with that at Walsh.

[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.

The parts of this comment about faculty are just wrong. Georgetown, like GW, has a ton of former government officials.

Curriculum options are more extensive than almost any other IR program out there.

Agree that I wouldn’t go to a school focused on international affairs if I didn’t want a career in international affairs. But if you do, it is hard to find a better place for it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it really is that good. And for jobs, options like consulting, finance are also easily available to SFS grads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it really is that good. And for jobs, options like consulting, finance are also easily available to SFS grads.

This, I know two people who went to SFS. One is now a managing director at one of the big consulting firms and the other is a big law attorney. Smart people are going to be smart, neither of their practices directly related to their SFS major but they can write and think critically and produce value.

[Anonymous]

Only about 1% of sfs grads go into the foreign service. School seems to stress that kids enter the privates sector at high rates. I guess I am wondering if the broad curriculum instead of majoring exclusively in math or economics or policy could be a potential problem after graduating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only about 1% of sfs grads go into the foreign service. School seems to stress that kids enter the privates sector at high rates. I guess I am wondering if the broad curriculum instead of majoring exclusively in math or economics or policy could be a potential problem after graduating

My kid was not 100% certain what he wants to do, but favorite high school courses have involved international relations/policy at private HS. But, very well-rounded kid that excels equally in humanities as he does in STEM, so we suggested he apply for CAS instead of Walsh for that flexibility. We attended GAAP this month and at the academic sessions, o think this was the right call. You can still overlap with Walsh- but have more course flexibility.

[Anonymous]

I like the curriculum that SFs offers kids. I think it’s great. But seems like grads today need to have skills and specialized degrees. With so few SFs grads entering the foreign service, I want to know if
They are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting jobs in the privates sector?

[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.

You clearly have no idea what the school is about, who teaches there or where the students go on to after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the curriculum that SFs offers kids. I think it’s great. But seems like grads today need to have skills and specialized degrees. With so few SFs grads entering the foreign service, I want to know if
They are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting jobs in the privates sector?

Not at all. The breadth of curriculum and foreign language/culture requirements are actually a plus, particularly those applying for jobs in multinational private sector opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only about 1% of sfs grads go into the foreign service. School seems to stress that kids enter the privates sector at high rates. I guess I am wondering if the broad curriculum instead of majoring exclusively in math or economics or policy could be a potential problem after graduating

But SFS has majors that make it narrower. For example, international economics or global business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Yet another thread on this??

[Anonymous]

I’m skeptical.

[Anonymous]

why?