Help! Deciding between Sciences Po and College of Europe + Fletcher School

Hi everyone, I need some help on choosing where to go. I was admitted to Sciences Po Paris for the Master in International Development and the Joint MA in Transatlantic Affairs between the College of Europe and the Fletcher School.

I am having a hard time choosing between both of them, especially when it comes to future career opportunities. I am interested in working for the Foreign Service or an International Organisation such as the UN or WTO.

On paper, Sciences Po’s reputation of being ranked as the 2nd in Politics worlwide seems to outmatch that of College of Eurpoe and the Flechter School.

On the other hand, I would get the network from both schools with the MA in Transatlantic Affairs, and the program seems much more selective than that of Sciences PO (only about 15 students are admitted). Then again it is rather new and might not be very well known.

What do you people think? Thanks in advance for any comments, I really appreciate it!

Hello there! I am French and know a fair amount about international reputations of universitites, so I'd say I am quite knowledgeable on the topic but you should what I say as only reflecting my perception.

My opinion is that you should choose what programme to choose based on where (as in, what region or institution) you want to work. Sciences Po is comparable to Harvard Kennedy school for French national and is an elite university for political sciences. However, it is mostly a professional school and the College of Europe will be a better choice if you want to work in/with European institutions.

If you're American and intends on working in the US, the Fletcher school is the better choice. Yes, Sciences Po may be the better *ranked* of these institutions, but a local American school will be more known and recognised.

In sum, if you want to work with the EU institutions or in the US, go for the Fletcher-College of Europe. If your goal is to work in France particularly, or in Asia or Africa (which I suggest might not be familiar with most of these institutions so why not choosing the more 'prestigious' out of these three), then Sciences Po it is.

These are general guidelines. Funding and internships are also very important. What environment do you want to work in? If you really want to specialise, Sciences Po might not be the best option. Maybe you are not American (as in, from the US) nor European and really want to travel to those two parts of the world. Maybe you believe that having 2 master's is better than having one. Maybe you want to take the opportunity to learn French. These choices are up to you. My best advice, I'd say, is that you should choose an institution based on where you want to be after graduation, and then what do you want to have in your CV and in terms of skills and expertise. These will be more important than the name of a school.

Good luck with your future endeavours!

Hi there！As a Chinese student for Fall 2023 intake, I have received offers from Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) for their Finance Master's program and Sciences Po for Finance and Strategy Analysis Master's program. I am currently struggling to make a decision and would appreciate some advice.

My main considerations are the networking opportunities for employment in Europe, the challenges for Chinese students to find local employment, and the overall student experience including course design, extracurricular activities, and campus life.

One of my concerns is that I have zero background in French language, and I worry that living in France might be challenging without knowing the local language. On the other hand, I have lived in tropical regions my whole life, and I have a mild case of seasonal affective disorder, which makes me feel down during the colder months with reduced daylight hours. This adds to my dilemma in choosing between these two options.

I would greatly appreciate any advice or insights from anyone who has experience studying or working in either SSE or Sciences Po, or anyone who has faced similar challenges in making a decision. Your input would be immensely helpful to me in making this important choice for my future.

Hi everyone, I need some help on choosing where to go. I was admitted to Sciences Po Paris for the Master in International Development and the Joint MA in Transatlantic Affairs between the College of Europe and the Fletcher School.