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Reply 1
aliad
I have recently been accepted to the MPhil in Development Studies at Oxford and the MSc in Development Management at LSE. I would be grateful for any advice on the difference between these programs, as well as in the student experience at LSE and Oxford. I am coming from Canada so I have not been to either campus.


Hi, sorry I can't really help you as I've not been doing any of the programmes and haven't been to either school, but by the programme itself I personally prefer Development Management. It's more interdisciplinary in my opinion and gives some useful managerial knowledge. Though 2 years programme at Oxford has its advantages, but the content of the modules at LSE just sounded better to me.
It really depends on what you're most interested in and what you'd want to do afterwards. And if you've been to London and not liked it, maybe Oxford would be better as well. I personally enjoy London a lot and would be glad to stay there for a year.

May I ask.. When did you hear from Oxford? I'm still waiting to hear from them, and I know they've started sending the emails out, but didn't know they got to MPhil DS already. I'm just hoping not getting it yet doesn't mean it's rejection (I assume they'd send offers first)... so knowing you got it Friday afternoon would help me hope Marina will continue sending mails on Monday and I'll get mine too :smile:
Reply 2
Hey tayesniggi. Thanks for the reply. I just got an email from Oxford on Thursday, so maybe they're making decisions gradually. Where are you hoping to go and for what program?

As for living, I think I would love London, but the college system at Oxford sounds fun. My parents say that I should go to Oxford because its a better "brand" but I think the structure of the LSE program is quite good. I like the consulting aspect of the MSc.
Reply 3
aliad
Hey tayesniggi. Thanks for the reply. I just got an email from Oxford on Thursday, so maybe they're making decisions gradually. Where are you hoping to go and for what program?

As for living, I think I would love London, but the college system at Oxford sounds fun. My parents say that I should go to Oxford because its a better "brand" but I think the structure of the LSE program is quite good. I like the consulting aspect of the MSc.


Hey, was hoping to go to LSE for Development Management but wasn't successful. I'm still waiting to hear from Oxford and Cambridge for Development Studies. Out of the latter two I prefer Oxford but can never afford it without scholarship, so even if I get an offer I might not be able to take it up. So I'm at the moment hoping to get an offer from Cambridge because I know I'd be able to accept it.

I agree that Oxford and Cambridge might be a better brand worldwide, but I don't think LSE is far behind in that respect so I don't think you can go wrong with LSE. Anyway, if you're planning to return to Canada afterwards, it's probably good to check around a bit where LSE stands. Though, if you're planning to do a PhD afterwards, you could do that one at Oxford/Cambridge and still get the better brand on your CV.
In the country where I might end up in the future brand is important with employers, so I can relate to that, but there LSE is on practically the same level as Oxbridge.

I also think college system should be fun, but there's also plenty of fun in London! :smile:
Did any give you any funding?

It's not an easy choice, but obviously I favor LSE because the programme is more appealing to me. If you have the chance you could go visit both :smile:
Reply 4
Thanks for the tips. I'm still waiting to hear about funding from Oxford and LSE, but it seems doubtful. I've also been admitted to some American programs now, so I'm deliberating about what to do. Have you heard back from any schools? Any possibility we'll be at Oxford together?
Reply 5
Hey, good luck with choosing! But nope, no luck for me. Still waiting to hear from Cambridge but am not holding my hopes too high. So you're leaning towards Oxford? Cool! Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong either way, but one thing I liked about LSE and it slipped my mind the last time is the project you get to work on - I just feel this is a big advantage as you see how it all goes in practice as well and I think that should count when trying to find a job afterwards.
What programmes and where did you apply for in the States, if you don't mind me asking?
Reply 6
Thanks for the tips! I hope you get some good news from Cambridge soon!

I also applied to the following:
Johns Hopkins (SAIS) - accepted
Tufts (Fletcher) - accepted
Columbia (SIPA) - rejected
Georgetown (MSFS) - still waiting to find out
Stanford - accepted
Sciences Po (MPA) - rejected

In retrospect, I applied to way to many schools, but I thought I would only get into 1 or 2. How about you? Any good news?
Reply 7
What course did you apply to at Stanford?
aliad
Thanks for the tips! I hope you get some good news from Cambridge soon!

I also applied to the following:
Johns Hopkins (SAIS) - accepted
Tufts (Fletcher) - accepted
Columbia (SIPA) - rejected
Georgetown (MSFS) - still waiting to find out
Stanford - accepted
Sciences Po (MPA) - rejected

Hi

I too applied to SAIS but havent heard from them as yet.Any idea what is the general perception of the MA IR from SAIS? The course itself seems to be very good!

I wanted a good deal of economics in my post grad degree, so I applied to the MPA (Int dev) at LSE. I would love to do the second year at SIPA. Any idea what criteria they look at in a student? relevant work ex maybe?

Would be great if you could throw some light on these matters...

Cheers!
Reply 9
CalumAH
What course did you apply to at Stanford?

I applied to the Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies at Stanford.
Reply 10
[QUOTE="FiddlerOnTheRoof"]
aliad
Thanks for the tips! I hope you get some good news from Cambridge soon!

I also applied to the following:
Johns Hopkins (SAIS) - accepted
Tufts (Fletcher) - accepted
Columbia (SIPA) - rejected
Georgetown (MSFS) - still waiting to find out
Stanford - accepted
Sciences Po (MPA) - rejected

Hi

I too applied to SAIS but havent heard from them as yet.Any idea what is the general perception of the MA IR from SAIS? The course itself seems to be very good!

I wanted a good deal of economics in my post grad degree, so I applied to the MPA (Int dev) at LSE. I would love to do the second year at SIPA. Any idea what criteria they look at in a student? relevant work ex maybe?

Would be great if you could throw some light on these matters...

Cheers!

My understanding is that SAIS is quite well known in the US, but may not be as well known elsewhere. The program seems pretty solid and if you're looking to work for a DC-based organization after, I think it is a great option. And its definitely very focused on econ. I heard that is also good for those looking for jobs in finance after.

As for the MPA, I'm not familiar with that program at LSE, but I was rejected from SIPA (MIA) and Sciences Po (MPA) b/c of a lack of work experience. They told me that I had a good profile and should apply again once I have more experience. I graduated in the spring of 2009 and have been out of school for less than a year. I have a couple of internships under my belt, but no long term work experience and only managed to get a part-time job as a research assistant this year. I would imagine that if you want to go to SIPA for your second year, you would have a better chance of being selected with more work experience. Also, something to check before picking LSE might be to ask them how many people from the LSE program get to go to SIPA in their second year. If its only a handful of people from the program, your chances would probably be reduced if you don't have as much work experience as others in your program.

Good luck with your applications!
[QUOTE="aliad"]
FiddlerOnTheRoof

My understanding is that SAIS is quite well known in the US, but may not be as well known elsewhere. The program seems pretty solid and if you're looking to work for a DC-based organization after, I think it is a great option. And its definitely very focused on econ. I heard that is also good for those looking for jobs in finance after.

As for the MPA, I'm not familiar with that program at LSE, but I was rejected from SIPA (MIA) and Sciences Po (MPA) b/c of a lack of work experience. They told me that I had a good profile and should apply again once I have more experience. I graduated in the spring of 2009 and have been out of school for less than a year. I have a couple of internships under my belt, but no long term work experience and only managed to get a part-time job as a research assistant this year. I would imagine that if you want to go to SIPA for your second year, you would have a better chance of being selected with more work experience. Also, something to check before picking LSE might be to ask them how many people from the LSE program get to go to SIPA in their second year. If its only a handful of people from the program, your chances would probably be reduced if you don't have as much work experience as others in your program.

Good luck with your applications!


hi

thanks for your response. very few people get to go to columbia in the second year. incidentally, i also applied and got rrejectedd from the MIA at SIPA.

I have also been accepted to the SAIS bologna program - which seems to be really exciting. any thoughts on it?

Thanks!

Cheers!
[QUOTE="FiddlerOnTheRoof"]
aliad


hi

thanks for your response. very few people get to go to columbia in the second year. incidentally, i also applied and got rrejectedd from the MIA at SIPA.

I have also been accepted to the SAIS bologna program - which seems to be really exciting. any thoughts on it?

Thanks!

Cheers!


I've a close friend doing the SAIS-Bologna programme. He's doing a Development degree. He's enjoying it a lot as they have plenty of field trips and their offices have various summer internship placements, formal agreements, with NGOs and Orgs across the globe so you'll have more than just the degree on your CV at the end. I don't know which job market you're looking at or how SAIS-Bologna compares with SAIS-DC, but I have noticed in the US at least in terms of DC thinktanks, political consultancies, etc. That a high percentage (in one firm, even 90%!) of employees held a SAIS degree. I suppose they don't call it the "SAIS Mafia" for nothing! Having said that, my friend was disappointed that his courses weren't 'intellectually stimulating' enough (whatever that means) and was more case-studies based. I don't see this as a problem really especially if your goal is policy.
[QUOTE="WaltzvWendt"]
FiddlerOnTheRoof


I've a close friend doing the SAIS-Bologna programme. He's doing a Development degree. He's enjoying it a lot as they have plenty of field trips and their offices have various summer internship placements, formal agreements, with NGOs and Orgs across the globe so you'll have more than just the degree on your CV at the end. I don't know which job market you're looking at or how SAIS-Bologna compares with SAIS-DC, but I have noticed in the US at least in terms of DC thinktanks, political consultancies, etc. That a high percentage (in one firm, even 90%!) of employees held a SAIS degree. I suppose they don't call it the "SAIS Mafia" for nothing! Having said that, my friend was disappointed that his courses weren't 'intellectually stimulating' enough (whatever that means) and was more case-studies based. I don't see this as a problem really especially if your goal is policy.



hi

thanks so much! i have been accepted to the bologna program. i am super excited about the course... but do you have any idea about what people do thereafter? I am not a US citizen, so I dont know what the prospects are like... and like aliad mentioned, JHU seems to be known more for its med school than for SAIS outside the US.

Bit confused.

Would still like to know your thoughts. Thanks a tonne!

Cheers!
[QUOTE="FiddlerOnTheRoof"]
WaltzvWendt



hi

thanks so much! i have been accepted to the bologna program. i am super excited about the course... but do you have any idea about what people do thereafter? I am not a US citizen, so I dont know what the prospects are like... and like aliad mentioned, JHU seems to be known more for its med school than for SAIS outside the US.

Bit confused.

Would still like to know your thoughts. Thanks a tonne!

Cheers!



I came across this for SAIS awhile back...

http://www.sais-jhu.edu/bin/a/l/SAIS_EmpOutlk09.pdf
[QUOTE="june" drive="drive" like="like"]
FiddlerOnTheRoof



I came across this for SAIS awhile back...

http://www.sais-jhu.edu/bin/a/l/SAIS_EmpOutlk09.pdf


Hi

Thanks!

i notice you are from soas. I am also looking at the MSc in Dev Eco at SOAS. Any idea about how it is? And the MPA at LSE?

Cheers!
[QUOTE="FiddlerOnTheRoof"]
drive like june


Hi

Thanks!

i notice you are from soas. I am also looking at the MSc in Dev Eco at SOAS. Any idea about how it is? And the MPA at LSE?

Cheers!


Development economics at SOAS is good, but highly theoretical and not very useful for a practitioner (imo). It's quite similar to to way development studies is taught at Oxford. The MPA at LSE looks more practical, although less established than the other two. But if you get into SAIS, I'd rather do that!


And to the OP, I would also totally go to SAIS over ODID or LSE any day!
[QUOTE="june" drive="drive" like="like"]
FiddlerOnTheRoof


Development economics at SOAS is good, but highly theoretical and not very useful for a practitioner (imo). It's quite similar to to way development studies is taught at Oxford. The MPA at LSE looks more practical, although less established than the other two. But if you get into SAIS, I'd rather do that!


And to the OP, I would also totally go to SAIS over ODID or LSE any day!


Any thoughts on Cambridge? For MPhil Development Studies of course..
[QUOTE="june" drive="drive" like="like"]
FiddlerOnTheRoof


Development economics at SOAS is good, but highly theoretical and not very useful for a practitioner (imo). It's quite similar to to way development studies is taught at Oxford. The MPA at LSE looks more practical, although less established than the other two. But if you get into SAIS, I'd rather do that!


And to the OP, I would also totally go to SAIS over ODID or LSE any day!


hi

really? sais is very expensive. and havent got any aid. was too late for that. :frown:

Does ODID refer to Oxford?

I want to do a good deal economics so, the MPA appears to be a good option. and of course SAIS. but lse is known more around the world than sais. ah well!

about cambridge (mphil dev studies), a friend of mine who did the course didnt find it too challenging. but ultimately, i guess its what you make of it, as long as you like the course content.
FiddlerOnTheRoof


hi

really? sais is very expensive. and havent got any aid. was too late for that. :frown:

Does ODID refer to Oxford?

I want to do a good deal economics so, the MPA appears to be a good option. and of course SAIS. but lse is known more around the world than sais. ah well!

about cambridge (mphil dev studies), a friend of mine who did the course didnt find it too challenging. but ultimately, i guess its what you make of it, as long as you like the course content.


Yeah, it is very expensive, but you would have a much more powerful alumni base coming out of SAIS than the MPA at LSE. And if you wanted to go to SIPA, well SIPA tuition costs even more!

And as a policy school, it is much much more well known than LSE, though as rightly said above somewhere, on the whole LSE's global reputation is probably better than JHU's. Even still, if I were you or the OP, I'd seriously consider SAIS. But then, I'm probably bias, I seriously considered going to there for some time...

And yes, ODID is the Oxford Department of International Development. One of my teachers at SOAS was on sabbatical at Princeton, and a lecturer from ODID came and taught the course and she was okay. I thought about the MPhil for awhile, but after asking her about it, I didn't think it was a very good fit because of the academic orientation. I'm guessing its the same at Cambridge (though I wouldn't mind if Ha-Joon Chang was my supervisor). But OP, I think if you are only considering these two, and would rather be a practitioner, I'd opt for the Msc at LSE. Congrats on your other offers though.