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LSE IR vs. US schools IR
Hi, I realize this may be a tough question to answer but any help would be appreciated. I know that LSE is known for being the best IR school in Europe, but ive found the comparisons to top IR schools in the US a little hard to come by. Furthermore, I have a few general queries that I would like to discuss before making the decision to go through the application process and apply to the LSE for this course.
I have compiled a list of top IR programs in the US and I would appreciate it if you could compare LSE vs. these schools in terms of prestige, quality of education, and job opportunities. Remember, this is specifically for IR so if you are unsure of the program please mention that in your post. I also dont want this to be based on stupid tables(the times, US news) because those have nothing to do, generally, with International Relations or the opportunities each school presents to its undergraduates.
U.S Schools:
Tufts - Fletcher
Georgetown - SFS
George Washington
American - SIS
University of Chicago
Middlebury
University of California San Diego
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
Thanks.
I have compiled a list of top IR programs in the US and I would appreciate it if you could compare LSE vs. these schools in terms of prestige, quality of education, and job opportunities. Remember, this is specifically for IR so if you are unsure of the program please mention that in your post. I also dont want this to be based on stupid tables(the times, US news) because those have nothing to do, generally, with International Relations or the opportunities each school presents to its undergraduates.
U.S Schools:
Tufts - Fletcher
Georgetown - SFS
George Washington
American - SIS
University of Chicago
Middlebury
University of California San Diego
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
Thanks.
Reply 1
UCSD has an IR program? That surprises me-- I spend an awful lot of time planning to crash some of their courses.
Just checked Tritonlink, and "International Studies" doesn't have many options & UCSD is prestigious as a science school, but offers very little in the humanitities, and have staffing shortages in some of the arts disciplines.
I know UCLA has a similar program to IR, Global Studies, and also offers International Develoment Studies. http://www.international.ucla.edu/idps/
I have a neighbor studying something related at UC Berkeley, and she's currently in Switzerland on a summer program, and she's spending a year abroad in Senegal, so I know there are a lot of opportunities, but not sure what the jobs will get you.
I have a U of Chicago brochure in my drawer (?), and they say their Political Science department is "regularly ranked in the top ten in the country," but it looks like they have a smaller faculty when it comes to International Studies, 12, compared to History's 50 faculty members. However, it looks like they offer many programs, but I'm not sure where it would rank in terms of prestige.
I'm not familiar with a couple of the other schools on your list, if that helps at all in gauging reactions/prestige.
I think LSE would probably beat out most of those, with the exception POSSIBLY of UPenn or Princeton, because of their US reputation.
Just checked Tritonlink, and "International Studies" doesn't have many options & UCSD is prestigious as a science school, but offers very little in the humanitities, and have staffing shortages in some of the arts disciplines.
I know UCLA has a similar program to IR, Global Studies, and also offers International Develoment Studies. http://www.international.ucla.edu/idps/
I have a neighbor studying something related at UC Berkeley, and she's currently in Switzerland on a summer program, and she's spending a year abroad in Senegal, so I know there are a lot of opportunities, but not sure what the jobs will get you.
I have a U of Chicago brochure in my drawer (?), and they say their Political Science department is "regularly ranked in the top ten in the country," but it looks like they have a smaller faculty when it comes to International Studies, 12, compared to History's 50 faculty members. However, it looks like they offer many programs, but I'm not sure where it would rank in terms of prestige.
I'm not familiar with a couple of the other schools on your list, if that helps at all in gauging reactions/prestige.
I think LSE would probably beat out most of those, with the exception POSSIBLY of UPenn or Princeton, because of their US reputation.
Reply 2
If youre short and asian go to LSE. fact.
Reply 3
Pro Gryffindor Seeker
Actually, UC San Diego is very well known in academic circles for its IR program in pacific rim studies, though I'm not sure how good it is for more general IR stuff.
Pro Gryffindor Seeker
The Committee on International Relations at Chicago is rather famous actually. The committee's faculty include J. J. Mearsheimer, Charles Lispon and Robert Pape, figures who have pretty much dominated the field of IR over the last few decades (as it is taught in the US anyway). Jean Bethke Elshtain, whilst a political theorist by training, teaches IR theory there too (she has joint appointments across a number of departments at Chicago), and she's something of a public intellectual in the States. The full list of faculty (note: many more than 12!) can be found here: http://cir.uchicago.edu/people/faculty.shtml
Reply 4
Craigy_Boy
The full list of faculty (note: many more than 12!) can be found here: http://cir.uchicago.edu/people/faculty.shtml
I knew I should never trust the crud that universities send me
Thanks for the info.Reply 5
I would not pass on the opportunity to go to the University of Chicago or Princeton.
Reply 6
I'd hit Princeton: LSE and Princeton both have great reps, but LSE is full of short work-obsessed Asians and Princeton is cool. 
Reply 7
Well
I found a ranking for IR schools worldwide
1st Georgetown University
2nd John Hopkins University
I don't know either how to rank LSE compared with US IR schools.
Nevertheless I don't think LSE would be badly regarded.
At least it is the second in the world for social science after Harvard!
I found a ranking for IR schools worldwide
1st Georgetown University
2nd John Hopkins University
I don't know either how to rank LSE compared with US IR schools.
Nevertheless I don't think LSE would be badly regarded.
At least it is the second in the world for social science after Harvard!
Reply 8
supernova2
If youre short and asian go to LSE. fact.
very true.
Luckily not all asians are stupid. some of them are quite clever and may be smarter than some europeans!
Reply 9
p_piangtawan
very true.
Luckily not all asians are stupid. some of them are quite clever and may be smarter than some europeans!
Luckily not all asians are stupid. some of them are quite clever and may be smarter than some europeans!
well good for you there. This threads like 2 years old :/
Reply 10
Not sure about LSE, those American School (U Chicago, Fletcher, Georgetown etc) tend to have connections with International Organisations. And it also easier to enter international relation internship in the States as undergraduate than in UK. For example the many UN internship are based at places like New York.
That all depends if you're in more interested in International Organisation rather than your own national diplomatic service.
That all depends if you're in more interested in International Organisation rather than your own national diplomatic service.
Reply 11
To start, I did the MSc in IR at LSE, but I have a lot of friends who did the programs in your list. LSE is comparable to the top tier of American IR/professional schools, which would be:
Georgetown - SFS
Princeton University
Columbia - SIPA
Johns Hopkins - SAIS
Tufts - Fletcher (maybe)
Below these would be:
George Washington
University of Chicago
Yale University
Monterey Institute (for security studies - especially nuclear policy)
And below those I would group:
American - SIS
University of California San Diego
University of Pennsylvania
Okay, some differences between U.S. and UK degrees. The people at the U.S. ones - particularly the top tier - will be older than at LSE, Oxford, or SOAS. They are typically professional schools and want students with some work experience under their belt. In addition, you get more hand-holding from professors in the U.S.
In terms of international student population, LSE is vastly higher. My IR degree had around 70% foreign students (many of these were Americans however), while U.S. degrees typically have around 30-40%. That said, I've met more Africans who went to the American schools, so that perspective unfortunately is a little weak at LSE.
Job opportunities are more difficult to discuss. LSE obviously has better connections to Europe and the UK, but studying in New York or Washington, DC brings incomparable benefits when it comes to making connections and networking. Then again, as an American, I found it very difficult to find a job in the UK, so that definitely has something to do with it.
Georgetown - SFS
Princeton University
Columbia - SIPA
Johns Hopkins - SAIS
Tufts - Fletcher (maybe)
Below these would be:
George Washington
University of Chicago
Yale University
Monterey Institute (for security studies - especially nuclear policy)
And below those I would group:
American - SIS
University of California San Diego
University of Pennsylvania
Okay, some differences between U.S. and UK degrees. The people at the U.S. ones - particularly the top tier - will be older than at LSE, Oxford, or SOAS. They are typically professional schools and want students with some work experience under their belt. In addition, you get more hand-holding from professors in the U.S.
In terms of international student population, LSE is vastly higher. My IR degree had around 70% foreign students (many of these were Americans however), while U.S. degrees typically have around 30-40%. That said, I've met more Africans who went to the American schools, so that perspective unfortunately is a little weak at LSE.
Job opportunities are more difficult to discuss. LSE obviously has better connections to Europe and the UK, but studying in New York or Washington, DC brings incomparable benefits when it comes to making connections and networking. Then again, as an American, I found it very difficult to find a job in the UK, so that definitely has something to do with it.
Reply 12
By the way, Foreign Policy magazine did a poll of U.S. international politics programs, spanning Ph.D.s, M.A.s, and B.A.s. Here's what they came up with:
1 Georgetown University
2 Johns Hopkins University
3 Harvard University
4 Tufts University
5 Columbia University
6 Princeton University
7 George Washington University
8 American University
9 University of Denver
10 Syracuse University
11 University of California, San Diego
12 University of Chicago
12 Yale University
14 Stanford University
15 University of Pittsburgh
16 University of California, Berkeley
16 University of Maryland
18 Mass. Institute of Technology
18 Monterey Institute of Int’l Studies
20 University of Southern California
I disagree a bit with their assessment, but it's by and large a good measure. And LSE would definitely rank near the top.
EDIT: These are the MA programs.
1 Georgetown University
2 Johns Hopkins University
3 Harvard University
4 Tufts University
5 Columbia University
6 Princeton University
7 George Washington University
8 American University
9 University of Denver
10 Syracuse University
11 University of California, San Diego
12 University of Chicago
12 Yale University
14 Stanford University
15 University of Pittsburgh
16 University of California, Berkeley
16 University of Maryland
18 Mass. Institute of Technology
18 Monterey Institute of Int’l Studies
20 University of Southern California
I disagree a bit with their assessment, but it's by and large a good measure. And LSE would definitely rank near the top.
EDIT: These are the MA programs.
Reply 13
LSE that high in IR compared to US? I am just curious. Well, in terms of opportunities I don't think LSE offer an wider IR career orientated path than the top US IR schools. The US IR seem to be more preparing ppl to practice IR by giving lot of opportunities in different world organisations. From what I see with Graduate Destination for LSE, it seem producing more finance. Well, it seems LSE even with its IR just seems more IB or finance prospect compared to the US. I think the prospect issue lies more with ppl not given as much opportunities in UK than US. US just offer so much internship from so many IR related organisation even CIA does it. I don't mind anyone correcting me though
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/graduateDestinations/internationalRelations/postgraduatecareers.htm
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/graduateDestinations/internationalRelations/postgraduatecareers.htm
Reply 14
Yeah, the jobs side is a little more difficult, since LSE is not a professional school in the way that SIPA, Fletcher, etc. are. You do get more internships, although a lot of that depends on your own initiative. I knew people at LSE who were working on the side. However, I think LSE's name often carries much further, and that's what puts it on par with the top U.S. graduate programs (which may or may not be a recommendation exactly).
Anyway, you'll also find that LSE has joint programs with the top U.S. programs, like a joint MPA degree with SIPA (which I heard was like combining the world's worst two bureaucracies). They also have a joint MIA with GWU.
Oh, there's a similar conversation going on right now here:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=551925
and an old one with some good advice here:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79534
Anyway, you'll also find that LSE has joint programs with the top U.S. programs, like a joint MPA degree with SIPA (which I heard was like combining the world's worst two bureaucracies). They also have a joint MIA with GWU.
Oh, there's a similar conversation going on right now here:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=551925
and an old one with some good advice here:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79534
Reply 15
yeah i agree with the above -- i know more about the US schools -- these are professional international public policy degrees at separate international public policy schools. they tend to have great connections with NGOs, world bank etc. if you want to study straight IR in the US you need to apply to a political science dept.
don't look at the professors in polisci depts (someone mentioned mearsheimer at chicago) and assume that you will be able to take classes with those professors because polisci students might get preference -- you should check this out beforehand.
i was under the impression that LSE offer a more standard IR masters -- ie it is much more theoretical -- can someone confirm that?
personally if i were doing this i would love to go to SIPA or Georgetown -- although i think georgetown has a rep for being a little conservative.
don't look at the professors in polisci depts (someone mentioned mearsheimer at chicago) and assume that you will be able to take classes with those professors because polisci students might get preference -- you should check this out beforehand.
i was under the impression that LSE offer a more standard IR masters -- ie it is much more theoretical -- can someone confirm that?
personally if i were doing this i would love to go to SIPA or Georgetown -- although i think georgetown has a rep for being a little conservative.
Reply 16
@ Tami - Yeah, LSE offers more theoretical coursework, even in degree programs like development management. That said, the theory often sticks with you longer than, say, the policy or the area studies, in part because those elements change faster and the theory is easier to apply to new information, etc.
However, in the end, I'm not sure how much any of this matters. Yes, the U.S. schools are better for networking, but when looking for a job, I think the deepest it gets to is "You went to a good school."
Also, on the "getting access to top profs and poli sci preference" thing, I second that, although you may want to look at things like joint appointments to both the policy school and the politics department. In that case, the policy students may have more flexibility. They may even have courses where they have preference over the poli sci students.
However, in the end, I'm not sure how much any of this matters. Yes, the U.S. schools are better for networking, but when looking for a job, I think the deepest it gets to is "You went to a good school."
Also, on the "getting access to top profs and poli sci preference" thing, I second that, although you may want to look at things like joint appointments to both the policy school and the politics department. In that case, the policy students may have more flexibility. They may even have courses where they have preference over the poli sci students.
Reply 17
what about this MIA between LSE and GWU? is it really worthwhile?
Chengora
By the way, Foreign Policy magazine did a poll of U.S. international politics programs, spanning Ph.D.s, M.A.s, and B.A.s. Here's what they came up with:
1 Georgetown University
2 Johns Hopkins University
3 Harvard University
4 Tufts University
5 Columbia University
6 Princeton University
7 George Washington University
8 American University
9 University of Denver
10 Syracuse University
11 University of California, San Diego
12 University of Chicago
12 Yale University
14 Stanford University
15 University of Pittsburgh
16 University of California, Berkeley
16 University of Maryland
18 Mass. Institute of Technology
18 Monterey Institute of Int’l Studies
20 University of Southern California
I disagree a bit with their assessment, but it's by and large a good measure. And LSE would definitely rank near the top.
EDIT: These are the MA programs.
1 Georgetown University
2 Johns Hopkins University
3 Harvard University
4 Tufts University
5 Columbia University
6 Princeton University
7 George Washington University
8 American University
9 University of Denver
10 Syracuse University
11 University of California, San Diego
12 University of Chicago
12 Yale University
14 Stanford University
15 University of Pittsburgh
16 University of California, Berkeley
16 University of Maryland
18 Mass. Institute of Technology
18 Monterey Institute of Int’l Studies
20 University of Southern California
I disagree a bit with their assessment, but it's by and large a good measure. And LSE would definitely rank near the top.
EDIT: These are the MA programs.
Wow, I go to the University of Denver and will be applying to LSE for IR. I knew we had a decent school but I wasn't as convinced as FP Magazine was about its prestige. Do you think coming from a Political Science degree at U. of Denver will help in anyway with my application?
btw, I know this thread is a year old, feel free to ignore:/
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