n1991

Hello I'd be grateful If people could give me their opinion regarding my current dilemma. I have recently got admitted into : 1. Graduate Institute of International and development studies (IHEID) for Masters in international Economics 2. LSE for MPA in Public and Economics policy. I am currently in my final year of my undergrad Bachelors in Economics and have been admitted for this fall 2012 batch, so basically I'll be right out of undergrad and going for my masters. I am interested in working in the International trade and development sector and policy making. International organisations like world bank, UNDP etc I really like IHEID's course since International economics is what I really what I want to do and the location couldn't be any better to network and get access in terms of internships and job opportunities with all the international organisations. Plus thinking from a financial point f view, the tuition fees are extremely cheap as compared to LSE. However LSE on the other hand has an excellent MPA programme but there are three problems I see with it: it seems to me a more of professional degree that usually people apply for after a few years of work experience and even though I feel really great in having been accepted, I really don't know whether it's the right degree to do without any work experience. Secondly it doesn't leave the possibility of an econ phd open for me. Not like I have an plans, since I definitely want to work after my masters for a few years, but I'd still want to keep that option open. Lastly it's highly expensive as compared to IHEID. So what I'd really like to know is whether if I decide to go for IHEID will I be giving up on a really good offer? Which of the two degrees are a better fit for me right now nd open up the job prospects in the field I want to work in? Thanks :)

Hello, this forum has been really helpful for gaining insights on colleges. I want to work after my Master in Economics and not directly pursue a Phd (maybe in the future, but not immediately) I mainly want to work in the International Development sector and with organizations like World Bank, IMF, UNDP etc. I am completing my undergrad in Economics from a very prestigious Indian University. Though my marks are average, my LORs are pretty good. I've applied to the following schools and which one do you think will give me a better opening in to the job sector I want to go to: UK: 1. LSE 2. UCL 3. Oxford 4. Cambridge 5. SOAS 6. St. Andrews USA: 1. Boston University 2. Duke 3. John Hopkins (I dont have much scope to get into US because Indian Undergrads are for 3 years relative to their requirement of 4 year undergrads and they usually prefer work experience before taking on people even for masters. Plus i dont think my GRE is good enough for Hopkins or Duke. But BU I am hoping for. ) other schools: Toulouse, Hong Kong University and Graduate Institute in Geneva. My main area of interest in Economics is: International economics and development.