Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chion]

Hi everyone,

I plan to start an MA East-Asian studies in Seoul next semester and have two choices: Sogang or Yonsei

Most information I can find online is about Yonsei, and it seems that, in addition to its Apsia accreditation, Yonsei is the more well-known and prestigious out of the two. However, it is also a lot more expensive and Yonsei has little scholarships on offer. I've already received an offer from Sogang with a full scholarship for the first semeste, which to me seems like a very good offer. Now my questions are:

1. Is there a difference in the academic level between the two.
2. Is the added prestige and accreditation of Yonsei worth the difference in the price?

Thank you all for your help!

[NaD00D00]

SNU GSIS is the most rigorous/recognized program. But even then, SNU students have told me that their US undergrad IR coursework was much more difficult than SNU.

I know that SNU wasn't mentioned in the original post, but I brought it up because a person I know who went to SNU took a few GSIS classes at Yonsei. I was told that Yonsei doesn't even come close with regards to your first criteria. I've never heard anything about Sogang, which isn't a good sign I would think.

What are your plans for after earning your degree?

[chion]

Hi NaD00D00,

thanks for your reply!

After getting my degree I'm hoping to go into journalism or perhaps getting a position at the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs.

I did think about applying at SNU as well but the deadline for SNU was a lot earlier than the other gsis.

I'm not too concerned with the level of the IR coursework though, I'm planning on focusing more on the history/sociology side of things. Certainly going to Korea wouldn't be my first choice if I went for IR, but it seems like a decent choice when it comes to East-Asian studies. Also, I've been to Korea before on an exchange and I liked it, so figured why not?

[NaD00D00]

No problem. When I mentioned "IR coursework" I was speaking generally. I mean, the GSIS programs are all IS/IR programs, right? I was led to believe that the rigor, regardless of specific subject matter, is just not up to par at SNU, and that the schools after SNU are even less so.

But getting back to your original question, as far as the academics and prestige, it's probably Yonsei trumping Sogang, which also might explain the funding disparity. Everyone in Korea would prefer an SKY school to any other school, so Yonsei probably has more applicants, and as a result, less scholarship funding to give out per student.

If you're Dutch/working in the Netherlands, I don't know how a graduate degree from Korea would be recognized there, but elsewhere (specifically the States, where I'm from), they don't carry much weight. I'm sure it'd be at least somewhat valuable, though, if you were to work for the government in a dept. dealing with East-Asia/Korea. Especially if you picked up the language too.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to rain on your parade. I just know a number of people who did programs at the SKY GSIS, and they all pretty much had negative to neutral experiences at best. That, and some had to get another MA outside of Korea to be taken seriously, which makes getting an MA from a Korean GSIS seem unnecessary/unhelpful.

[Wangta01]

[Wangta01]

double post

[PRagic]

Haven't seen rankings of GSIS for a while, but the last time I checked, I think Ewha's GSIS was ranked first in the country! SNU may have pulled itself up by the bootstraps by now. Back when, Yonsei was the undisputed go-to GSIS and SNU's GSIS was getting a lot of negative feedback. But things change. Without a doubt, though, Yonsei would trump Sogang any day of the week.

You do get a lot of exchange students into Yonsei from some of the world's top universities. Might be the same at SNU, but that's something you'd have to check into. Either way, getting started is half the battle, so best of luck to you.

[Wangta01]

[PRagic]

Grad exchange students. When I was there, we had people in from Helsinki School of Economics, London School of Economics, Univ of Chicago, Berkley, NYU...you name it.

[atwood]

University of London has a very good Asian studies program.

The problem with studying in Korea is that too much of it is going to be from a Korean viewpoint. Most Koreans view everything through the prism of Korea.

If you want to study in Asia, I'd look at Singapore.

[nick2012]

Hi everyone, hoping to get some updated information or opinions here.
I applied for both the Sogang and Hanyang GSIS program and have been accepted into both. Put simply, which one would you go for?

To clarrify further, I will be studying the IR major, and would ultimately hope to land some interships and/ or employment at the end (quite possibly within Korea itself). Judging solely by the websites Sogang seems to do better in this respect (internship opportunities), however I can get a 70% scholarship for Hanyang which is difficult to pass up haha. My Korean skills are level 4 TOPIK if it's relevant.

Anyway, any opinions on Sogang vs Hanyang GSIS? Or any new information about the program itself, particularly in terms of internship/ employment opportunities? Any advice would be much appreciated.

[PRagic]

Unless you have specific reasons for wanting to attend these two schools, I'd recommend Yonsei and SNU.

[Leon]

I've met some people in Washington DC who went to the program at Yonsei and they seem to be doing fine, although the few that I have met are working specifically on Korea issues. I have not met anyone from any other program, but of course that does not mean they do not exist.

[nick2012]

Hi, thanks for the input.
I was too late to apply for SNU and missed the deadline, and I didn't have the correct recommendation letters to apply for Yonsei (my professors addressed them to the other univeristies, this was my mistake). So my specific reasons for going to Sogang or Hanyang are simply because I applied and have been accepted, starting next Spring semester.

Do you really think it will be that much of a burden if I attend one of these schools as opposed to SNU or Yonsei? Would finding internships at the end of it still be a reasonable expectation?I'm leaning toward Hanyang simply because of the scholarship, graduate school is expensive.
I suppose this is all just conjecture, but can't hurt to ask.

[PRagic]

Are you working? Another semester of income wouldn't hurt if you wanted to get your ducks in a row and apply to Yonsei or SNU. Both may have scholarships if you apply in time. In the mean time, you might be able to take a course or two on non-matriculated status.

Yonsei is probably the best connected internationally, and they have a pretty good record of placement both in terms of jobs and people going on to top tiered PhD programs. The faculty is top notch, and the same goes for SNU.

Don't forget that you can work X number of hours on a student visa (18? 20?), and that may help to offset any costs.

Up to you. If you're raring to go, then go for it at Sogang or Hanyang. Personally, I'd recommend Sogang between those two.