masterschoolDE

Thank you so much for the response! Where are you studying if you don't mind me asking? The price is a big blow for Hertie. The problem is finding funding for two years for living and tuition for Hertie. I have a pretty good amount of money saved up but it only covers one of the two. With Potsdam I'd have enough money for living and tuition and I'd have the option of being able to afford to do a traineeship after that. But the Hertie school seems like they'd have better connections for that type of thing. I've been working as a Fellow at Public Citizen for the past 6 months or so. So that'll look good on my resume, however it won't help with connections in Germany. As for Potsdam, it was mentioned in the excellence group for Political Science by Die Zeit a couple years ago, with similar (and even sometimes better) rankings as Humboldt. Everyday I kind of teeter back and forth. I would eventually like to work for an international NGO or organization that works on labor rights abroad and in developing countries. Hertie is also strangely neo-conservative so it might not be the best place for it? Anyways thanks a ton for the info. I do think being close to Berlin is an advantage, especially for networking. My fears are that a Master's degree from either Hertie or Potsdam won't be enough. And that's why I would consider moving on to the BTS. Potsdam has their own PhD program, which is supposed to be excellent: http://www.wipcad-potsdam.de/ The guy that runs both those programs would be a good person to get close to too: http://www.uni-potsdam.de/db/fuhr/index.php?id=18 Ugh, anyways I'm not entirely sure what to do. If Hertie had given me a 50% waiver I'd definitely have chosen there. Anyways, thanks again, if you have any other info I can always use it! Cheers!

Thanks for the suggestion! Just did. We'll see if I get some responses. I really am having a hard time choosing.

Guys, I need some help deciding. I also posted this in the "Decisions, Decisions" forum. This is all about money and opportunity cost. I'm leaning towards Hertie or Potsdam since it is in a great study location. It's just so expensive, here are my other options: I have been accepted at the following places to study in Germany: Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Master of Public Policy The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the Universität Erfurt, Master of Public Policy Jacobs University Bremen, International Relations (free) I was rejected by Mannheim for their MA in Political Science. Seemed like they didn't even really read my application correctly. I have a BA in History, but History and PolySci are closely related. That was the reason they gave me. Universitat Potsdam, Master of Public Management. So here is my reasoning. The Potsdam program is only one year, allows me to focus on Global Public Policy which I want to do and costs less (about $14,000). However, I don't know anything about their reputation or real world practicality. Does anyone know anything about this? There is also no chance for an internship. However, if I can finish my graduate degree in one year I might continue onto the Berlin Graduate School of Transnational Studies to get my PhD. Hertie seems to have more of a reputation as being an elite school. Is this overblown? Is it worth more to study there because of possible connections? I'd like to live in Berlin because it's an awesome city. But the school is expensive, even though I got a 25% tuition waiver (still about $26,000 for two years). Living costs make this another problem. Because it'd take some work to pay tuition and make money to pay for costs. However, I do have a substantial amount saved up. I am also fluent in German and might want to live in Germany for some time, if that makes a difference. What's worth it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Guys, I need some help deciding. This is all about money and opportunity cost. I'm leaning towards Hertie or Potsdam since it is in a great study location. It's just so expensive, here are my other options: I have been accepted at the following places to study in Germany: Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Master of Public Policy The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the Universität Erfurt, Master of Public Policy Jacobs University Bremen, International Relations (free) I was rejected by Mannheim for their MA in Political Science. Seemed like they didn't even really read my application correctly. I have a BA in History, but History and PolySci are closely related. That was the reason they gave me. Universitat Potsdam, Master of Public Management. So here is my reasoning. The Potsdam program is only one year, allows me to focus on Global Public Policy which I want to do and costs less (about $14,000). However, I don't know anything about their reputation or real world practicality. Does anyone know anything about this? There is also no chance for an internship. However, if I can finish my graduate degree in one year I might continue onto the Berlin Graduate School of Transnational Studies to get my PhD. Hertie seems to have more of a reputation as being an elite school. Is this overblown? Is it worth more to study there because of possible connections? I'd like to live in Berlin because it's an awesome city. But the school is expensive, even though I got a 25% tuition waiver (still about $26,000 for two years). Living costs make this another problem. Because it'd take some work to pay tuition and make money to pay for costs. However, I do have a substantial amount saved up. I am also fluent in German and might want to live in Germany for some time, if that makes a difference. What's worth it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!