Hello everyone,
I was recently admitted to Columbia University's SIPA program for the Masters in Public Administration in Development Practice with a $35,000 scholarship to cover both years. Their tuition is about $108,000 for both years which would leave me to come up with about $70,000 on my own. However I would have to worry about housing since I can live with my grandparents in Newark NJ and just commute.
However I just received an email from the Dean of Emory for the Development practice program stating that the school is willing to give me a $50,000 scholarship spanning both years which would only leave me $30,000 to come up on my own. However, I would have to find housing in Atlanta.
Columbia has more classes suited to my particular interests in green building and sustainable cities. However, Emory is also a great program and they offer 2 field practicums.
In your opinion would you take the scholarship to Emory or would you take the offer to Columbia which has more classes suited to my interests?