mintygreen

It's tough to know, isn't it? While I'm sorry to hear about your situation, it's good to know someone else is thinking about the same thing. At this point, my doubts about the program combined with comparably better offers elsewhere have ruled Penn out for me, but under other circumstances, I'd certainly still be considering it. Best of luck in making your decision!

Bummer, I can't be there on visit day! I'll be there the week after (not that I'm cutting it close to the deadline or anything). If you think of it, you should share your thoughts about visit day here! I'm interested to know other people's perspectives. Even though I'm naturally indecisive as hell, Maryland feels pretty strongly like my best bet...good financial offer, strong programs in both policy and my specific area of interest, nice location. But I'm trying not to jinx it, in case I get there and somehow hate it. Seems unlikely, though. If you somehow end up at UMD, ThePope, we should swap contact info!

I second that--I might've picked Ford over some other really great schools, had I gotten more funding (I even happen to like cold winters!). But those great schools are offering me equally great funding, so that's that.

I got my email from Rackham, too, but I'm sorry to say that their minimal funding offer has pretty much knocked Ford out of the running for me...too bad! Congrats to those who got good funding, and enjoy Ford!

I agree--especially since once I finally got through to Taryn Faulkner, she was very friendly and more than helpful. I keep reminding myself how busy programs are at this time of year, and how tough it must be to juggle everything. Still, it's too bad they couldn't get your emails in order! Anyone planning to visit? I thought I wouldn't be able to make the April 4th open house, but I might be able to make last-minute plans. If not, I hope to go a few days later. I've never been to the DC area and am really eager to see what it and the UMD campus are like. Anyone else thinking Maryland's a frontrunner for them?

I'm sorry to say I don't have anything to contribute to the scholarships topic (didn't apply, none of them fit my interests, alas), but I'm hoping to stir up some more discussion about the Maryland MPP in general...it's looking like a good pick for me, and I'm curious to know what other admits are thinking about it! For instance, anyone find it odd that they're not doing much to welcome admitted students? Seems that way, at least. Most of the other programs I was admitted to have been flooding me with emails from current students, deans, etc., with info on online chats, Facebook pages, visit days, etc. Just seems kind of silent on the Maryland front.

Yeah, that's the thing, I've been checking my spam filter religiously and trying to think of any other way they might've tried getting in touch with me...but there's nada. I've even gotten other emails from Ford (about booking a hotel for their visit day, for instance), but nothing on funding. It's starting to feel like they've just forgotten about a few of us. Thanks for the suggestion, though, lacanadiense! I wish it were hiding in my spam folder.

Sheesh, still no word! And I'm a bit annoyed, as I too would like to make travel plans (this affects my visits to other schools as well) but just can't until I hear about funding. I find it odd that some have heard good news and some have heard bad news...it doesn't seem like they're doing one or the other first. Hmm.

method, that's really helpful insight--thanks! That certainly makes sense. Considering quant is not at all my strong suit--and what will probably get me through those courses is the thought of finally applying those skills in combination with qualitative study--you're probably right that one year just isn't enough for someone in my situation. Just out of curiosity, from this list of core courses that Penn provides, do there seem to be any glaring omissions, compared to other curricula? Or is it just that a one-year curriculum won't be able to go into these subjects in the same depth? Policy: Analysis of Issues, Strategy and Process Law and Social Policy Quantitative Reasoning Research & Evaluation Design Applied Linear Modeling Economic and Financial Foundations for Social Policy Capstone Seminar and Internship (I and II) (The program also includes three electives.)

I have been thinking about this a LOT. I have a full-funding offer from a school that doesn't come even close to ranking for public policy--it's a lesser-known campus of a state school--and I suspect my experience there would be exactly the "big fish" scenario you describe. My funding offer includes a research assistantship that would let me have a big role in some really great-sounding work in almost exactly the field I'm interested in, with a professor who seems terrific. That being said, it's in a minor midwestern city that I don't particularly (read: at all) want to stay in after I graduate, and I suspect their network of connections doesn't extend far beyond that city and state. I also have concerns about the quality of the faculty compared to that of, say, a DC-area school staffed by policy practitioners with impressive resumes, as well as classmates who may or may not be as competitive. What I wonder the most is, will employers be more impressed by a degree from a school they've heard of, or by a degree from a school way off their radar that allowed for specific, hands-on, high-quality research and experience? One thing I should add is that I also have two other decent offers from fairly well ranked schools, one of which includes a half research assistantship. I'd still have to pay a small chunk of money to attend those, plus living expenses, but nothing near full tuition. So I'm not really deciding between all funding or no funding (I've already ruled out those that offered me little to none), or research vs. no research. I guess I'm wondering if a small- to medium-size debt is worth it, given the option of no debt at all. Thanks for sharing all your experiences, by the way--it's been really helpful to read what you all have been thinking about your own situations!

I've finally heard from all the programs I applied to, and the news is good--lots of options! So now I'm trying to understand how these programs differ, and one major question I have is whether or not one-year programs come even close to matching the quality of education and experience offered by two-year programs. I'm wondering specifically about Penn's Master of Science in Social Policy program. I imagine the Ivy League name is worth something (although the program itself doesn't seem to be very highly ranked), and I like its emphasis on social policy, as well as its resources for someone with my specific focus. There's also the obvious benefit of having to pay for only one year, instead of two. BUT, honestly, is any one-year master's comparable to typical two-year programs like Ford, GPPI, Luskin, Heller, and Maryland (all of which I've also gotten into)? Or do one-year students miss out on a lot of key learning and experience? My gut tells me they're really not the same, and I'm leaning toward ruling Penn out, so I'd be especially interested in hearing from anyone who thinks I might be wrong and should consider them equally (especially if they offer me money, which they might). Any insight would be great!

I'd love to bump this thread, if possible. I think Bicamp's question is a great one, and his/her career sounds very much like what I hope to do with my MPP. I found method's insight into Ford quite helpful, as it's one of the programs I've been admitted to and am strongly considering. The other frontrunners are the University of Maryland and Brandeis University (Heller School)--mainly because of compatability with my specific interests and generous funding offers. (I've also gotten into Georgetown, UCLA, and Penn, and while I'm not considering those as much, I'd be interested in hearing people's perspectives on them.) Any thoughts would be welcome!

While quant training is, of course, a critical part of policy studies, programs vary in their philosophies on whether or not numbers can ever really "tell the whole story" of a given situation to be analyzed. Personally, I appreciate programs that delve into the theories behind the numbers and take into account the subtleties that numbers alone can't always convey--details that only come out in, say, case studies or observational research. I'm sure this is my sociology background speaking, but I think it's key to know something about the systemic and cultural framework--not just the stats--of the people/places you're studying. I was a little turned off, for instance, when someone at a Chicago Harris event said "we believe that absolutely everything is quantifiable." Maybe that's close to true, but I have my doubts.

Wish this thread would get some responses--I'm curious, too!

I got an email from them on Feb. 16th with the subject line "Decision Status is Available for [Name]." It linked me to my ASF, where I had to log in and download a file (in some format that my computer did not understand at all--I actually had to use a different computer!). At that point I was able to read my acceptance letter (yay!!) saying they were "recommending me to the graduate school." Two days later, I got an email stating that I'd been accepted there, too, with additional info on their April open house. In the same email, I got a letter with a financial aid offer of a half assistantship (double-yay!). So that's how it went down for me. I've been searching for info on Maryland in these forums and one thing that caught my eye was a post from someone who'd heard that in 2010, they'd given out only half assistantships in order to offer funding to as many people as possible. No clue at all if that was/is true, but it's a thought. So I'm not sure what's the best to hope for.