Denisse

Disregarding the above negativity...I think you could get into a good school if you are able to clearly explain why you are interested in a policy degree. Might I ask? If I read your post correctly you're getting an MBA currently? Have you found it's not giving you the skills/background you'd want to pursue your interests in policy?
 
Also, I'd advise you to find a program that fits your interest more than the prestige level. While there are certainly some schools that have the Ivy League name behind them and others that are very renowned in policy and have higher prestige than others, not choosing a school based more on fit and interests will make your time in that program not as worthwhile.

Disregarding the above negativity...I think you could get into a good school if you are able to clearly explain why you are interested in a policy degree. Might I ask? If I read your post correctly you're getting an MBA currently? Have you found it's not giving you the skills/background you'd want to pursue your interests in policy?
 
Also, I'd advise you to find a program that fits your interest more than the prestige level. While there are certainly some schools that have the Ivy League name behind them and others that are very renowned in policy and have higher prestige than others, not choosing a school based more on fit and interests will make your time in that program not as worthwhile.

lol sorry dude but no mpp/mpa program is going to scream prestige except maybe princeton.

I don't know why you think a minimum 3 years is somehow "all-the-work-experience-in-the-world," or why it's an unreasonable requirement. Rather than thinking you're being discriminated against, maybe you should consider that it's not really in your interest to get a public policy degree with no work experience and that these programs are specifically tailored to hone skills/interests developed in the (relatively) early stages of public policy careers (rather than requiring, as you said,"a career behind [you] already"). What is a degree from a program like LBJ (which I point out only because it's the one you mentioned) going to do for you with no full-time work experience? Without that work experience, what basis would you have to even answer that question? I think you should reconsider how you'll spend a mere 3 years of your life. It can be hard in this economy even for those with work experience and a PP degree to get a job. Just a thought. 

That said, many programs talked about here admit people straight from undergrad. There is, of course, the risk you are paying a ridiculous amount of money just to start at square one again once you graduate. That is why many students with master's degrees from these schools that admit straight from undergrad are competing with undergrads for entry-level jobs.

I don't think I'm misconstruing your posts at all. You admit not knowing anything about this field and yet you say HYP "basically run the US" and base your advice on that, despite OP's post about a very specific job that most certainly does not require HYP or law/business degrees. That not everyone is criticizing you shows how terrible these forums are at discerning good from bad advice. Everyone knows the value of HYP... it goes without saying, but you seem to think this is special insight based on life experience as opposed to being the eye rollingly banal observation we've all heard a hundred times. What makes it bad, though, is that you seem to think HYP is the proper remedy for any/every problem/question. If not, then what has been your advice exactly? Based on my life experience, nothing about your post is really relevant to this field or the specific job in question. Going to HYP would be great for everyone... but it's like a doctor saying "be healthy" or "don't get diseases!" It's not helpful advice... it's just obvious and not targeted/relevant.
 
There's an excess of terrible advice on these forums and I'm free to point that out. But I guess I shouldn't be so critical. Nabad is right: first, get into HYP, preferably not HYP-lite (i.e. a public policy program), toil for a few years in the private sector, then--and only then, once you've paid off the extra debt of a JD or MBA--go try getting a job as a foreign policy LA with no Hill or foreign policy experience. Despite that needlessly circuitous path, you'll be fine because you went to HYP and could potentially be POTUS. 

What are you guys even talking about? I've admitted defeat.. my Reese's have been eaten and my axes ground. At the end of the day you just can't argue with advice from some guy "at a more science-y university doing an unrelated master's." I shouldn't even try. 
 
You guys will have to excuse me now. I have some important career advice to give over in the physics subforum.

Good luck Dani! Ignore these a-holes.

If I could like this 1000x I would. 
 
It is awful to think how selfish you are being right now.  What you have done in paying two deposits and simply going "in circles" is certainly not illegal, but it is unethical and defeats the good faith that all of these schools have put on you to weigh the pros/cons and make a decision in a timely manner.  You had plenty of time to make up your mind.  Just go to the "Waiting it out" section on this forum and read about the people who are still waiting to get into ONE school.  The longer you hold out means that one person on the Fletcher waitlist is going to miss out on his/her dream school and be forced to enroll elsewhere.  I understand that this is a major decision in your life, but it is rather disgusting to think that you might be one of my classmates at SIPA this fall because of what you are doing. 
 
Am I being too harsh on some random on an internet forum? Yeah, probably. Am I going to get a bunch of negatives?  Maybe.  Just grow up a little and think about the bigger picture.

StarkResilient89, don't be discouraged by your supposed low stats! I went to a top 25 university and graduated with a 3.22 dual degree in business and international relations. I did well enough on my GREs (but not spectacularly in the quant). I would say the one thing you should do is use this year to really build your work experience. I'd recommend volunteering, even getting an internship in something more related to what you'd study. I applied to 7 programs (SAIS, GWU, American, Columbia, Georgetown, and Fordham). The only place I didn't receive acceptance into was Georgetown and I think I would have had a better opportunity had I not applied to the GHD program which is in it's 2nd year and has like 20-30 students only.
 
You can definitely do it. The one thing I think got me in to all the other schools was my recommendations and very clear personal statement. Granted while my career goals have changed somewhat. But when I wrote those personal statements I was very clear!

I think it really depends on you and what you feel comfortable with. 70K doesn't seem exorbitant to me. I've made around 50K for three years now and my loan payments have been around 400-450 (my choice, I am paying more than the minimum to get a significant amount paid off before grad school not that I had 70K) and it hasn't been insanely difficult. If you know how to budget you'll be fine. Hell, I'm still able to travel around the U.S. to visit friends, travel abroad some, go out, eat out (I'm not a big cook) etc. and it hasn't been impossible. Granted, it's hard to save a lot, but even then, I've saved enough to cover almost all of my first year living expenses if I just wanted to take out loans for tuition and fees. It can be done.
 
I think everyone's experience is different. Some people might think the above sounds crazy because they are risk averse, or they haven't experienced it and think that to live comfortably you have to be making 60K + and be paying minimum bills, but that's not the case. An independent person really can live quite comfortably on a 50-60K salary even while making loan pmts. Of course, your goal is to minimize them and get them paid off as soon as you can, so you aim for higher, but it's not that crazy. Again, each person is different, your expected lifestyle after graduating + when/if you want to have kids soon, buy a house soon, etc. should all play a role in your decision.
 
I think 120K is too much, while some else might not. I don't think 70K for a two year program that will advance your career and which you need in order to get further than where you are isn't. Again mileage varies.

Please stop posting these negative comments. They help no one and they make the conversation very unpleasant.

SAIS is awful when it comes to answering questions on career placement. My guess is they're embarrassed about the fact that most SAIS students don't get good jobs coming out. Don't even bother e-mailing Bahar at admissions. She's one of the least helpful people I have ever had contact with.

Hey, I'm in the boat of receiving no funding for my first year. However, I received no funding from all the schools I applied to. I had to choose between NYU, SAIS, SIPA, Elliott, American, and Fordham and chose SIPA. HOWEVER, being that you have funding from Fletcher, I would take it. Had I receive funding from any of my schools (a significant amount) I would have taken it. SIPA is my dream school and a perfect fit for me and what I want to do, so in a way I am happy to have the ability to choose it without feeling too guilty as the situation monetarily wouldn't have been better at any other school. I also have a small outside grant for my first year, living costs saved up for my first year living expenses, a rent free living situation lined up, and will be working at least some hours during the year. I am also counting on getting funding in my 2nd year as around 70% of SIPA students do and I am confident I can get the GPA + have teaching experience. So, I am banking on quite a few factors (that may or may not work out) to make it work, but I am confident and optimistic.
 
My reasoning for taking the plunge are that (a) I didn't receive funding in any other program and I want to start grad school in the fall. Simply put, I don't want to wait and try again. ( I want to be at SIPA. It's a great fit for what I want to do, great network in what I want to do, and is NYC where I have my emotional support system. © I'm not taking the full plunge, which I guess is contradictory, but like I stated above, I have a few circumstances that make this easier to swallow. (d) I need a masters to do what I want. I could work for another year in the field I am in now (will be 3 years in a few months) but I haven't been happy in it for awhile and my emotional stability is important for me. (e) I am fairly young and do not plan on settling down (with a house, kids, car, etc. (hell, I don't even know how to drive) for a long time. (f) the area I am looking to get into via SIPA after my masters could be very lucrative if I get into the right company - which again will be more possible if I am at SIPA and NYC. (g) I have a pretty good back up should I not be able to get a financially sound job right after school that is financially sound - and after a break of two years from my current field if I need to do it for one more year afterwards while I look for the right job/pay off some loans, I can possibly do it then WITHOUT hating it.
 
That said my situation is different than yours. I have heard AMAZING things about Fletcher and that funding seems pretty great to me. Again, if I had that type of funding at a different school I would have taken it. I personally didn't apply to Fletcher because I wanted to get out of Boston so I didn't want any options here, but I've heard it's a great school. Unless there is something fundamentally different about SIPA and SAIS that would affect your career goals than I'd take the money and not look back. You can probably study abroad/intern in NYC during the summers while at Fletcher anyways so you won't be missing out on much.

Hey, I'm in the boat of receiving no funding for my first year. However, I received no funding from all the schools I applied to. I had to choose between NYU, SAIS, SIPA, Elliott, American, and Fordham and chose SIPA. HOWEVER, being that you have funding from Fletcher, I would take it. Had I receive funding from any of my schools (a significant amount) I would have taken it. SIPA is my dream school and a perfect fit for me and what I want to do, so in a way I am happy to have the ability to choose it without feeling too guilty as the situation monetarily wouldn't have been better at any other school. I also have a small outside grant for my first year, living costs saved up for my first year living expenses, a rent free living situation lined up, and will be working at least some hours during the year. I am also counting on getting funding in my 2nd year as around 70% of SIPA students do and I am confident I can get the GPA + have teaching experience. So, I am banking on quite a few factors (that may or may not work out) to make it work, but I am confident and optimistic.
 
My reasoning for taking the plunge are that (a) I didn't receive funding in any other program and I want to start grad school in the fall. Simply put, I don't want to wait and try again. ( I want to be at SIPA. It's a great fit for what I want to do, great network in what I want to do, and is NYC where I have my emotional support system. © I'm not taking the full plunge, which I guess is contradictory, but like I stated above, I have a few circumstances that make this easier to swallow. (d) I need a masters to do what I want. I could work for another year in the field I am in now (will be 3 years in a few months) but I haven't been happy in it for awhile and my emotional stability is important for me. (e) I am fairly young and do not plan on settling down (with a house, kids, car, etc. (hell, I don't even know how to drive) for a long time. (f) the area I am looking to get into via SIPA after my masters could be very lucrative if I get into the right company - which again will be more possible if I am at SIPA and NYC. (g) I have a pretty good back up should I not be able to get a financially sound job right after school that is financially sound - and after a break of two years from my current field if I need to do it for one more year afterwards while I look for the right job/pay off some loans, I can possibly do it then WITHOUT hating it.
 
That said my situation is different than yours. I have heard AMAZING things about Fletcher and that funding seems pretty great to me. Again, if I had that type of funding at a different school I would have taken it. I personally didn't apply to Fletcher because I wanted to get out of Boston so I didn't want any options here, but I've heard it's a great school. Unless there is something fundamentally different about SIPA and SAIS that would affect your career goals than I'd take the money and not look back. You can probably study abroad/intern in NYC during the summers while at Fletcher anyways so you won't be missing out on much.

Hey, I'm in the boat of receiving no funding for my first year. However, I received no funding from all the schools I applied to. I had to choose between NYU, SAIS, SIPA, Elliott, American, and Fordham and chose SIPA. HOWEVER, being that you have funding from Fletcher, I would take it. Had I receive funding from any of my schools (a significant amount) I would have taken it. SIPA is my dream school and a perfect fit for me and what I want to do, so in a way I am happy to have the ability to choose it without feeling too guilty as the situation monetarily wouldn't have been better at any other school. I also have a small outside grant for my first year, living costs saved up for my first year living expenses, a rent free living situation lined up, and will be working at least some hours during the year. I am also counting on getting funding in my 2nd year as around 70% of SIPA students do and I am confident I can get the GPA + have teaching experience. So, I am banking on quite a few factors (that may or may not work out) to make it work, but I am confident and optimistic.
 
My reasoning for taking the plunge are that (a) I didn't receive funding in any other program and I want to start grad school in the fall. Simply put, I don't want to wait and try again. ( I want to be at SIPA. It's a great fit for what I want to do, great network in what I want to do, and is NYC where I have my emotional support system. © I'm not taking the full plunge, which I guess is contradictory, but like I stated above, I have a few circumstances that make this easier to swallow. (d) I need a masters to do what I want. I could work for another year in the field I am in now (will be 3 years in a few months) but I haven't been happy in it for awhile and my emotional stability is important for me. (e) I am fairly young and do not plan on settling down (with a house, kids, car, etc. (hell, I don't even know how to drive) for a long time. (f) the area I am looking to get into via SIPA after my masters could be very lucrative if I get into the right company - which again will be more possible if I am at SIPA and NYC. (g) I have a pretty good back up should I not be able to get a financially sound job right after school that is financially sound - and after a break of two years from my current field if I need to do it for one more year afterwards while I look for the right job/pay off some loans, I can possibly do it then WITHOUT hating it.
 
That said my situation is different than yours. I have heard AMAZING things about Fletcher and that funding seems pretty great to me. Again, if I had that type of funding at a different school I would have taken it. I personally didn't apply to Fletcher because I wanted to get out of Boston so I didn't want any options here, but I've heard it's a great school. Unless there is something fundamentally different about SIPA and SAIS that would affect your career goals than I'd take the money and not look back. You can probably study abroad/intern in NYC during the summers while at Fletcher anyways so you won't be missing out on much.

Hey, I'm in the boat of receiving no funding for my first year. However, I received no funding from all the schools I applied to. I had to choose between NYU, SAIS, SIPA, Elliott, American, and Fordham and chose SIPA. HOWEVER, being that you have funding from Fletcher, I would take it. Had I receive funding from any of my schools (a significant amount) I would have taken it. SIPA is my dream school and a perfect fit for me and what I want to do, so in a way I am happy to have the ability to choose it without feeling too guilty as the situation monetarily wouldn't have been better at any other school. I also have a small outside grant for my first year, living costs saved up for my first year living expenses, a rent free living situation lined up, and will be working at least some hours during the year. I am also counting on getting funding in my 2nd year as around 70% of SIPA students do and I am confident I can get the GPA + have teaching experience. So, I am banking on quite a few factors (that may or may not work out) to make it work, but I am confident and optimistic.
 
My reasoning for taking the plunge are that (a) I didn't receive funding in any other program and I want to start grad school in the fall. Simply put, I don't want to wait and try again. ( I want to be at SIPA. It's a great fit for what I want to do, great network in what I want to do, and is NYC where I have my emotional support system. © I'm not taking the full plunge, which I guess is contradictory, but like I stated above, I have a few circumstances that make this easier to swallow. (d) I need a masters to do what I want. I could work for another year in the field I am in now (will be 3 years in a few months) but I haven't been happy in it for awhile and my emotional stability is important for me. (e) I am fairly young and do not plan on settling down (with a house, kids, car, etc. (hell, I don't even know how to drive) for a long time. (f) the area I am looking to get into via SIPA after my masters could be very lucrative if I get into the right company - which again will be more possible if I am at SIPA and NYC. (g) I have a pretty good back up should I not be able to get a financially sound job right after school that is financially sound - and after a break of two years from my current field if I need to do it for one more year afterwards while I look for the right job/pay off some loans, I can possibly do it then WITHOUT hating it.
 
That said my situation is different than yours. I have heard AMAZING things about Fletcher and that funding seems pretty great to me. Again, if I had that type of funding at a different school I would have taken it. I personally didn't apply to Fletcher because I wanted to get out of Boston so I didn't want any options here, but I've heard it's a great school. Unless there is something fundamentally different about SIPA and SAIS that would affect your career goals than I'd take the money and not look back. You can probably study abroad/intern in NYC during the summers while at Fletcher anyways so you won't be missing out on much.

Hey, I'm in the boat of receiving no funding for my first year. However, I received no funding from all the schools I applied to. I had to choose between NYU, SAIS, SIPA, Elliott, American, and Fordham and chose SIPA. HOWEVER, being that you have funding from Fletcher, I would take it. Had I receive funding from any of my schools (a significant amount) I would have taken it. SIPA is my dream school and a perfect fit for me and what I want to do, so in a way I am happy to have the ability to choose it without feeling too guilty as the situation monetarily wouldn't have been better at any other school. I also have a small outside grant for my first year, living costs saved up for my first year living expenses, a rent free living situation lined up, and will be working at least some hours during the year. I am also counting on getting funding in my 2nd year as around 70% of SIPA students do and I am confident I can get the GPA + have teaching experience. So, I am banking on quite a few factors (that may or may not work out) to make it work, but I am confident and optimistic.
 
My reasoning for taking the plunge are that (a) I didn't receive funding in any other program and I want to start grad school in the fall. Simply put, I don't want to wait and try again. ( I want to be at SIPA. It's a great fit for what I want to do, great network in what I want to do, and is NYC where I have my emotional support system. © I'm not taking the full plunge, which I guess is contradictory, but like I stated above, I have a few circumstances that make this easier to swallow. (d) I need a masters to do what I want. I could work for another year in the field I am in now (will be 3 years in a few months) but I haven't been happy in it for awhile and my emotional stability is important for me. (e) I am fairly young and do not plan on settling down (with a house, kids, car, etc. (hell, I don't even know how to drive) for a long time. (f) the area I am looking to get into via SIPA after my masters could be very lucrative if I get into the right company - which again will be more possible if I am at SIPA and NYC. (g) I have a pretty good back up should I not be able to get a financially sound job right after school that is financially sound - and after a break of two years from my current field if I need to do it for one more year afterwards while I look for the right job/pay off some loans, I can possibly do it then WITHOUT hating it.
 
That said my situation is different than yours. I have heard AMAZING things about Fletcher and that funding seems pretty great to me. Again, if I had that type of funding at a different school I would have taken it. I personally didn't apply to Fletcher because I wanted to get out of Boston so I didn't want any options here, but I've heard it's a great school. Unless there is something fundamentally different about SIPA and SAIS that would affect your career goals than I'd take the money and not look back. You can probably study abroad/intern in NYC during the summers while at Fletcher anyways so you won't be missing out on much.

Some people (myself included obviously) would turn down a high paying job to go to an elite b-school for various reasons. I've discussed some of them here. I mean i know people at hbs/stanford/wharton who were working in private equity and making $300K+ including bonus at age 26-27 but LEFT those jobs to go back to school. From a purely economic sense it may not seem prudent since their opportunity cost is enormous. But they believe that the long-term benefits of going to those schools will outweigh whatever amount they lost during the 2-year time period. Moreover, there are also the social and personal benefits that simply cannot be ignored. Just one example: i was at an alumni event and met a guy who went to one of those top 3 b-schools. He worked at a major private equity firm in boston before school and he talked about how much he enjoyed b-school and how he met his fiancee there. When these alums talk about their mba experience, you can clearly tell that it was the best time of their lives and it's something that you can't simply quantify. I for one would turn down a $500K/year job easily for admission to HBS and would take out a $200K loan with a smile on my face.

Regarding not applying to fellowships, I unfortunately didn't apply to any of the essay ones, short of applying to IFP. I regret that decision but honestly I didn't have the time. Aside from applying to grad schools, I am a teacher and work ridiculously long hours. So I would say one thing that I am (maybe wishfully counting on) when I attend SIPA is applying to those fellowships for the 2nd year. While SIPA is a big financial committment, I think getting some sort of funding in the 2nd year if you put in the work to your grades + actually apply to all fellowships is almost a guarantee and will offset your debt in a big way.
 
So basically soapwater don't give up. If you decide to attend SIPA, I think there is still an opportunity to really make it work financially with the 2nd year offsetting the first. At the end of the day, I remember what a college advisor told me (and I think this would apply to more to grad school). The money's secondary. Eventually, one way or another, it will get paid, you will make it work and the loans would get paid. I've seen people make such a big deal about how they would never get into debt for a grad school, but honestly, I come from a low-income family and I'm a first generation American. Education is really the only way I'm going to continue to push myself further, so I think taking on the debt is worth it in the long run as it really is the only way I can get to where I want to be.
 
(I also don't know your personal situation, how much you would have to take out, etc. I've been working for three years as a teacher, and I have managed to save enough + will most definitely work throughout grad school - I'm used to taking 5 classes, having a work study position, and an unpaid internship during my undergrad career- in order to cover my living expenses so I don't have to take out that money in my first year).
 
All I'm saying is don't give up! I almost started to think I wouldn't accept SIPA either, but it really does have an amazing program that you can really tailor to your interests! If you decide to go to SIPA, or want to discuss it more, you can always PM me. I will be there Fall 2013!

Regarding not applying to fellowships, I unfortunately didn't apply to any of the essay ones, short of applying to IFP. I regret that decision but honestly I didn't have the time. Aside from applying to grad schools, I am a teacher and work ridiculously long hours. So I would say one thing that I am (maybe wishfully counting on) when I attend SIPA is applying to those fellowships for the 2nd year. While SIPA is a big financial committment, I think getting some sort of funding in the 2nd year if you put in the work to your grades + actually apply to all fellowships is almost a guarantee and will offset your debt in a big way.
 
So basically soapwater don't give up. If you decide to attend SIPA, I think there is still an opportunity to really make it work financially with the 2nd year offsetting the first. At the end of the day, I remember what a college advisor told me (and I think this would apply to more to grad school). The money's secondary. Eventually, one way or another, it will get paid, you will make it work and the loans would get paid. I've seen people make such a big deal about how they would never get into debt for a grad school, but honestly, I come from a low-income family and I'm a first generation American. Education is really the only way I'm going to continue to push myself further, so I think taking on the debt is worth it in the long run as it really is the only way I can get to where I want to be.
 
(I also don't know your personal situation, how much you would have to take out, etc. I've been working for three years as a teacher, and I have managed to save enough + will most definitely work throughout grad school - I'm used to taking 5 classes, having a work study position, and an unpaid internship during my undergrad career- in order to cover my living expenses so I don't have to take out that money in my first year).
 
All I'm saying is don't give up! I almost started to think I wouldn't accept SIPA either, but it really does have an amazing program that you can really tailor to your interests! If you decide to go to SIPA, or want to discuss it more, you can always PM me. I will be there Fall 2013!