fc1922

I'd say that is 100% wrong. I've worked for the UN and in Europe and HKS is known as a school of applied public policy. Little theoretical about it. WWS is much more theoretical and advertises that fact. HKS is known for the number of faculty who have worked in government. The "intellectual" university is University of Chicago. Columbia SIPA is much like SAIS, though its domestic public policy program (MPA) is not nearly as renowned as HKS.

I don't know who said that Columbia SIPA has significantly improved its financial aid but that is absolutely untrue. You have virtually no chance of getting aid your first year unless you are in the Barnard or Columbia 4+1 program. Financial aid your second year is better but awards average less than 50% of tuition. SIPA simply does not have the endowment.