orangedonkey

Hi guys, 4.15 decision deadline is approaching but i still haven't made my final decision yet .... Would anyone like to give me some advice?? I'd really appreciate that!!! UMD-CP/MPP--half grad assistantship UT-Austin /MPAff ---$ 31,000 for 2 years and in-state tuition Cornell / MPA---$ 22,000 for each year but the out-state tuition is $ 36,300 per year!!!! Financially, UT-Austin is the least expensive program for me, while Cornell is the most expensive and I need pay $ 28,600 for the 2 years' tuition~~Do you guys think its worthwhile? I am worried about the job placement in US, because i am an int'l student and might have problems finding employments....I'd like to work for Int'l organization, like UN and World Bank, or consulting firms. But I might end up working for low-paid NGOs due to the work visa issue. One thing I am concerned about is the location. UMD is close to DC, while Austin s located in South and Cornell s in a smalllll town! But its said cornell has a program in Washing DC where 2nd students intern while studying.... Also, since I am an int'l, I am unable to visit the open houses for admitted students of each school....Anyone here made that to LBJ, UMD, Cornell?..Would you please share your thoughts/any information with me, especially the career prospect , education quality and emphasis of each program, like heavily quant-focused? I have to make the decision today !!!!! plz give me a hand~~~

Hi guys, 4.15 decision deadline is approaching but i still haven't made my final decision yet .... Would anyone like to give me some advice?? I'd really appreciate that!!! UMD-CP/MPP--half grad assistantship UT-Austin /MPAff ---$ 31,000 for 2 years and in-state tuition Cornell / MPA---$ 22,000 for each year but the out-state tuition is $ 36,300 per year!!!! Financially, UT-Austin is the least expensive program for me, while Cornell is the most expensive and I need pay $ 28,600 for the 2 years' tuition~~Do you guys think its worthwhile? I am worried about the job placement in US, because i am an int'l student and might have problems finding employments....I'd like to work for Int'l organization, like UN and World Bank, or consulting firms. But I might end up working for low-paid NGOs due to the work visa issue. One thing I am concerned about is the location. UMD is close to DC, while Austin s located in South and Cornell s in a smalllll town! But its said cornell has a program in Washing DC where 2nd students intern while studying.... Also, since I am an int'l, I am unable to visit the open houses for admitted students of each school....Anyone here made that to LBJ, UMD, Cornell?..Would you please share your thoughts/any information with me, especially the career prospect , education quality and emphasis of each program, like heavily quant-focused? Please give me a hand~~~Thank you!

Thank you so much for the info, GoHogs! I am now leaning toward UMD-CP and UT-Austin mainly cuz they gave me most money!!!And i was thinking maybe its not worth the debt to go to Gtown/michigan.... Do u/anyone know something related to each program's employment stats/career prospect of the graduates, especially int'l students? I've read the internship took by previous students at UMD-CP and UT-Austin and it looks like both are kinda regional, especially UMD-CP....Please let me know if i am wrong. I was also thinking to get a master in accounting when I am doing MPP/mpa. I know UT-Austin has the best accounting program in the nation....but lbj school doesnt have dual degree. I am wondering can i still apply? Or i have to quit the mpaff 1st? Thank you all...

Hi, erin, thanks for sharing~~~~!! Looking forward to yr Gtown comments )

Hi gohogs, congrats on yr acceptance! I am not in the global policy program but MPAff. However, would u like to share with me your thoughts on the University and LBJ school's prestige, even from the mouth of other ppl? i was thinking that the program is kind of regional, since most of graduates( abt 70%) work in TX area, rather than NYC/DC. Also, my friends told me that if i got into georgetown, michigan,jhu, nyu, usc, then going for UT-Austin kinda sucks. I was wondering how prestigious the UT-Austin and their program is, not only in the TX, but the places out of TX. anyone would like to share? I am an international student and can only get the information from US news rankings, which is not really reliable in my mind. Thanks a lot!

I know there s slim chance for me to get any kind of financial aid. However, I really need to know it for certain so that I can make my decision early. Its late March now but still no news from the school....

Thank you so much for the info, erin!! So it looks like MPP graduates from Ford school have big problems with the job hunting? I've contacted the school and read the employment stats posted on their website. It looked nice but i want to know what s the real fact and nobody else knows it better than the current students/graduates. I was just wondering it was because the Ford/mpp degree doesnt help much in the competitive job market OR its the problem facing all the MPA/MPP graduates, no matter which school they come from, Harris, Gtown, even Harvard? I feel like MPA/MPP/MIA is mainly for those ppl who doing dual/joint degree, such as JD, MBA, etc. And when those ppl are searching jobs, it might not be their MPA/MPP which helps them out, but the JD and MBA..would yr boyfriend agree about this???.So maybe i should consider to do some dual degree program as well, like accounting/mpa or mba/mpp, since MBA and accounting is much more marketable and wil make me more competitive i guess, for the quant/business skills i'll get.....

Hi unknown, how are u recently? actually on NYU wagner's website, it s said that the application is on a rolling basis and applicants should apply earlier. So maybe it means not the most qualified applicant got the acceptance news first? I got my admissions news several weeks ago but so far haven't heard anything abt the funding. Last week I called them and was told the funding decision will go out before the end of March. About the Jan 15 deadline, maybe u should explain the technical problems to the wagner admissions officer? I think they'll understand it. you know i also had the same problem when I appiled to michigan and the admissions staff gave me an extension.

Poor erin But at least u can visit the schools by yrself... u know i can't even make it~~~~ :cry: By the way, u mentioned yr friend who s a Michigan/mpp student. May I know his personal perspectives on the program? I also got into Ford/mpp but no funding at all!! and I am wondering if i should go there~~~would you please ask him abt the michigan/mpp's employment information for me? I dont know if ford school's location is a drawback compared to Gtown and UMD. I'd like to work for the consulting firms/international organizations(UN/WORLD BANK) after graduation, however, the school's employment stats showed that most of ford/mpp graduates ended up working for US government and NGOs. May I know what kinda job yr friend is seeking/ has already found? Thank you!! i'd really appreciate yr kind help! Have a nice DC trip!!

Hi guys I received the e-mail notification of my acceptance in early March and the program coordinator Lucy Neighbors told me she would e-mail me a pdf about the funding information by March 18 if any. However, I didnt hear anything on that day so I e-mailed her and asked abt it. She said the funding decision hadn't gone out and let me wait. Then just a couple of days later, I got the e-mail saying $ 18,000 for 1st year, $ !4,000 for 2nd year plus a in-state tuition waiver. I guess they are working hard on it since there are a number of application to evalute!!! Maybe you'll hear back from them pretty soon:)) Good luck to everyone!! Btw...is it worth going for UT-AUSTIN/MPAff cuz they granted me a considerable amount of money??? I know a current int'l student who is studying the MPAff now and she said the professors are very nice and helpful. However, she suggested me go to schools in DC which means more opportunities of doing internships and part-time jobs. She did her summer internship in DC and felt students over there may have more chances, compared to those in Austin, TX. Any thoughts on School ( good location but no funding) VS School ( remote location but much funding)??? I also got into Gtown/mpp but with no funding at all!!!and its really expensive for me even tho i can afford it. Anyone going to LBJ's open houses? Would you please share your feeelings/perspectives with me? I am an int'l student and unable to visit the school on my own :cry:

Hi i just got the funding news from these 2 programs: MPAff/UT-AUSTIN ( $ 18,000 for 1st yr, $ 14,000 for 2nd year), and JHU/MPP ( $ 10,000 --much less than LBJ but would u guys think the location s better than AUSTIN? Since baltimore s near to DC.......) Besides , i got into UMD-CP with $ 27,700, USC $ 12,000, GWU/MA in int'l trade and investment policy or int'l affairs with $ 6,000. Taken into account of the money, i am having a hard time considering which one to choose. Would anyone like to give me a hand? Any input will be greatly appreciated!!!! I'd like to work for consulting firms/int'l organizations like UN, IMF, WORLD BANK after graduation and I am an int'l student btw....

Hi guys~ i am also recently admitted by their MPAff program and my application status on the website doesnt change~~still saying "yr application is underreview". But i was notified by the admissions officer via e-mail and she said i would know the funding decision by March 18. Its march 19 now!!!! i guess i should e-mail her and ask?

Hi erin, thanks a lot! I'll e-mail/PM you if i dont see yr posts about the open hourses visiting~~ By the way, it looks like UMD/mpp has the emphasis on int'l security and environmental issues. But i am interested in the int'l development and economic policy. However, i was told by its assistant dean Elizabeth that the Int'l Dev. faculty named Carol doesnt teach now ( its pretty disappointing cuz she s really great and only a few professors at MSPP has expertise in this field). Moreover, my friend who knows some current UMD/MPP students said many stellar faculty in their program left MSPP to teach/do research in somewhere else. I don't know if its true but I did see they post the new faculty recruiting news on the internet. Maybe U'd be interested in checking this out~~~

Hi erin, I surely want to do so, , but I am currently not in the states(I am an international student ) and unable to visit the campus on my own. So, I have to ask for advice/thoughts from ppl on this forum or the information posted on the school's website. Will you go to UMD and Gtown's open houses? I am choosing between them. If you dont mind, would you like to share with me your perspectives/feelings on this forum/PM/E-mail me after you visit them? I'd really appreciate that

Is it worth going because of the half-grad assistantships they offered me, compared to USC( ONLY $ 12,000), NYU, Michigan and Gtowen with no funding at all?? Anyone knows abt their employment stats? Which sector do the graduates work for? I was just wondering if UMD/MPP got good connections in private sector, like consulting firms. Its said that Booze Allen's vice president graduated from their school and Booze Allen has some recruting events at Maryland State. Will that help any if i also want to get into the consulting firms, as an int'l student? Many thanx!