orangedonkey

Hi guys, recently i got into several MPA/MPP programs and can't decide which one to choose. Would anyone like to give me some advice? I'd really appreciate it! I am accepted by Gtown/mpp NYU,Wagner/mpp Syracuse Univ/mpa (only lasts 1 year and i am afraid the location would be a drawback) USC/mpp (with $ 12,000 scholarships) GWU (no funding at all) U of Michigan-Ann Arbor/mpp U of Maryland-College Park/mpp ( with half grad assistantship, around $ 27,700) UCSD/MPIA( pacific and int'l affairs, pretty much like an int'l affairs program) U of Texas-Austin/mpa U of minnesota-twin cities U of Indiana and Purdue U-Indianapolis/mpa and rejected by Columbia/mpa :cry: :cry: (they said i am too young and encourged me to reapply) and still waiting on U penn/MGA (Government administration), AU/mpa Personally, i prefer Gtown and NYU. Gtown is a prestigious university and got awesome location. NYU has some professors whose interests overlapped with me very closely and i feel like they have sufficient teaching resources and good career service, like job affair, career panel, etc. I am interested in public finance, public and non-profit management, like program evaluation and performance management. And I'd like to work in big NGOs, like World Bank and UN( i know its extremely difficult to get in) and investment banks, consulting firms( they seem to recruit MPA/MPP students as well). I dont know if i can work in US state/local government, as a foreign student. If they also want int'l students, that would be great, since i hope to gain some us government experience. However, with the consideration of funding, UMD would be a good choice. But i was told it s not a top program and actually research-oriented, not like other professional program which prepare students for career! I dont want to do research work, PHD or teach. If no funding with GTOWN/ NYU, is it worthwhile if i go for it? Would anyone like to give me a hand? I am really confused these days and got to decide early. Thank you!!!~~

hi erin and paradox I also got into UMD-CP/mpp(half grad assistantship), gtown/mpp, gwu/mpp and cant decide which one to choose. it looks like erin is going to UMD-College Park, mainly because of the funding? Personally, I prefer Gtown's mpp over UMD which emphasizes too much on int'l security. Plus, as far as I know, their int'l development program is a newly established one and kinda lack of sufficient teaching resources( i was told by the assistant dean that the new int'l dev faculty who joined them a couple of years ago is not teaching, but doing her own research projects and they are going to recruit a new one.) This is pretty disappointing, because my interests lie in economic policy and int'l dev, rather than int'l security. So i am afraid i might not be able to get what i want. Besides, UMD's mpp is more about int'l affairs, rather than public policy(personal feeling) and it ranks # 12 according to INT'L AFFAIRS RANKINGS. When I was having the interview with an admissions officer from UCSD's IR/PS, he told me that UMD is not a top program , even tho he s from Maryland but he didnt choose to go to UMD. However, my friend who knows a lot about schools suggest me go for Gtown. He said its a 1st tier school in the states and even can be comparable to some ivy-league school. Is that true? I spent some time reading their program's website and it looks like GTOWN/MPP is good at public health and education policy, as well as presidential election. Although my main interests dont lie in these aspects, gtown might give me easier access to famous NGO(like world bank and UN) and governmental organizations. But i was kinda upset when I was looking for the job info on their website. The employment resources seem less than other departments, such as MSFS. And I am still waiting for the funding decision. They said they'd notify me by letter if i the school decided to grant me any kind of financial aid. but I guess it is slim chance and gtown/mpp costs too much,and i dont know if its worthwhile, or i should go for UMD?????? So, any advice? what do u think, erin and paradox? BTW, erin, would u like to tell me your contact info, like e-mail, msn? Maybe we could be classmates in the future

same here and I am really tired of the waiting game...why those school dont wanna tell me the decision and let me wait until april??i know it pretty much means "unqualified" but i hope to know it for certain........i'll be ok with whatever results...but not "pending"... tired.........

hi unknown Yes, you r right...its the work visa issue. I was told that most institutions wouldn't like to hire foreign graduates because it would be troublesome to get you a work visa. So, i am wondering how hard it would be for int'l students to land a job in the states... By the way, I heard that if you work for NGOs, like UN, then the visa won't be a problem. Is that true? Anyone knows this?

Hi can hardly wait, the MPA education itself costs a lot and NYU Wagner is not generous with the financial aid(other mpa programs is kinda the same.) I have seen almost all the ppl from my country who got into their program but with no fundings in previous years. What I am worried about is the job placement after the graduation in the states, as a foreign student. Do u have any suggestions? I'd really appreciate that!

I really like this program and location is awesome but have heard some negative information about the job placement. Also I was told its an overrated and expensive school. Any thoughts from anyone will be greatly appreciated!

hi guys~I am also admitted by their program. hopeful, you mentioned night school, so are you going to be a part-time student in wagner or the mpa program wagner s actually given at night? By the way, idealist.org looks like a great site to find some public service jobs but do they want international students?(i am from China and have 2 years' full time professional experience in government.) That would be great if the jobs aren't limited to americans/permanent residents. Anyway, congratulations, hopeful grad and best of luck with your application, unknown~~

hey hopeful grad, i got into NYU wagner's MPA as well, but I haven't yet visit the campus. how do you feel about the faculty/current students? Do they sound enthusiastic? Do you also know something about the job placement of wagner graduates, especially those int'l students? I am wondering typically, what kind of employers that would like to hire them. I was told that there are some 2nd-year wagner students doing interns in UN. It sounds great!

Thank you so much for the info, Paradox~ I really like Syracuse's MPA program but I am afraid 1 year program might be too short for me to find an intern/job after graduation. And I guess networking will help a lot with my job-hunting...so location becomes an almost decisive factor when I choose MPA/MPP programs. I am an international student and was told that " MPA/MPP + International student =unemployment". Is that true? Do u/anyone know the job placement of international students with TOP 10 MPA/MPP degree? Actually I am currently working for the China's government and really confused that if I should quit this job and further my MPA/MPP study in the states. I'd like to work in NGO/consulting firms in the states after my graduation but dont know if the MPA/MPP will help me achieve my professional goals. I heard a lot from current MPA students/staffs that a number of international students ended up with coming back to their home countries/doing PHDs... BTW...I was rejected by Duke/mpp last week...they told me that the program only recruited a limited number of students and it looks like they highly focuses on the econ. So, I guess there s big chance to get in if you have strong background in econ/stats. Good luck with your applications!

I was told by the admissions officer that the admissions decision will come to me by mail....rather than e-mail, but I've seen ppl who got in received the e-mail notification. So, does that mean they actually have rejected me? I heard that if the school doesnt want you, they will not tell u directly via the e-mail but send you a letter... :cry:

Hi guys, I appiled to the UT-AUSTIN's MPAff program too and they told me that the result will come out by mid-march. Does anyone know it will be an e-mail notification or just a letter? BTW..do they really have the rolling admissions process?= =...I finished my application really late...kind of worried...

Hi unknown scholar..thank you for the info. on Syracuse and Twin-cities. My top choices for MPP is Gtown but I appiled to MPA too and hope I can go to schools in DC or NYC..either is ok. and BTW, I've just seen someone got into Gtown's mpp program but with no $$$$ and I heard that if the school really wants you, they'll let you know as soon as possible... About the GWU, I've heard ppl saying its Gtown's waitlist school and Gtown is famous for its law school and MSFS(foreign service). But if you r a student from GWU, you can take classes in any school of DC, like Gtown, Au...etc., the same for Gtown and AU students. Actually, syracuse only offers MPA, rather than MPP...and the us news said its the best public affairs program. But I dont really care about the rankings...my concern is their program only lasts for 12 months and not located in DC/NYC in which I might be able to find an intern. Plus, the student who is currently studying this program told me that the curriculum is very heavy and you dont even have time around to get an intern. So, i thought 2 years program in DC/NYC might be better for me? BTW, did you apply to UCSD's MPIA?(pacific and int'l affairs). Its a great program too which integrates int'l affairs, business management and public policy. They have career tracks like int'l business, public policy and int'l dev and nonprofit.

Thank you for your informative responses...unknown scholar I heard a lot that GWU is the kind of school that normally sends out a number of ADs(with no $$$ and I' ve seen several ppl got into their program this year also last year.), even though this applicant is below the average or didnt really fullfill the qualifications...this kinda makes me think that its a money-making school. So, I didnt make up my mind if I should go. Besides, I dont really know what is the criteria of the GWU's financial aid. But I read on their website that basically the applicant who received the fellowships got at least 3.8 GPA. Anyway...hopefully we both have good news on Gtown's MPP!

hey..actually I e-mailed the GWU's mpp program director Catherine about my admissions result and she told me I have been accepted but still need the endorsement from the dean(normally the dean would follow the department's decisions), and the acceptance package will come to me soon. Then I asked her about the fundings but was told that no department $$$$$ for me....;((((... when and how did you know your Gtown's application decision s pending? I appiled to its mpp program as well...but hearing nothing....whom did you contact? I e-mailed the admissions officer named Griffine..but no feedback ;((( i guess they have already **** me...sad....... BTW...do you know anything about Syracuse/MPA and UMN-twin cities's MPP program????

Congrats! hopeful grad I applied to NYU/MPA too, but hearing nothing. They told me the result will come out in several weeks, i guess its cuz I finished my application really late...or they actually already ****me??? :shock: Would you like to share with me your background stats, like GRE,relevant work experience, GPA, etc.? BTW, there is an optional essay, part of the application but I didnt write it. How about you? I m wondering if that will hurt my chances in any way.

Hi guys! I appiled to the MPA/MPP programs as well and got into GWU's MPP. The school told me that they decided not to grant me any kinds of department fundings. :cry: but it will be really expensive, so I dont really know if I should go. I guess the reason why GWU's MPP ranks so high generally cuz of its awesome location and hands-on networking opportunities. Btw, I also got into Syracuse Univ's MPA and U of Minnesota-twin cities's MPP.... Any thoughts about these 2 programs? Syr/MPA only lasts one year and I guess it would be tough for me to find an internship during the study(I am an int'l applicant and would like to work in the states after my graduation if possible). But this program ranks 1st according to the US news...