[USC MPP Acceptances 2014]

So many people who have done their time in Chicago! I'm no exception. Maybe that's a pre-requisite for seeking to live in warmer climes. 

"Give me your tired, your poor,/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,/The wretched refuse of your teeming shore./Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,/ I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" ? 

 

My area of interest is how public and private programs can work together to address inequality in access to social resources.  I hope we'll get a chance to talk with our advisors at the event in March....

[USC MPP Acceptances 2014]

I grew up in LA, went to undergrad in Chicago, and worked in SF for 4 years before moving back to LA.  I also prefer LA, by a lot.  Though, having grown up here, I'm clearly biased.  Still, re: some of your concerns:

 

Sprawl: LA covers more landmass, but the attractions of each neighborhood are fairly compact.  The "city-centers" of Santa Monica and Pasadena, for example, are very walkable, and although I've never taken public transportation in LA, I have friends who commute via Metrolink (train) and they seem to like it.  

 

Traffic:  Terrible.  Soul-crushing in west LA.

 

General culture:  Here I think the sprawl works in LA's favor.  There are so many really different neighborhoods, it's pretty easy to find somewhere that fits your interests (except for theater.  There are some nice playhouses but the theater scene here doesn't compare to Chicago/New York).  And, aside from the traffic in Santa Monica, I agree with everything MAB1980 said =).

 

P.S. That said, I've visited SC a bunch of times (both for the MPP program and to see friends who went there), and I'm not keen on that area.

[USC Job Prospects?]

I don't know if you've already seen this, but the Price website has these marginally useful graphics: http://priceschool.usc.edu/careers/employment-profile/master-of-public-policy-employment-profile/ (the 34% who work in "Public Policy" is especially confusing for me)

[USC MPP Acceptances 2014]

USC was/is my top choice.  I'm from LA and would like to stay here after getting the MPP, and since they're giving me a full tuition scholarship and assigned me to an amazing advisor (Raphael Bostic), I really don't have a reason to reject the offer.  Maybe if at the Dean's Merit even they tell us that drowning puppies is a part of the capstone project or something.  

 

@chocolatecheesecake will let you know how the event goes!

 

Who did you guys get assigned to for your advisor?

 

[USC MPP Acceptances 2014]

I got my acceptance packet yesterday!  I'll be going to the Dean's Merit event on Thursday and Friday as well =).  Can't wait!