lanetobia

look into rutgers....there is certainly a link to state and local government in both the MPA program and at the bloustein school.

what you seem to describe as the pros and cons of the program are things I have heard repeated, but the degree of detail you provided is really helpful. In the end, I cant ignore the fact that NYU is NYU, and the resources available to me will be much greater than at other programs. I think thats why despite the idiosyncrasies of the application process I didn't have to think twice about putting my deposit down. The alumni network and general feeling of the school is second to none, or at least on par with the best. So thank you for your message, and I will definitely use the course descriptions when signing up for classes. I didn't realize until yesterday that it is a 60 credit program, as opposed to a 40 something credit program at rutgers and similar schools. Not that its entirely a bad thing, but it will certainly take longer and make it more likely i'll go full time throughout. i also dont have to change any of my original plans in regard to moving (my girlfriend and I just signed a lease in Jersey city by the PATH) and so the immediate nature of their contacting me and asking for a decision within 2 weeks wasn't really a big deal. and the fact I dont have to do the PER, although not for credit anyway, will at least alleviate some time constraints and open up the possibility to work more. the financial concerns are valid and I think its part of the experience at a school like NYU (I have a friend going to SIPA who will likely end up dropping close to 80 or 90k), but the way I look at it, even if i have to go with loans almost entirely the federal public service loan programs make me feel a little bit better. in the end i had to decide - is the extra 15k or so over rutgers (very little financial aid available there as well) going to come back to me over the course of my career? (alumni, prestige, etc.) the answer, I think, is yes. On top of it, I've heard such amazing things about the atmosphere and student camaraderie that its a done deal. what nailed it for me was that in the first year, rutgers tuition would be about 21k...only about 5 k less than NYU. If you don't mind me asking, What degree/specialization are you pursuing?

For months, due to a mistake in my original application (LOR was late) I have just assumed that I would be attending Rutgers-Newark and was happy with my decision. But today, I heard from NYU and was offered admission. Of course there's no money involved, but Rutgers didn't offer any either....as such, and being that I'm going to be considered out of state the first year (even though I spent 23 of my 26 years as a NJ resident), NYU's COA only exceeds Rutgers by about 2k. Then on top of it, I look into it and learn that Rutgers has NO merit scholarships for MPA students in SPAA. Then, on top of that, I placed out of the PER at Wagner, further lessening the number of credits needed to graduate. Finally, I have to be honest: the curriculum at Rutgers is traditional in the sense that it is geared towards the management of public organizations solely (administrative morality, governance, etc.) and separates policy comepletely between the MPA and MPP programs....whereas at NYU, I will be able to blend a little bit more and feel like the curriculum is much more innovative and contemporary. SO herein lies my dilemma - my plans in moving cross country and living in Jersey City won't have to change (my girlfriend is also attending grad school in the fall, at a NJ state school) the total loans I'd have to take out are almost identical....and merit scholarships in year 2 are much more likely at NYU then Rutgers. My career goal is to work in the policy reform sector, at an organization similar to something like the Drug Policy Alliance (where I also have a lead on an internship). I believe NYU offers a degree that is more tied to the combination of public management and policy analysis, whereas at Rutgers I would have to make that happen myself. I am basically looking for any information, thoughts, etc. from those of you out there who either decided on another school or will be attending Wagner in the fall. Please help me as I try to make this decision in the next few weeks!

I know this forum is generally targeting the top top top tier graduate programs in the country. And that usually refers to the same 10 or 15 programs over and over, and that is all good - it is the reason forums like this exist. As for me? I decided that I wanted to have the MPA degree and not an MPP early on, so I was limited. I cant afford SIPA, and looked solely in the NY Metroish area, as that is my base and where I plan on being for the rest of my life. So it came down, really, to 5 schools for me: Syracuse, NYU, Rutgers, John Jay, and Baruch. I went to undergrad in Ithaca, and couldn't live through another winter like that (I have been in SAN DIEGO for the last two years to avoid weather in general...). I don't like that Syracuse is a one year program, and didn't think the internship opportunities would be as plentiful in Central NY - not including the selectivity, the cost, and again, the winter.... John Jay's MPA program is very law and order oriented, so that was out. So it came down to Wagner, Rutgers, and Baruch. I applied at Rutgers early decision (12/1) because it was the earliest deadline. Once I got in, Baruch was out because the program at Rutgers is from what I can gather a touch above, particularly in internship placement. I have to tell you all, my experience with Rutgers has been the complete opposite of what Ive had with NYU. Obviously I am a little bitter, but I didn't know that I wouldn't be hearing back before JUne until a few days ago. So for the last few months, I've assumed that if I were to get accepted at Wagner, it would come down to a choice between the two schools. There was someone on here who was going to be weighing a choice between NYU and Baruch -- I would really suggest looking into Rutgers as well. I think it flies slgihtly under the radar, and Newark itself doesn't have the best reputation. But we're talking about a program that allows students to take classes across the street at NJIT, at the law school, the business school, and the Bloustein School if a student designs a route that takes them that way. It really appealed...and lets not forget, Newark is still only about a 25 minute train ride from NYC - so the opportunity to work/intern in NY is just as viable, and if you're into government, Rutgers apparently places plenty of MPA students in local government offices. Lets put it this way: I never put too much into reputation. for undergrad, I was accepted by some extremely selective schools (the bucknells, lehighs, frank and marshall, even conn college), and in the end decided on the one with the worst reputation (Ithaca College). I had a feeling. The campus was buzzing, the school was renovating, a capital campaign was in place..... In the 4 years I was there, the school expanded and toughened academic standards - so by the time I graduated, the degree was worth way more than those who graduated four years prior. I have yet to have a problem finding a job and know that the academic rigor was on par with friends who had gone to some of the other schools i decided against. Graduate school is probably a little different. We all know the degree is not worth solely what you pay for it, but still.. I have a feeling about Rutgers, too. Newark is undergoing a dramatic transformation, however slowly, and I think the university is piggybacking on that growth by dedicating more resources to graduate study. Not to discount the fact that it is the most diverse campus in the entire country, either. If you are headed off into public service......I think thats a positive. anyway, i just wanted to put that out there. Thats not to say that if for some reason NYU decides to get back to the second wave of students more quickly than listed on the notification table, and I get in, I won't consider it. But I'm very comfortable knowing that I could end up at a program that seems to be generating a whole bunch of positive feedback. If you are planning on going into the public sector - and not private sector consulting type work - I would say NYU and Rutgers offer comparable opportunities post-graduation. It is certainly not close to as big a program either... If anyone wants to chime in, I'd like to hear what you think too. Rant over...

so i did some digging, in my spare few minutes at work, and called admissions (I'm on the west coast...im a social worker....and it is not easy to get away even for a minute. Anyway...) I found out that in fact I will not be considered as part of the first wave and due to a recommender basically screwing me over, I now have to wait about 8-10 weeks from 3/31 for a decision. Well guess what - no chance in hell a person can wait until June when the plan is to move from one coast to the other in early July. I think its ridiculous that NYU is missing out on solid candidates just because one piece of an admissions packet (the one piece thats out of the applicant's hands) wasn't there by the deadline. Most schools will start reviewing your application even if you're missing the transcript - probably the second most important part of an application behind the personal statement. I think what this shows is not how competitive Wagner is, but is instead indicative of how things work internally. The pros of NYU Wagner are obvious - but the cons I've heard speak to the administrative/faculty relationship with students. bunch of bs if you ask me. I want my 80 bucks back.

So I got EVERYTHING into NYU in late December - completed app, transcripts, etc....had the recommenders contacted, and one was submitted on 12/31. I call the other recommender, I don't know, maybe ten times a day (she is a good friend and former supervisor) and guess what? she bounces - leaves the friggin country, and doesn't return until february. So in the meantime, I'm scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. My application was "submitted" on December 30th - but the second recommendation wasn't submitted until something like 1/20. I've called and emailed the admissions office, but they have yet to fully disclose whether or not my application was to be reviewed with those who had made the scholarship deadline or not. My question after reading all of your posts, is that when you say "I made the deadline, or submitted my application on the 1/7 deadline" etc....are you referring to having every single piece submitted, or just the online application itself? Some schools will begin to review an application if one or two pieces are missing as long as they make it to the school soon after...which is pretty much my case. Can anyone shine a light on this?

blah

I was accepted and am now waiting on a few other schools; I havent seen one mention of the program on this forum - yet I know people in the public sector and academics associated with public administration/policy schools who think it is a top notch program, which is why I applied. Obviously the Bloustein school offers a slightly different but similar degree and has the better name recognition - as do most of the schools constantly mentioned on this website (NYU-Wagner, SIPA, Syracuse, GT, etc.). I'm just wondering why Rutgers MPA program never comes up in conversation...its got to be at least one of the top 30 MPA programs in the nation from what I can tell - and sits in the the largest metro area in the country. What gives?