erin85

Any recommendations on areas of DC/Maryland/VA to live in for a Georgetown student that aren't super pricey? I'd need somewhere safe, and close to a metro. Right next to GT is not needed, since they offer a shuttle from the rosslyn and dupont metro stations. I've been out to DC, and saw some nice areas, but the more recommendations I have (especially from people in that city now) the better... Thanks! -Erin

thats a question you really ought to actually ask admissions and/or career services, as they will know the details. Office of financial aid will give you expense estimates for that part.

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So, out of curiosity, how much debt do many of you plan on taking out to pay for your MPP/MPA/related degree? The two schools I am most interested in would leave me between 80,000 and 100,000 in debt, mattering how I handle working, weaseling small amounts of money from the parents, etc. etc. For the record, I have no other debt at the time (undergrad is fully paid for, no credit card debts or other loans). According to Sallie May I'll have between an $800 and $1200 a month repayment post-degree...I hear this is "manageable", especially since the pain will only last 5ish years (before I should have made enough in raises/promotions to be more comfortable), but still... I'm curious. Thoughts? Input? Your own plans on debt? -Erin

I have a friend at USC whom said it was the weaker of the two L.A. programs... I got in to UCLA, but will not be going. It's just not a good option for me when all the jobs I want are in DC, and the program doesn't appear to be that strong... Their job placements were not overly impressive. But its a good school, especially if you want to live in L.A. Personally I hated L.A. when I visited, much too plastic, but its all personal taste

I really enjoyed Georgetown. The school had a very professional vibe to it, and everything at the open house was run smoothly. Georgetowns presentations were thorough and well done, covering things from core curriculum, funding, to student life to name a few. The admissions committee and dean's personalities were also pleasant. The other admitted students were for the most part professional acting and well informed before arriving. Georgetown stressed their program prepared you for your future career, not a PHD, not an undergrad degree--they focused just on the masters, and the job preparation and skills needed in that program (they stressed "skills" quite a bit). They had a strong quant. focus, but without the need for calculus (they did warn that algebra, and being proficient at it was needed beforehand though). Classes were small--12-25 students with the occasional core quant. class taught with double sections (50 students) as its not meant to be participation based anyways. GPPI has courses which allow real world consulting to take place (organizations come in, and ask for students to do consulting, and they frame a course around that), and the capstone thesis is original analysis that students research and perform. They stressed both have been great selling points on resumes. I like both concepts, so to me they were good selling points. Also a good point was it's common for students to have 3+ internships over the course of their studies. None required, but many are paid, and involve interesting work. As someone coming right out of undergrad, the more relevant experience I have, the better prepared I am for a job market competing against those who've had good jobs before their masters. The building was nice, well lit, clean and bright, a good classic and modern mix. The business school is also located in Car Barn, but apparently only until January 09. Oh--its called Car Barn because it used to be D.C.'s trolly storage facility . Getting there was slightly annoying (metro to the bus) but nothing bad at all. The metro system in DC is incredibly easy to figure out, even for someone like me who has never visited there before... and only ridden a subway once before in their life. The other admitted students were almost all coming back from 2-5 years in some very interesting and relevant careers. Most seemed very happy about Georgetown, and were very willing to engage in conversation. The current students were honest, and talked openly about their experiences, and job prospects. They mentioned GT having as many part time faculty as they do (something they are apparently changing though), was actually a great thing--you had educators who had their PHD, has taught before, but then went and did real world policy work running well known organizations...so they knew what students would encounter, and what information would actually help. One of the things that sold me the most was spending the week in DC, exploring the city and getting to know it, and seeing what it has to offer. I love DC at this point, and would be very happy to move there. Also after talking to a number of people here that work in the field, it was stressed that /being here/ for the job interview, being able to push for an appointment, and most of all the networking you can perform here. At this point I'm 99% sure Georgetown has me sold on their program. -Erin

if anyone subscribes, mind posting what the analysis rankings are?

most programs only allow around 6 credits to transfer in from another school... (give or take a few). So it wouldn't be much, and you'd have to jump through hoops to get them to transfer usually.

So UMaryland... Great campus, absolutely beautiful, although huge. Area around campus... not so great. I took the metro and then shuttle into campus, and was not happy with the surrounding areas... didn't seem places I'd want to walk around late at night. Building was a 5-10min walk from shuttle stop. Seemed brand new, and is...was built within the last 5 years I believe. Unlike schools like the Ford School though, the building was not dedicated to the policy school, and they only took up a small area. Overall super nice though. The "Community Lounge" also reminded me of my elementary school teachers lounge-couches and a table, but more home-feeling that professional feeling. Overall I left unimpressed though after the visit. The school does offer some great interdisciplinary options, eg taking electives in other departments, but any other large university also offers that. Admitted students seemed mostly young, unprofessional (some showed up looking right out of bed in their jeans and hoodies and didn't pay much attention) and at least half to 2/3rds were from Maryland (so it seemed to have a smaller nation-wide draw). Most of them were right out of undergrad, and it showed with their fearful "whats the final project, I have to analyze something on my own?!?!" type questions... Career center's stats on salary were about $10,000/yr lower than Georgetowns in all sectors. Granted-GT likely has less straight out of undergrad which likely ups salary... also their stat of "75-80% employed on graduation" mirrors other close by programs. Career center seemed well run though, with what appeared to be a genuinely interested and good man heading it (he was dedicated just to the policy school as well which is good). They also seem to do well with presidential fellows. Their current students... just like when I visited the Ford school they were enthused, bored, and overall "yea I came here because its good but thats it". One was very enthusiastic, which was great, but that was it. When I visited the class though there was alot of class participation which I liked... but it was a substitute lecture which worried me. As I said, I left overall completely unimpressed, and not excited about the program. It seems very solid, a good program for sure...but not a /great/ program. I'll be at Georgetown tomorrow, I'm hoping I leave with a more impressed feeling... when I flew in from Detroit I flew over their campus and it was amazing. -Erin

compared to my friends in law school... Policy looks amazing. Seriously, their work is tedious because it's boring, even to the ones very interested in law. Tedious I guess was not the right word, moreso "interesting". My boyfriend is in an MPP program now, and even the harder problem sets, stats work and such I find interesting...

Did you pull off any law schools/both programs for the dual degree? You seem very focused on that... But it seems from your signature only MPP programs have been kind so far... I thought about law school for about a week... and then I shadowed a lawyer for a short time. Ugh, never again will I think of law school...(same went for clinical social work though too). Some people are just built for that tedious work though.

I'd go then but thats Chicago's visit day as well... And since I've never visited Harris, I need to go then . Also next week is the only week that all the DC schools have their visits scheduled right next to each other (Wed, Fri, Sat, I assume American is likely also doing something close to then), so at the time... it seemed like a good idea. orangedonkey: My boyfriend... is iffy on the ford school. He is having hell with employment, and he also has his JD, and is ABD in the Soc PHD Program... so he's pretty qualified for everything out there. His friends are also having some hell with employment, but I talked to some last night that are doing well with interviews. Just not... stellar... which they are unhappy with. You'd have to call the school for info though. It is a great program though overall... not as strong on the international development front though, but overall good for things like interdisciplinary work, quantitative skills and such. Just be warned: I was told schools give out salary info without controlling for variables like dual graduate degrees. So someone like my BF can easily earn over $100k/yr after his mpp thanks to his JD and PHD, and the school will enter that into their average salary statistic... without noting he also has all those extra degrees. For the Ford School thats a big issue, as about 25% of their graduates do dual graduate degrees.

:cries: I recently paid $317 for my plane tickets for my DC visit, and another $600 for the hotel (4 days, this upcoming Wed-Sunday). Not sure if the schools are to blame for all scheduling their visit days during cherry blossom festival, or if I am to blame for being willing to go/paying that much. I also should have not waiting until 10 days prior to departure to do all the scheduling, but I was waiting for a friend to see if he'd come with me (he just finished his MPP here at UMich, and has job interviews, yay). At least Chicago's visit will be very cheap! (less than $100 for 2 days, and they'll reimburse all of it). Grad school applications/visits are hella-expensive...

"you have a very good chance of admission" not even waitlisted!

I once asked a supervisor at a nonprofit I volunteered at for a letter of recommendation. He gave me the run around, eventually agreeing to sign "anything I wrote and handed to him". Needless to say I backed out since it seemed like something easy for admissions to catch on to. I ran into his son (a peer of mine at the university) a bit later after I'd stopped volunteering. He immediately apologized for his fathers actions, and then explained his "deeply conservative father" couldn't handle writing the letter for a "liberal" like me...Apparently my internships for democratic politicians had worried him an incredible amount. He was "too worried I'd have the chance to screw things up" after getting my public policy degree for him to contribute to my admissions. I almost wanted to scream... I could not believe politics (and ones that I /never/ spoke about, outside of the fact my internships were on my resume) got in the way... I ended up with a stellar academic reference from a GSI (TA) though, so all worked out very well.

Well first off, they've sent all that info out before, at least once...So that is a large part of my comment. I have seen a good portion of those links 3+ times. I didn't mean to be insulting, it was moreso that I don't qualify for most of the funding oppurtunities, (eg I'm not able to work for free this summer, hispanic, and cannot qualify for career development as I don't have a qualifying job, nor can I guarantee one by the time school starts). Nor do I have ANY desire to work in local government. So most of it... was actually pretty useless to me. The housing link I looked at, but found unappealing. It is true, I likely will not go to GW, but if I had funding there, or was offered ideas as to relevent funding oppurtunities, I'd look into them much more seriously. I'd likely even consider the housing mentor program. GWU is not a trash school, they just happen to not have offered me some funding like Georgetown, and well... they are lower ranked than Chicago. If I go to Georgetown I fully intend to take an elective or two at GWU, as they do have some great courses.

forgot to add, you can check your decision online at their application page, just log in like you would to edit your application, and if they made a decision there will be a note and a PDF attached to it! I found it about 2 weeks before receiving my snail-mail notice.

They started sending me similar emails before I was even accepted. Although I've had my acceptance for awhile, I still got the email... (which I overall found a touch useless)

sure will! I'll be there next week checking it all out Throw me a line on Monday the 31st if I don't message you

If georgetown mailed you a packet, it should have come with info on the starting salary and job placements of its graduates (including breakdown in non profit, govt. and private sector)

visit. Thats what I'm doing. I likely wont go as Chicago and GTown really just make this school seem tiny.

the verbal is very good, the quant score I would be worried about though, especially if you lack a math/econ background. If you have a decent background there a letter explaining it might be enough. I received a much lower verbal score than I wanted (590) but but my quant score (740) was higher than expected... My practice exams I usually scored in the 700s for verbal and 600s for Q... my call ended up being to stick with my first scores as my social science background would make up for the weaker verbal score... And my lack of a quant background made a 740 worth keeping. I made some very good MPP programs with those scores... more rests on your background and work than the GRE, although it is important. I'd think about it ultra carefully... wait until you have percentiles in too... Almost all programs look at /all/ your scores, so if you do worse the 2nd time, your in alot of trouble.

I have a friend at Duke who loves it if that helps... I didn't apply for 2 reasons. One was location. The other was their standards. I applied to Georgetown and Chicago not really expecting to be admitted because of what they claimed their standards were, but thinking if I was, they'd be good locations and programs. Duke just didn't fit that. Plus, since I applied to 6 programs, I tried to make 3 "Safe" options that I'd likely have little issue being admitted to and possibly receive aid from, and 3 being higher rated and possibly less likely for me to gain admittance to. So yea, nothing against Duke, it just wasn't one of the 3 harder programs I chose

My friend that went there for a bit said "centrist" was the feel from Gtown. Although it is a Catholic University, it doesn't maintain close ties to the Church. Chicago is very well known for being conservative within its econ and sociology departments though... For me it matters as I want to do work in welfare policy, and as it's a field very heavily influenced by politics, I'd rather a school without a hard lean... Economics can be used to both prove welfare as awful, or to prove it's amazing and helpful... just matters the theory they teach... So I'd rather exposure to both sides!