Hi all,
I'm loving this thread. And strangely, I'm somewhat excited because everyone replying maybe one of my classmates next year. I was shut out of the Ivies (KSG, WSS), but was accepted everywhere else: LBJ, GSPP, GPPI, SIPA (Doesn't count as Ivy, to me), and GW. The 2 schools I'm very strongly considering are GSPP and GPPI. Both have great names, are quantitative, and have many positive factors going for them. I'm a California resident, so GSPP has a one up on cost, even with 10k funding from GPPI.
There has been one GSPP commenter here, but what I gather from both programs is that the GSPP is more structured with less electives. To me, that means more general analytical skills. I believe there is an internship and a thesis that will give me the opportunity to focus on my areas of interest, but I like this approach to PP. GPPI has more electives (I think) but also requires a specific focus to the MPP.
From a program match up, there a number more electives at GPPI, but the law courses at GSPP are right on, in my book. My electives, ideally, will be in GIS and STATA programming as that is what interests me in the future. However, I want a more robust understanding of policy and GSPP seems more suited for me. I'm talking myself into it at this point. However, I'd really appreciate any feedback from GSPP graduates to date.
And it really appears that from a funding perspective, in the second year at GSPP I would likely be able to receive a TA-ship position that would eliminate my need for loans. I think. There seems to be more funding available for students at GSPP than GPPI. But I was UC undergrad, so me and my friends were always hustling for campus jobs.