MPPGrad

If you have any GSPP questions, or general MPP questions for someone who has done the process, let me know. Yes, GSPP is very, very structured. The general thinking is that an MPP is about receiving training in policy analysis, not taking a lot of classes to learn about your specific policy interests. You can do that on your own. It would be hard to learn microeconomics on your own. But, you can cobble together a bit of a specialty if you are willing to look around the university for related courses. Your master's thesis is a policy analysis for a client so you can get some good solid experience and apply the MPP tools in that way to your specific interests. Also, I really would not count on being able to find a teaching job your first semester at GSPP. Think about it -- classes are starting when you get there, so you would need to find a class that doesn't have enough teachers! It's not that common. Then again, I did teach my first semester at Berkeley. I just wouldn't count on it. After the first semester, I think that you shouldn't have a problem finding a teaching job if you are entrepreneurial.

Berkeley MPP here. GSPP is tops for policy analysis, not for overall policy school. GSPP faculty and administration say that the policy analysis ranking is the one that they care about really, but I'm not as convinced. I think that GSPP is a remarkable place but it's hard to deny that they are primarily connected to policy work in California. I would say that GSPP is definitely strongest in social policy and most of my classes were oriented towards discussions about poverty. One important consideration for GSPP is the cost. By virtue of being public, it is much, much cheaper than most schools, even if you don't get funding. If you are a US citizen you are in-state after your first year (if originally from out of state). There is a professional fee but it is very low, an extra 4k a year. Furthermore, if you are willing to teach that waives in-state tuition and fees (but not out of state tuition and the professional fee), plus gives you enough to live on. So you can graduate GSPP with very low debt. They have very few scholarships -- usually about 1-2 per year. However, with the low cost, scholarships aren't as needed. My impression is that GSPP alums are less likely to work in private sector -- not that Deloitte etc don't recruit, which they do. However, Berkeley MPPs often work in foundations, non-profit groups, etc. WIth the lower debt burden you have several options when you graduate and don't need to be primarily concerned about paying off your loans, which was important to me.