wearingsocks

I got mine today, so I'd imagine they're all going out. I don't know the different kinds of awards that are being offered, but mine was not one of the DOVE/university-wide ones.

Butting in here -- I can't remember where, but at some point I saw a number on the Price website indicating the percentage of admitted Price master's students that receive at least a partial award. I would hazard a guess that a not-insignificant number of students would choose not to attend if they were given 25%-50% tuition scholarships, and that there would therefore be some leftover funds available for reallocation as April 15th approaches. In general, the advice that I've been given is to try for more money if I'm really serious about a particular program. I don't think it could hurt to reach out and inquire about this, especially if you can point to higher awards from other programs AND reinforce specific academic reasons for wanting to choose Price over other programs.

Hi @publicpolicystudent -- do you have a concentration? Could you also talk a bit about 1) variety/availability of elective coursework in/outside of Price, and 2) academic & career advising support?

Yes to all the shrimps. I applied to a few schools in places that overlap with good job prospects for my partner (there aren't too many that fit that particular bill), and a few "compromise" options where one of us could get good $$ but the other couldn't. Good public sector placement was a must. And funding is probably going to be pretty much THE deciding factor for me. I mean, I want to go to an excellent school, but AmeriCorps + public sector positions = very limited savings. I'm 27, I feel strongly about public sector work, and I don't want to still be paying off student loans when I'm approaching 40. I'm really glad that I didn't jump into grad school after undergrad, but I also feel a lot of pressure for this to be THE thing that gives me the x,y,z I need to have a more focused, rewarding career.

YESx1000 to comfy stuff, @obrien_blue. I don't have to be dressy for work, and I know I'll still need some professional attire during/after grad school, but I'd love to make a little bonfire out of my least favorite garments when I devolve into studenthood. Good luck to you as well, @shrimps. Hope you get some dough. Or breading? SHRAMP!

@obrien_blue I'm definitely with you on the the idea that not being #1 doesn't make a well-regarded school a bad option. In general, I'm interested in the least amount of debt (especially having worked with a public-sector attorneys slowly dragging their way through their 10 years). I also think having secured funding will allow me to pursue the positions/activities I want, rather than need, during my studies. I'd like to feel a little bit better about fit, but am not sure about going out for a visit day if it's more or less inevitable that I'll go there anyway! Even if it wasn't the straightest path to where you're going, JD+MPP is a powerful combo and it sounds like you're ready to kick some ass.

I applied to a stupidly large number of MPP programs and have been accepted to all (still waiting on Chicago), now just a matter of figuring out whether to take on debt for prestige. Also factoring in the ability of my partner to find jobs in a new city. Narrowing down the list of acceptances: USC Price - full tuition Michigan Ford - third tuition, could request more, but the area isn't great for partner's job prospects Berkeley Goldman - no funding but it's Berkeley UT LBJ - half tuition, meh Georgetown McCourt - has anyone received funding offers yet? My understanding is that, while academic employment is a fairly viable option at Berkeley, the odds of getting a position in your first semester are extremely low, and are still low for your second semester. Does the quality and prestige of the Berkeley program justify the mountains of debt and the often-negative experiences of grad student academic employment? I have some concerns about the focus and reputation of the Price School, as I've heard conflicting things about their social justice cred, placement prospects, etc. But it's hard to argue with that money.