weksa

Not sure if you have already visited both schools or not, but that is something that helped me make my decision. Meeting with professors and looking more into what research is being done, what the students are doing and have done, etc. is what helped me realize that I would most likely regret choosing the full-ride over the school that I reeeeally wanted to go to, despite the monetary circumstances. I think it really depends on how committed you are to a certain area of study and work. If you think HKS will get you where you want to go and Ford School won't, and the loans aren't too insane, then I say go with HKS. However, if you are ambivalent or see a way forward through the Ford option, then I say go with that because you'll be more free to make decisions not based on money.

This is definitely something that freaks me out as I prepare to take on more debt than I imagined I would. My choice boiled down to a very safe in-state school with almost full funding (joint degree master of science in urban planning/mpa) in a city where I have some roots already and the McCourt School's mpp. After much deliberation, I couldn't avoid seeing myself feeling more fulfilled doing the latter option, even if it means additional debt. The safe option was just a bit too safe, for various reasons. I'm still really freaked out by the prospect of more debt, but I decided I would at least start my graduate studies there and work my butt off trying to secure more funding for the next year, either through the school or outside scholarships/fellowships. Maybe its a bit reckless to say that if I regret my financial decision after the first semester or two, I can always change my course...but that's kind of where I'm at right now. Trusting my gut over my head for now, and hoping the federal government/job market doesn't completely screw me over...

I haven't officially accepted their offer yet because they ended up revising it, but I've made up my mind to go! Definitely glad to have a decision now, but so many other things to sort out from now until August...

Congrats everyone! I was offered $6,250 per semester, which is less than I'd hoped but I'm still excited about it. Anyone know if they plan to attend yet?

well, that is helpful to know at least. Thanks!

Did anyone hear about funding yet? Seems they didn't make good on their promise of "within the next week".....

I was sent an acceptance email as well and told the same as pretty much everyone else. However, I just took a quick trip to DC and met with a professor there who happens to be on the scholarship committee and he said that funding decisions should be released late March/early April.