GoHogs!

Received a response from Megan Murphy, Director of Admissions & Fin Aid, today. She lamented that more funding was not available, but the applicant pool this year was not only extremely competitive, applications were up 20% this year. So, she indicated that the admissions committee experienced some difficult decisions when assigning fellowships this year. Looks like we shouldn't expect any room for negotiation, folks. She also explained that TA, RA, and other on-campus positions are the norm for LBJ students who do not get enough funding or just simply want to work. On the bright side, at least future options exist for those without full fellowships! Anyone attending the visitation day next week? I'll be there with bells on. Hope to meet some of the other posters there!

Sosh, thanks for the update! I didn't contact Lucy Neighbors, but another (or the other) grad coordinator. Perhaps that is why I haven't received a response. I'm glad to know that some 2nd year funding is available for the taking. Again, I'll post what I find out once I hear. Thanks again!

Hi gkmpa, I'm in the same boat, with no funding from LBJ but offers from others. I too prefer UT, but it is hard to ignore those other funding offers. I emailed the Graduate Coordinator and LBJ Financial officer to inquire about internal 2nd year funding options, and in that same email, I mentioned the funding offers from other schools. I have yet to receive a reply, which is unusual since the graduate coordinator is very good about responding quickly and thoroughly. However, the financial officer was out of the office last week when I sent the email, so maybe I'll hear something soon. I will post a message if I do, regardless of the response. BTW, I have no first hand knowledge of anyone negotiating money with the LBJ School, although I don't doubt it has been done before. It might be better to approach the topic if you are planning to visit the school before responding to the admissions offer. Other opinions, anyone? Best of luck!

Oops! I mentioned that UT-Austin is ranked #9...that was the 2004 ranking, I guess. Looks like the school is tied for 14th in the recent list released by US News. I know that the rankings are crap, according to many sources including my old professors, but you can't help but look at them...

Orangedonkey, Wow, you have a lot of really great schools from which to choose...congrats! Regarding the reputation of UT-Austin, the LBJ School definitely carries significant recognition and prestige, even amongst the DC- and NYC-area schools you mentioned below. The school is ranked in the top ten--#9 I believe--of public policy institutions. Granted, there is a tradeoff when going to a school outside of the supposed "hubs" of public policy. However, the faculty at UT-Austin is very well connected with folks from the DC scene, and you would be surprised at how many multinational and domestic organizations and corporations are headquartered in Texas, particularly in Dallas and Houston and a fair amount in Austin and San Antonio. Most of the people that I know who moved to Austin for school ended up staying there not because they had to, but because they wanted to. It is such a wonderful place to live with plenty of employment opportunities (after all, it is the capital of the 2nd largest state in the US) and a lovely pace of life that many elect to stay for a while after school. From what I understand, though, many LBJ graduates do leave Texas to go work in the larger markets or abroad. I'm not sure what your interests are, but UT stood out to me because of the breadth of options graduate students have for electives and focus. The LBJ SChool will allow you to take electives in other departments throughout the university if you so desire. Thus, if you are interested in natural resource policy, for example, you may take classes in geology and other natural sciences in order to hone your expertise in the field outside of the policy perspective. I like this flexibility in the ciriculum, and none of the other schools that I am considering offer this option. Also, something must be said about the enormous alumni network that comes out of UT-Austin and the LBJ School...it is ENORMOUS. While the LBJ School boasts 2700 +/- alumni, the entire university counts on hundreds of thousands of alumni, which are very active and spread all over the world. Graduates of UT tend to have this neat sense of camaraderie, no matter the discipline, and look out for their own, so to speak. I mention this because, clearly, the alumni network is key to future employment. I am from the South, and the UT pride is notorious. I hope some of this helps! We all have 2 weeks to determine our own fate...best of luck to everyone!

Thunderdogg, Thanks so much for posting the info about the US govt loan repayment program! Definitely a good tip for those of us who might be lured to the private sector in order to soothe the horrendous tuition hangover after grad school. Is the program restricted to certain agencies? Best of luck to all!

Greetings Fellow MPP folks! I too received my acceptance letter to the Global Policy program at the LBJ School via email in late February. Then, my official letter didn't land in my mailbox until last weekend (March 22). UT gave me ZERO fellowship love, which hurts the bank account since I'm not a Texas resident. However, Carnegie Mellon offered me $9k per year, so I'm toying with the idea of letting the LBJ School know that a competitor has offered me money. Does anyone have any experience and/or advice regarding negotiating for funding? I know people do it in an effort to increase existing funding, but what about going to from zero to something? Any ideas? I will likely attend the LBJ School even without funding, as it is a great fit for me and AUSTIN IS FABULOUS! I know some of you fellow out-of-staters are anxious about moving to Texas, but Austin really is a diamond in the rough. I have been to Austin countless times and have several friends from all over the US that now live in Austin and love it. You can't beat a top ten school located in a progressive, well-educated community with a very low relative cost of living! Best of luck to everyone! I hope to meet some of you at the April 9 visitation day. BTW, is anyone else a Global Policy student, as opposed to Public Affairs??