wcasey5

Has anyone made a spreadsheet of what you'd likely be paying back under the Income Based Repayment plan? If you take all loans from Harvard and work for government or non-profit for 10 years, it's a hell of a free lunch.

Yeah, I spent about an hour trying to explain to my friend (a business major, predictably) that going to grad school wasn't as much about the money as it was about the future career options. I have an Econ undergrad degree and am working in data analysis for the government now... It's a good job and I'd probably have a chance to be promoted here or elsewhere in the government before I'm finished with the MPP. For me, it's not all about this next promotion, though... It's about the promotion after that and the one after that. I wouldn't be happy being a GS-13 and wait there for years to just get a shot at a promotion 3 or 4 other very qualified co-workers are fighting for. I think an MPP would give me a leg up on future promotions with the ability to analyze policy and make recommendations about it.

Check the OPM salary website... If you're working for the Federal government in DC with no work experience, you'll be a GS-9 with a master's... You'll be a GS-7 without... And you'll move up to a GS-11 or GS-12 within 3 years regardless of whether you have a master's degree or not.

Really having a tough time deciding between HKS and GSPP... declining at CMU's MSPPM and Harris...

What are the doors it can open that you're thinking about? I think you're right that it'll be a lot easier to network your way into a great job in the US from Harvard. But as far as getting a great education... I think you have to decide that based on your own interests and view of the programs and professors. I'm in a little bit of a similar situation with Berkeley and Harvard... Trying to decide if Harvard would be worth double the tuition, when I'm not convinced the actual education and experience are even on the same level as Berkeley. And I certainly wouldnt have as much fun in Boston as I would in Berkeley for two years...

Glad to get in to the MPP program... Not sure it's a better program than Berkeley. Time to actually do some research...

I went to their info session in DC on December 10th... The admissions rep said their applications were up somewhere around 20% from that point in the process last year... But that was almost a month before the deadline.

Nothing new to add, but the Harris School website says decisions by March 15th... Anyone heard or hearing from them this afternoon?

Samesies... Oh well!

Yeah, I agree on that... very bizarre they didn't give you a response to your Pittsburgh application. Got my official 3 semester plan acceptance today, 15k a semester...

I was notified via email that I was accepted to Heinz MSPPM today and given the choice between 3 semesters and 4... so I chose 3! No mention of funding yet; I'm guessing that varies a little depending on whether I did 3 or 4 semesters. Depending on funding, could be a tough choice between CMU and GSPP so far!

Yeah, I got my letter I think in Saturday's mail... Postmarked March 3rd. Got in, no funding.. Good luck!