Putoots

Not bad considering you had to wait so long. As for me, I'm still waiting for a decision. It can't be good news at this point.

This is a really good discussion. Like tgoldring, I'm pretty frustrated that cost is the only factor stopping me from accepting the admission offer. I was an English major as an undergraduate, and I feel confident that I'd be a competent grader/GSI for an undergraduate English course, but I am concerned about the level of competition I'd face from English grad students (especially Ph.D. candidates). I'd really hate to pin my funding hopes on something as tenuous as that (I'm probably still going to apply). I'd say with no funding, and the money I have saved, I'm looking at $75,000 in loans -- maybe $60,000 if I can acquire funding or a teaching position my second year. Is this a worthwhile investment? I hadn't considered the prospect of taking out more than $50,000 in loans from a non-Ivy (other than Georgetown). I also have to consider that I could get an MPP from UCLA for less than half the debt load and a similar degree from Heinz for about 1/3 the debt load. But Ford is definitely my top choice right now.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. The offer was all loans (i.e., need-based aid). I still haven't heard anything regarding merit-based awards.

Hm. This is alarming. My financial aid offer is half of my estimated need. Well, I guess I'll wait for all the information to come in before I panic!

Ha! I did the same thing and got the same reply. Poor admissions office...they were bombarded by a bunch of stressed-out applicants at once!

I still haven't heard. Sadly, I've all but given up hope. The only other school I didn't hear from finally told me that I was on the waitlist. Hopefully we find out something on Monday.

Ford is now my first choice so I'm also hoping smaller awards are still to come. I missed Thursday's call from the current student assigned to me. However, she sent me an email and was really nice. Hopefully we can chat about life at Ford soon. Did anyone get to chat with a current student? Find out anything useful to share?

I returned it in late February after receiving my decision (I randomly saw the form after poking around the site). However, I haven't received anything since I mailed the form. I never even received anything confirming that they got it. I would probably call them and mail it out as soon as possible (unless they tell you they don't need it). So are you seriously considering Heinz? What are you weighing it against? I'd really like to take the scholarship they offered but I'm worried that this slightly-less orthodox program is too focused on organizational and quantitative analysis and less issue-focused. Since I'm doing public policy over IR, I'd like to have academic experience analyzing international issues or case studies. The Ford School would be a lot more money but potentially richer in international policy... Also, I'm a little uneasy about have the degree MSPPM on my resume as opposed to MPP, which is much more common and recognizable. But maybe I'm getting caught up in minor details. Thoughts anyone?

Ah! I am jealous that Brown is such a good fit for you! I seriously considered changing my area of focus to go there, and I'm planning to call them to see what they say about international policy aspirants. From talking to people, this is my take on the program: It is very new, so it won't have a strong alumni network within the school, nor will it have the same range and dynamism of larger programs. However, it is an Ivy, and those schools tend to "catch up" very quickly, simply because the name attracts quality students and faculty (and because they have the capital to grow). I think you will receive the same quality education you'd receive at other top schools, except in a more intimate setting. I am reticent to put too much emphasis on career placement, because I feel that if you put in enough work (networking, getting involved, and reaching out), you will have the same opportunities as everyone else. You just have to decide whether you like the program enough to put in that extra effort. As far as funding goes, I received my scholarship notice at the same time I received my admission letter. However, that isn't to say that there aren't other offers. I would contact them to find out what kind of assistance they offer admitted students and if they have completed disbursements. I always thought that the smaller programs offered money to all of their students, but I could be wrong...

Harris sounds like a great place to get an MPP. I really regret not applying there, instead opting for CIR at Chicago, which doesn't make much sense for me now that I know more. What are you looking to study that you feel Harris would be weak and others would be strong? (I also understand your concern about loans...I'd recommend talking to someone at the admissions office and be frank about your financial concerns. My friend did that for U Penn -- not for policy -- and they really tried to make it work for him.)

Sorry for the bump...but is there anyone still waiting for a response? I got my HKS rejection today so I'm not rushing SIPA if it isn't good news, but I really want to know... If you are still waiting, I guess we're competing for the last few spots!

I applied to the Taubman Center's MPP program simply because I've always wanted to go to Brown. Unlike other schools, with this application I didn't really consider ranking or curriculum. I was accepted with $20,000 for the first year and $15,000 for the second. I really love Brown (campus, size, culture), and am very grateful for the scholarship offer, but I can't reconcile my interests -- international policy -- with the limits of their program. However, it seems like they have built a very strong foundation in health, urban, education and social policy (especially health). What is your intended focus?

I know! I guess they all want to make that lasting impression before April 15th. I'm going to CMU on the weekend of the 9th because it is the program that I know least about, most hesitant about, and is offering me the most money. I may try to make it to the March 26th day, though finding a flight from Los Angeles may be difficult at this point.

I'm not sure what is happening, but I got a duplicate admissions email this morning. I received my first admissions email March 2nd saying that I will hear more within 10 days (including funding information). After I didn't hear anything, I tried to contact the admissions office thinking there was a problem...and in response I received the duplicate email. Is anyone else having trouble getting more information? GPPI is definitely one of my top choices, but only if I can secure some funding. How do I get out of this admissions mobius strip?

I'd also like to hear what people in the midwest or east coast think of UCLA. Here in Southern California people love Georgetown and respect Carnegie Mellon, but when I tell them I am seriously considering the Ford School at UMich they just scratch their heads (and I work for an extremely large public organization). I wonder if UCLA is like that outside of the west coast. Like you, I want to be able to compete for east coast jobs, but in my case I don't really want to shoulder the debt of GPPI to do it. That being said, I have perused the faculty of UCLA's Public Policy school and have been very impressed. Take a look: http://www.sppsr.ucl...y&f=faculty.cfm Also, for the International Policy concentration, you are free to take a number of courses in other departments as long as they are graduate level and have something to do with your area of interest. I'm sure you'd be able to find something in Urban Planning, Social Welfare, Sociology, etc. Of course, the best thing about GPPI is that you'd have a much easier time finding an internship or something while you are at school. And the module courses sound really interesting.

This is just a guess, but it could be the fact that they get such a high volume of applications, coupled with the fact that you had to write so many essays. (I submitted all five -- purpose statement, policy analysis, leadership, optional, and CV). I didn't have to do that much work for any other application other than SIPA. I also remember Fletcher had a couple of essays as well...but by that time I was out of gas and dropped my application. @_@

Congratulations! Was SIPA your first choice? What are your plans in terms of funding? I'm still waiting to be contacted. This is such a different experience from Heinz and Chicago's CIR (for those I was contacted in mid-to-late February).

Congrats everyone! I got my acceptance email as well. I really hope I get some kind of aid offer...I'm in California and definitely need the help! EDIT: Actually, can someone help me understand UMich's tuition tables? I'm trying to figure out tuition for one academic year... http://ro.umich.edu/tuition/full.php

Congratulations on the award! After my admission email, I never received any word from either American U or Georgetown regarding scholarships or other merit-based awards, which probably counts both of them out for me since I was also admitted to UCLA, Heinz, and Brown (the second two offered me money). I'd love to go to Georgetown (even American would be great if I stayed on the east coast) but I can't justify the cost without some kind scholarship. Note: I receive an email from American U this morning stating that the first round of merit awards had gone out last week via email and regular mail. A second round will go out after the April 15th deadline (I'm assuming they will reassign the awards that were not accepted).

In response to Minerva, I am in a very similar position. (Very conflicted.) Coming from a Peace and Conflict Studies background at Cal (a subset of the International & Area Studies Department), I figured I would do International Relations or something like that. My number one choice was obviously SIPA's MIA, with UCSD and other programs a distant second. However, having worked for a large local public organization for three years, I have really become interested in solution-finding and analysis-type stuff. My area of interest is still American foreign policy (focused on humanitarian aid and development), but I am definitely shifting away from approaching this subject from a purely academic standpoint. Having said that, since my short-term goal is to find a research/think tank position, I want to make sure I have a solid theoretical and multi-disciplinary background. The Heinz School at CMU seems a little thin in international policy, despite the fact that it is really strong in quantitative analysis, whereas UCLA, KSG, and the Ford School seem to have a pretty good research foundation in that area. I was also admitted to the University of Chicago's M.A. in International Relations -- a one-year program that should give me that multi-disciplinary background I want before I fully commit to public policy. Of course, getting an M.A. and an M.P.P. seems like overkill and (possibly) a waste of money. Maybe the best bet is to try to find a public policy school with a strong research foundation in your area of concentration? That is the direction I'm heading...

I'm still waiting to hear from the Georgetown Graduate School. I received admission notification from GPPI but nothing since (been about 8 days). I do find it odd that I didn't get a decision on funding but got a bunch of info about open house receptions (some people are in the opposite position). I'm definitely emailing them today to get an update.

What was your scholarship offer? (If you don't mind me asking.) I was admitted but haven't heard anything about funding (my last name is closer to the end of the alphabet @_@). And to respond to some of the people who have expressed reservations about American University, I have to say I am in the same boat. I don't know if the school is better known on the east coast, but here in California people look at me like I am planning to go to a school in Cairo or the Bahamas. They've never heard of it. I have to take that into consideration because I'd like to work in the Bay Area. People love Georgetown in California, but cost is a big factor.

PM'd

I received an email today letting me know that I had been provisionally accepted, which is cool, but I'm a little wary of having to put up more cash for an extra summer. If I am missing some quant classes, I'd prefer to take it at UCLA Extension or something. For the other person who had been provisionally accepted, did you call to find out what you needed to do? Also, I was wondering if any IR people had heard anything good about the University of Chicago's M.A. in International Relations (from the Committee on International Relations). They offered me 1/3 tuition. Just wondering if it is worth considering (as a stepping stone to a Ph.D.) or if it is just a fundraiser for the university.

This is from an email I received. Open house for admitted students is March 26th, with an additional date on April 9th (both at the Car Barn). There are regional events as well.