buff_hamster

I didn't apply to any MBA programs, but I have two thoughts: 1) Dual MPP/MBA programs are pretty common. If you have strong reasoning why both would help you achieve your goals, plenty of schools have programs where you can get both degrees in 3 years. 2) Why do you think you'd be able to more quickly pay down your debt with an MBA? I think post-grad income is dependent more on the industry you're in than the specific degree you get, and people conflate the two because people who get MBAs tend to pursue higher-income careers in finance, consulting etc. more often than MPPs, which leads to the perception that MBAs necessarily lead to better-paying jobs. If you've already settled on development consulting as a sector, the jobs that will be available to you probably won't be that different whether you get an MPP or an MBA. You'll probably be making about the same amount of money regardless of the degree you choose because of the industry you want to enter.

As a committed incoming CAPP student I may be biased, but it would be a no-brainer for me - do CAPP. If the computational skills are what you're looking for then there's really no other option, and you have a lot of leeway in the second year to take literally any Harris elective (and tons from outside of Harris, too) so you can fill up on enviro classes if that's what you're looking for. I don't really get the logic of rejecting a school based on the perceived strength of its network in a given area. If you're competent and have the skills - which Harris will ensure - you will get a job.

I taught 3 days a week, volunteered teaching English at a refugee camp one day a week, and worked for an economics professor at U of I who was doing a randomized control trial in Jordan as his field research assistant.

Have fun on your Fulbright!! I did an ETA in Jordan a few years ago and it was amaaaaaaazing. I don't know what your time commitments for teaching will be like (they vary so widely from school to school, let alone country to country) but if you have time, fill your time as constructively as possible. I got to do some awesome volunteer and RA work on my Fulbright completely outside of my official responsibilities and it was not only fulfilling but also made great application essay fodder...

I don't know if this applies to the MPP program as well, but I've heard from others who have spoken with the admissions office that $30k/year is pretty much the max they'll give for the MSCAPP. Based on the interactions I've had with them and what I've heard from others, it's probably better to make a reasonable request rather than a hopeful one - that way they'll know you're serious about attending and have given it serious thought. It also shows that you understand and appreciate the cost (and therefore value) of the program, which can only reflect positively on you.

Also curious about the MSCAPP vs. MSPPM DA discussion. I went into the application cycle thinking MSCAPP was my top choice given the strong faculty and the real depth their curriculum reaches, but their aid offer was pretty low and I'm not sure I want to sign on to that level of indebtedness. If Heinz comes back with a much better financial aid offer, that could easily swing my preference. Anyone have any thoughts on the substantive curricular differences between the two programs? It seems like the MSCAPP is much more rigorous, but I'm not sure whether that's actually the case.

If it's helpful to know, I got a call that I'm officially an MSCAPP admit with some funding. Got the call about an hour ago.