In a nutshell, my daughter (currently an undergrad) applied to 6 grad schools. Got into 6 schools. The area is diplomacy/public policy. The best of the batch (in her mind and I agree with her) is Hopkins SAIS. But after a trip to DC last week, now she's turned to the easier schools because she fears that the emphasis on economics (the degree includes 4 mandatory courses in micro and macro) is "not right for her" and "not something she wants to do in the future." But here's the thing....it's not like she has to go work at the World Bank....she can use that economics background to greatly enhance anything she does in international affairs.
So here's where i get involved (and this won't paint me in a good light but, hey, we're all strangers), I simply don't see a reason to pay tuition at this level for a school that's not transformational. I would define that as a Hopkins (and, maybe also Fletcher at Tufts...another acceptance) as students spend a year in Italy, a year in DC, and then graduate into a very good potential job market. Instead, she'd like to attend GW...it doesn't feel intimidating to her. After fellowships from Hopkins, the price of the two will be nearly identical. She works 2 jobs and will continue to work in DC....and will take out loans...but I have said that I will underwrite the other half (she had free tuition for undergrad). I'm not sure what to do here...I mean, what I am going to do is let her decide....its her life...but I'm just not sure this money outlay is worth it.