Graddygrad

Hi everyone! Thanks for starting this thread. It has already been of huge help for me but I would love to read your views on my situation. Coming from: International student from Mexico City (majored in International Relations, interested in migration and asylum policy) Deciding between: MPP - UCSD GPS - Substantial funding offer. Together with my Fulbright award it amounts to a full ride (stipend and RA position) MPP - Georgetown McCourt - Funding offer + Fulbright award covers around 80% of fees. I would have to use personal funds + debt to cover remaining fees and living expenses MAIDP (1 year program) - U Chicago Harris - Funding offer + Fulbright award would cover 90% of tuition. Personal funds to cover living expenses (much more affordable than the other two though) Other factors: Coming from Mexico City, I love big city life so Chicago and D.C. are far more exciting for me in that regard. I've heard great things about San Diego in general but poor cultural and social life are a downside. I want to focus on migration policy which makes SD more attractive, although Georgetown has a great international migration research center. How I'm leaning: I'm very greatful for UCSD's stellar offer, but I'm worried about it not being as "prestigious" as Georgetown or U Chicago and I wonder if it's worth it going into debt for either one. I've heard pretty disappointing things about Chicago's MAIDP from current students, but Harris could be a good platform for my career. I know UCSD should be the obvious choice, but it's simply not as exciting as D.C. for me. Any insights on these programs would be awesome. Thanks in advance

I applied to the MPP and this exact thing happened to me a day or two before they told me I was admitted to the MAIDP (my second option). Hope this helps

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP and MPA Schools Applied To: U Chicago Harris (MPP), GWU Trachtenberg (MPP), Princeton WWS (MPA), NYU Wagner (MPA), Columbia SIPA (MPA), Georgetown McCourt (MPP), UCSD GPS (MPP), HKS (MPP) Schools Admitted To: U Chicago Harris (applied to the MPP, got accepted into the MAIDP with $$), UCSD (no info on funding as of yet) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: GWU, Princeton, NYU, Columbia, Georgetown Undergraduate Institution: Elite social science research center in LatAm Undergraduate GPA: 3.8 Undergraduate Major: International Relations GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: 147 /170/4.5 I know terrible quant Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 4 Years of Work Experience: 4 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Two years in federal government agency working closely with Minister, NGOs and research experience. I got a Fulbright to fund my Master's. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Reviewed by peers and counselors. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): At least one strong letter from a direct supervisor at former job, two others from former professors (one of them is my current boss) Other: I speak 5 languages, at least 3 of them fluently. Really uncertain about how this whole process is gonna play out for me since Harris accepted me into my second option (I think my low GRE quant score might be the reason). If you have insights or advice I would love to hear it

December 2019

Hi everyone! Just wanted to ask whether any of you applied to the MPP program and got placed in the MAIDP. This happened to me but I'm not sure it is really the program for me. I got a low GRE Quant score, but a 170 verbal score, which I feel might be the explanation for this change. Good luck to everyone still waiting for decisions!