IR_MPP

Definitely don't let me stifle debate here. I was already leaning Jackson beforehand, but this thread might be useful to someone down the line.

Thank you so much for your reply (and just in time)! It certainly gave me an extra dose of confidence, and I committed to Yale Jackson. I think that the tight-knit community is a huge plus for me, and I'll also have the flexibility to really shape my program there. This was a huge help!

Hey all! It's come down to the wire, and I'm deciding between Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Jackson. I'm pretty fortunate to have received aid/fellowships from both schools that covers the cost of my tuition, though it makes it hard to quickly rule out one or the other. My interests and experience are in national security and technology policy, so HKS is really attractive (Boston tech scene, Belfer Center, etc), and I want to work on these issues at a think tank or in government once I graduate. HKS is also really well established, and has some pretty killer institutional prestige and connections. That said, at Jackson the community seems really tight and intellectual (I like the small size of the program!), they've brought some great fellows into their orbit, and the program seems to be becoming a powerhouse in its own right. Does anyone have a hot take on which one of these programs they would pick, finances being equal? I think the most important things to me are 1) Research/Publication Opportunities, 2) Meaningful Access to Professors and Resident Fellows, and 3) Alumni Network and "Name-Brand" Recognition, and 4) Community.