letsjustgo
-
Posts
98 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by letsjustgo
-
-
So was anyone who was leaning toward attending Harris dissuaded from attending by 'On the MaPP'? I didn't get to attend, and it seems there's a mix bag of reactions to the weekend visit, but I'm still likely to sign on for fall. I'm just curious to hear people's final thoughts before the deadline.
-
wow, I have to say that's extremely disconcerting. I had considered coming to Chicago without funding based on the idea that career prospects after graduation and growth in the future are extremely bright. Maybe I need to reconsider.... Anyone else have another perspective?
I have to say I came away feeling very mixed about the program after On the MaPP. In some ways, it's the perfect program for me, and in some ways it is a nightmare. I talked to numerous current students (both first and second years) and administrators.
The Good:
1. The program is highly quantitative, but multiple tracks exist for people of different backgrounds and aptitudes.
2. Opportunities for paid research exist.
3. Working part-time is common and recommended.
4. It is expected and recommended to take classes in other UChicago schools (business, social work, etc.).
5. Free beer every other Thursday!
The Bad:
1. UChicago is really research oriented, so your interaction outside of class with professors will probably be pretty limited.
2. Apparently most of the professors who did international policy stuff have departed in the last few months (not because of some dramatic episode, just a freaky coincidence), so the stuff there may be lacking.
The Ugly:
1. Very few of the current second year students (graduating in two months) have jobs lined up yet, and some alumni on the alumni panel admitted that some of their friends had struggled to become employed afterward, particularly those with not much relevant work experience going into the program.
2. The career services woman, Lydia Lazar, seemed completely insane. During her presentation, a few students walked in 5-10 minutes late and she made some pretty rude sounding comments about how she always starts on time because she "respects YOUR time." She presented data about expected earnings for graduates but said that their data set was limited to people who reported their earnings, so who knows how accurate it even was. A few current students told me that Career Services is pretty unhelpful, but I have found that to be true at all institutions of higher education.
3. One prospective student asked Maggie in a question-and-answer session what the admission rate for Harris was, but she refused to say anything other than "it's competitive." A current student told me that for his year, the admit rate was about 70%...not exactly what I would call competitive.
Basically, I would love to come to Harris, but going into $126,000 of debt for it (I received no funding), particularly with the not-so-great seeming job prospects afterward seems like a REALLY BAD IDEA.
-
I'm curious to hear peoples' experiences as well. Maggie described it as a "dog & pony show," so I can't imagine those of us who couldn't attend missed anything too substantive. With that said, do tell us how it was.
-
Thanks again, Brian! I have what is by far my dorkiest question so far. Is there a calculator that I should look to invest in? If there is going to be calculus involved, it seems like I'm going to need it.
And I'm quoting pure7b's question because I don't want the question to go unnoticed because of my post.
Thanks!
Harris admitted student without funding here....
Thank you for your information. It really helps!!!
Can you also briefly talk about how much you spend per year? The official website gives us a list of spending, but I think the costs are over estimated. How you think?
I know the tuition is 38500 in the coming semester. How can we try to save some other costs
Thanks!
-
I have a few more questions if any of the current Harris students are still hanging around. These may be more appropriate for program staff but I thought I'd get a student's take as well.
1.) How are group internships distributed? From what I can tell, there is an application process that groups must go through and similarly for the practica and mentorship programs? Are there only a limited few that are chosen for group internships, practica, and the mentorship program? Or do most have a fair chance if they apply and are serious about participating? For those students who are not selected for any of these opportunities, do they still have many chances to gain practical experience during the program?
2.) Are individual internships also facilitated by the school?
3.) Are Research and Teaching Assistantships only available to those selected by specific faculty within the Harris School? Or are there some opportunities to apply?
As always, your help is very much appreciated. I'm not able to come to the new admit weekend so these little Q&As are very important for me.
-
Thanks for the reply, Brian. Are there many others who attend without funding? Based on the Harris site only half of admits are funded so I have to imagine that there are.
You say that you think it's completely worth it. Could you say a little more about why you think it's worth it?
Finally, does it seem to you that most most Harris grads are placed after they graduate? And I know that there are many career tracks that people pursue, so it will vary, but what types of positions are people finding and what is their short-term and long-term salary growth look like? I am personally interested in consulting, what do you think my career prospects are coming out of school?
I don't want to sound as if I'm only coming to Harris because I'm chasing a big salary, because I'm not. But if I'm going to take out huge loans, I want to have some idea of the career prospects.
Thanks!
I'm only re-posting this so that Brian might stop back by and see it. And if any other Harris grads want to chime in, please do.
-
Hey,
I'm a current student who is attending Harris without funding. I'm using loans to pay for school, and I think it is completely worth it. I briefly looked for outside funding sources and didn't find too much low hanging fruit around the university, but I'm sure if you really worked at it you could find some scholarship money out there. Students are not reconsidered for funding their second year.
Fair winds,
Brian
Thanks for the reply, Brian. Are there many others who attend without funding? Based on the Harris site only half of admits are funded so I have to imagine that there are.
You say that you think it's completely worth it. Could you say a little more about why you think it's worth it?
Finally, does it seem to you that most most Harris grads are placed after they graduate? And I know that there are many career tracks that people pursue, so it will vary, but what types of positions are people finding and what is their short-term and long-term salary growth look like? I am personally interested in consulting, what do you think my career prospects are coming out of school?
I don't want to sound as if I'm only coming to Harris because I'm chasing a big salary, because I'm not. But if I'm going to take out huge loans, I want to have some idea of the career prospects.
Thanks!
-
For the standard MPP track, Calc I is adequate preparation.
And if you haven't had Calc I? My background is in the social sciences. Would you recommend I take a stats and a calc course over the summer?
-
I would echo enofotan's questions and add the following (unrelated questions):
1.) Are there any students that are employed either with full or part-time work or internships while attending the Harris School? Is it recommended that students wait until they make it through the first couple of semesters before working or taking on an internship?
2.) Do all students live in the Hyde Park area or is it a mixed bag of commuters and folks who live in other Chicago neighborhoods?
3.) Looking back, what do you wish a current Harris student would have told you prior to beginning your studies at Chicago (not as a way to dissuade you from attending but to prepare you)?
* Thank you again! This is a tremendous help.
-
Do you know if any students do actually attend without funding?
If so, have they found outside funding sources?
Are students reconsidered for funding their second year?
Thank you!
-
Perfect! I've been making myself sick the past couple of days trying to decide what to do.
I was admitted without funding but am still considering going. The debt combined with my undergrad debt would be out of this world. But based on my own research, it seems that the earnings potential for Harris grads (at consulting firms, particularly for someone like me who is interested in the finance side of things) may be worth taking on the massive debt.
What are are your thoughts on this? Have you found that even with the eco downturn Harris grads are still placing at high rates?
I have many more questions and you can expect me to post them soon! Thanks for helping us out. I know there are others in the same boat as me.
-
I do not know of any instances where funding was added/increased in the second year. Students who are initially awarded funding are almost guaranteed to keep their funding for the second year (provided that they maintain passing grades), but I think that is it.
Thanks for the (soul-crushing) reply. Just kidding. Sort of
If anyone else has input that would be great!
-
I, like a handful of others here on the site, was recently accepted to the Harris School MPP program without funding. I'm considering going but am very reluctant to take on that much debt. Does anyone know if students who do not receive funding the first year are eligible and/or likely to receive funding in the second year? Or is it a one off thing, either you get it in the admissions process or you don't.
Thanks for any and all feedback.
-
I'm in the same boat. Accepted without funding. It's a tough choice and I'm curious if others are facing the same decision. I'd also like to get in touch with any other student's at Harris or alumni who have attended without funding. I've contacted Ms. DeCarlo about this.
-
I emailed Maggie Friday and received an unfunded offer via email Saturday. I would love to go to Chicago but the cost is almost prohibitive. Is anyone else wrestling with the same decision?
Yes! I got an unfunded admit. I'm considering still going but I already have significant undergrad debt so I'm not sure. It seems to me that there is a bright employment future after an MPP from Harris School but I'm not entirely sure. What are you thinking?
-
Accepted about 90 mins ago. Very excited! Good luck to all!
-
Let's stay focused people. Some of us are still waiting for responses and need this thread for updates on what's happening.
-
Congrats to those who got in! (even if the funding wasn't there) To those of us still waiting, good luck!
-
sooo.... it's 7:45pm Chicago time. I haven't received anything. Anyone else??? This is crazy.
nope, but i'm with abogs. time to shut it down and have a couple rounds.
-
Someone posted a PhD acceptance from today. At least that means the admissions office is doing something today.
-
Does anyone know from previous years (or any other sources) about how many full fellowships does Harris offer anually?
According to their site 40-50% of incoming MPP students are funded.
-
lol now instead of refreshing my inbox every 2 seconds, i'm refreshing this message board. i don' t know what i'll do if i'm waitlisted... i can't stand any more waiting!
anyways, apparently the place was "lit up like a christmas tree" into the late hours of the night, so hopefully that means we'll all get some news by the weekend.
Really? Where did you hear this?
-
If it helps I received a rejection email a few days ago. Hopefully better news for the rest of you.
Sorry to hear that Traveler. Hopefully you're on to good things at another program!
(Were you the one then who posted in the results section about hearing on on the 22nd?)
-
It's pretty clear that they're stalling to give time to the first wave of students who they admitted with funding to decide whether they're coming to Harris or not. Someone mentioned this earlier, but HKS is announcing funding decisions on Friday. There are probably a handful deciding between Harris and HKS. Other students are probably still weighing other choices.
Again, more speculation, I know... But at this point it seems pretty obvious.
Who will go to Harris?
in Government Affairs Forum
Posted · Edited by letsjustgo
I'm definitely going to Harris. Though I may end up deferring until Fall 2012. My main reason is that they will provide me with a skill-set (quantitative/economic policy analysis) that is essential to my chosen career track.