sprinkled.sentiments

I am more interested in domestic policy, specifically local/state/federal racial and gender policy. Do you think USC would be a better choice given my interest?

Not really.. USC's tuition is only about $30k a year versus Columbia's $60k! The price differential is quite significant...

I would be interested in any insights on this topic as well. I applied to USC's MPA online Program in order to reduce my debt by working concurrently.. but am deciding whether to go full-time at SIPA.

So do you guys believe going to SIPA is worth the $120-140K price tag, assuming that no scholarships are secured? I am having a terribly hard time deciding between SIPA (I only found out I was accepted from the waitlist around a week ago) and USC... Apparently USC is higher ranked in its MPA program but the Columbia name will carry its own weight due to its prestige and brand. Any other factors I should consider? Such as class sizes, access to professors, etc...

USC people, how/where/when did you find out about funding? I still haven't heard anything from them...

John Zee, did you ever attend the online MPA program or did you choose another one?

I'm not an Executive MPA applicant, just the normal MPA. Did you guys apply to any of their fellowships? I think their pattern may just be kind of random or somehow linked to their fellowships because I applied to the FLAS Fellowship. I honestly don't know but please don't worry too much about it! There may be so many factors that we don't know about. As for inkzheng, it may be because you're international?

I just received a phone call from my advisor at USC and I got into the online MPA program!!! I had e-mailed my advisor earlier today just to ask when I could expect admission notifications and he called me to let me know I got accepted! In terms of funding, though, he said that information will come separately via snail mail. So while I am super excited to have gotten into one of my top choices, I am hoping I get enough funding to actually go!

I know what you mean! My stomach turns up in knots every time I think about it, so I try to distract myself. Good luck!!!!

@Ace001: I have not heard back yet and I actually rescinded my request for an interview.. the alum they paired me up with was not very accommodating at all and left me with enough of a bad/unfriendly impression that I decided it was not worth it to go through with it, especially since it would have no bearing on their admissions decision AND also because Fels is not one of my top choices. After I notified the coordinator (who helped set up the correspondence between myself and the alum) of my decision to rescind the interview, she replied via e-mail: Please rest assured that this will have no negative impact on your application. All decisions will be sent out in mid-March.

@Helpplease123: Are you an MPA or MPP applicant? Did you contact USC via e-mail or phone?

@Crippling Anxiety: You actually should have had the option to request an interview but they do not have any bearing on the final decision of admissions. They aren't mandatory for regular MPA applicants but Ace001 says it is mandatory for the Executive MPA program. I received the following e-mail on January 12, 2012: Thank you for applying to the MPA program at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government. Although we have received a record number of applications this year, we are still looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you. We are aware that there is more to you than what can be expressed in an application; therefore, we would very much like to connect with you in person or over the phone for an interview. Fortunately, we have a dedicated group of alumni who regularly support the Fels Admissions Committee by conducting interviews. They are available to meet with applicants who live in their region or to conduct interviews over the phone. To request an interview, please fill out this Request Form. A member of the Fels Admissions team will be in touch in the next few weeks to schedule your interview.

Have any MPA applicants received admission letters in the mail yet? So far it seems like only MPP applicants have received news.

So I really think USC has sent out its batch of decisions already. My friend is a USC MPP alum and he received the following e-mail: Please join the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy’s Graduate Policy Administration Community (GPAC) for a special Bay-area networking reception. This complimentary event will offer a great opportunity to meet current Price School MPA and MPP students, newly admitted students for the upcoming year, and to network with other Bay area alumni. When: Friday, March 2, 2012 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: Courtyard Marriott Hotel 299 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 947-0700 Please RSVP by Friday, February 24, 2012 Notice how I bolded the "newly admitted students".. !!!

Nope. I was supposed to have a phone interview with an alum but she had an "emergency call" and didn't pick up my calls! But anyway, she said she had to submit interview reports by Feb. 20th so I would imagine decisions to come out by early March?