therunaround

While an interesting way to look at the issue, I think this misses the point. Firstly, this sort of thinking is only applicable to people who have a free ride option at a top notch school. For everyone else the $500 figure is much less because it should only represent the difference in the cost (and future monthly repayments) of your education at each of the schools. This is the point I was trying to get across in my previous post. Harvard isn't that much more expensive than some of these other options, at least based on no scholarship information. Secondly, I think in IR there is probably little advantage to going to HKS over SAIS, SIPA, WWS, etc. But! what if you decide down the line that you'd like to go into business or law or whatever. My theory is that a Harvard degree with give me more flexibility down the line than a degree from SAIS or SIPA. While SAIS has an excellent reputation (in fact sometime a better one than HKS), it flies in a smaller circle. An HKS degree will be well respected in virtually any field.

Again, right with skz. The max amount awarded through scholarships in 20k, though it appears that it is possible to get more than this through assistantships (namely research assistantships) which are either awarded in your financial letter or through research organizations on campus. I didn't get an RA position and i dont think many do. you are right that the increase is more that 4.5 percent. the figure was taken from an uninformed financial aid person who spoke to the group. I do believe that the 2009-2010 tuition figure quoted is correct. It's very very expensive for what it offers.

Update on the whole debt thing: I just got back from GPPI's Open House and found out that their projected cost of attendance is 60k/yr. I was fortunately enough to get a 10k scholarship there. That's 50k/yr for me. So if I asked you "Is the Harvard education and brand worth 30k of extra debt?" what would you say? Personally, I think it's worth and extra 30k (I know I'm not talking about interest on that, here) to go to HKS over GPPI. No?

I entirely agree with everything skz said. I also attended the GPPI Open House today. I would like to echo how expensive it is. They increased the tuition 4.5% this year to $36,744 (about a 3,000 increase). At 60k a year, I think everyone should consider what they are spending their money on. I mean it's good to consider that anyway... The HKS board is freaking out about 130k of debt (see the "mound of debt thread); seems like the GPPI board should freak out about 120k! Not trying to incite a riot, but I think it's important to find an answer to the question: "What am I spending 120,000 on?" G-town has a very solid network and, GPPI, an intimate community, but I don't know if that's worth the $$. Seems to me that they are going to lose a lot of students to GW.

They are out...finally! Check your mail. I live in DC so might be an extra day depending on your location.

As per our discussion, I thought you guys might find this article interesting: http://harvardcitizen.com/2009/03/11/re ... on-making/

Hmm. I'd say make sure you do the 10 yr option, and enter in the loans in the correct boxes with the most realistic interest rates. for example a max of 40k stafford and the rest in PLUS loan at 7.9%. Not exactly easy to do tech support ;-) That is disconcerting regarding the spouse factor. I didn't mess around with that and I think it is likely I will be married by 37... Another thing I neglected to mention was that federal agencies, reps, and senators can buy back your debt at 10k a year up to 60k. This would also help some.

Chilling thought...and no idea

Perhaps I should also add that I would definitely go to WWS over HKS if I had gotten in. Not because I think WWS is better, but because I think they are comparable enough that the HKS debt vs. free ride is a no brainer.

Are you planning on government service or working for a non-profit? If so, I would encourage you to check out the income-based payment plan and the 10 yr debt forgiveness plan. As to the claim that these debt payments are questionable...I don't know what to tell you, MCneelified06. There isn't much room for making stuff up here. There are loans, rates, and payment plans. There's not much to debate.

No harm done, zourah. I have given this a great deal of thought, but I am also very honored and excited to be accepted at HKS. Sometimes my excitement gets the better of me.

what do you think about all this, pepper? You started it!

Sounds like an excellent life story - you should write a book! Nothing like living like a grad student. On that note, I went to Tufts for undergrad and can promise you that you will struggle to spend 20k/yr on room and board unless you live in downtown cambridge. I think 66k is very very generous. The point you guys make is right. HKS is only great if you think their program is right for you. Personally. I feel that I will benefit from the emphasis on leadership as I tend to be a quiet guy in some public settings. I also like that that core classes have different levels so that I take more strenuous stats and econ classes so as to better prepare me for public policy analysis. Finally, I like that you are pushed to cram in 18 classes with 8 electives. I believe I will graduate an expert in a specific field.

Fair enough. I should definitely clarify that I have become more interested in domestic issues since I applied to graduate programs. My school list is not entirely indicative of my interests. You are certainly correct that one must first consider their interest area. Personally, I would take SAIS over SIPA because of what I have heard about the SIPA students and faculty. It doesn't seem like the nicest place to study. SAIS had me very excited for a day (before the HKS admits went out) but I quickly realized that I was looking at how I could tailor the excellent IR education at SAIS to domestic positions. As I am interested in environmental and energy policy, this is not entirely unrealistic because these of global issues. My comments, however, pertain to my impression of HKS as a stepping ground to public service in Washington and, within that focus, to primarily domestic issues. There is a mythical nature to HKS, no question. I think it is deserved and, perhaps more importantly, so do the people I've spoken to in Washington. I am told that it is an incredible place to study and unlike any other.

"Certainty"," but perhaps "ignorance." But I will find a way to make this work. I have had luck in going through life this way. Literally the only thing that could hold me back from HKS is cost and it just seems wrong to me to let that sort of thing get in my way, especially if I can fund it through loans and forgiveness. Let me say, I have virtually no savings and no assistance from parents, friends, etc. I'm not wealthy. But to me, this sort of decision should not be about money. You only have one shot at this whole "life" thing and I am firmly set on following a course that isn't based on finances. Most of us are public service types. This may seem contradictory, but we are not in it for the money and so, I believe, our decisions should not be based on that. HKS offers me the best opportunity to place well on the Hill or at a federal agency (through the PMF program). I know that I would regret not accepting HKS for the rest of my life. I would always ask, "What if?" That's not how I want to live my life and I believe that these choices are foundations for future life decisions.

What is that supposed to mean?

I'm going. The only thing that would change my mind is if GPPI suddenly had a change of heart and offered my 18-20k/yr to go there. Super unlikely. I currently have 10k there. I'm looking at about $120,000 of debt as well and going into public service for sure. I do not think it is crazy to absorb this sort of debt for Harvard. We are talking the creme de la creme here. Even more so than WWS, HKS is an institution! This is THE place to study public policy. It has unparalleled resources, faculty, historical significance, and students. I feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'll be damned if $$ issues are going to stop me from doing what I want to do. There is always a way to work it out and many graduates from HKS find one. Afterall, the AVERAGE debt for HKS students is $68,000. Funding would be a pleasant surprise but I am not making a decision on it. I would suggest you check out the student load income-based payment calculator at: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml Based on a starting income of 55,000 and a 4% annual increase in salary, I expect to pay between $500 and $800 a month in payments over 10 years with the income based payment plan and have over $100,000 of interest/debt forgiven after 10 years. This is tough, but fine. I make around 42,000/yr now and find about $400 to put away every month. Also, the breadth of the debt forgiveness program influenced my decision. Any government or non-profit job is covered. One can work on the Hill for a few years, federal gov't, and then a think tank. It's easy to find qualifying jobs in DC. Do you really want to turn this down?

I think you would definitely be able to focus on international issues in most of your classes - enough to claim a specialization in that area. They seem to be trying to amp up their international focus. Check out the Geneva option.

sorry about the typos - i'm at work and try to get my thoughts out in quite spurts so as not to attract attention.

It's so hard to decide. I'm looking at about $120,000 of debt but interested in going into public service for sure. I expect to pay between $500 and $800 a month in payments with the income based payment plan and have around $120,000 of interest/debt forgiven after 10 years. Plus with HKS's Loan Forgiveness Program, I would receive 25% of those payments until I top 60,000 income - which would probably happen after 1 year if things go to plan. I think the debt is manageable if one is doing public service. I am actually more interested on what people think about the HKS program. It seems heavy on the business side of public policy. I was also disappointed to not find a domestic focus area addressing environmental and energy issues. I am considered the IGL concentration because it has an international environment focus but it seems to require 6 electives (a large commitment of coursework) and I'm interested in domestic policy, not international. Any thoughts on the meat and potats of the program?

Unbelievable. I can't believe it, honestly. Wow.

I just got into HKS! via email.

I've checked out the information available on the SAIS webpage about career placements already. I'm interested in employment at US federal agencies. Does anyone have any interesting stories regarding SAIS grad employment in the public sector in DC? You know, something beyond the general list of placements after graduation...

I like the quant aspect - majored in Econ. What do you guys think about the stress factor with oral exams for econ and language? Also, any impression of the types of students there?

Since a bunch of acceptances for SAIS went out today, I thought I'd start a new thread focused on the pros and cons. I haven't found anything about SAIS specifically yet. Please enlighten me. I'm trying to decide whether to focus on international or domestic environmental policy. Any thoughts about SAIS?