SkyDiver

Same here... about the same timing, too!!! I cannot be Happier!! I turned down Chicago to wait for HKS and was already planning to reapply if this didn't happen this year! Will be there in the Fall, for sure!!! =) =) =)

How humble...

Keep in mind that, no matter where you decide to ago, once you graduate you will be competing for jobs with people with the same degree as yours and likely at least 2-3 years of relevant full time work experience. The degree might get you to a short list, but the differentiator for the employer might be whether or not you already have some full time experience as well. What can happen is that despite having a great degree you end up in very entry-level positions, which for the employers means good quality potential at a lower cost. In other words, I would definitely hold on to your grad school horses and work for one or even two years since you have the job offer now (you might not have it fresh out of grad school... you never know). Plus, Delloite is a well-known consulting firm which might even make you a strong applicant at HKS after two years of full time experience. Think about it, you made it to to grad schools with 0 experience, so you can definitely increase your chances after acquiring a few extra years. About deferring, I would do so only if the school is willing to reconsider you for funding in the coming poll (they normally do not guarantee the same amount because the resources might change, but you can expect to be offered at least about the same thing).

Having worked at three international organizations (WB and IMF included), I honestly haven't seen HKS MPP grads being offered positions simply because of the "brand power." It is also a fact that HKS' class is a lot bigger than most other schools and thus there are also more graduates out there disputing the same positions. On the other hand, MPA/ID graduates definitely have a stronger chance of getting into the WB's YP program (probably the "best" door into the organization in terms of career growth within the institution).

In response to the LadyinWaiting: First and foremost, where do you see yourself working after grad school, in the US or abroad? IF you intend to stay in the US, I would doubt that your professional opportunities coming from Duke would be "70%" lower than those you might get coming from Harvard. However, if you intend to work abroad (I am international myself), then the "brand power" might be worth the extra debt (although it also means that you might have to pay off your loans first since working abroad might pay well in local terms but not necessarily in US dollars...). In my case, for example, I intend to return to my country immediately after grad school and develop my career back home. If I were in a situation such as yours, I would be inclined to choose HKS over Duke IF, and only IF, the cost of attending Duke were significantly lower than the cost of attending HKS. The question that only you can answer is "how much lower would make it worth it?" From my professional experience in the public sector (WB and IMF), I would never borrow a cent more than one year's overall cost just because of the potential brand power (considering that I had an offer similar to yours at Duke). While coming from HKS might help getting you in the "short list" of institutions such as the WB and IMF, the degree by itself will rarely get you the job. Moreover, keep in mind that it might be easier for you to stand out at Duke (where the funding offer per se suggests that you are one of their top candidates) than at HKS... To shed some light... I have been admitted without funding the the University of Chicago and waitlisted at HKS. I decided to defer the offer from Harris so that I can be reconsidered for funding next year because I do not think the degree will be worth the debt for me given my intentions (plus, having come so close, I would really like to give HKS another shoot before going anywhere else; it is. If I were offered a place a HKS, however, I would do all efforts to take it even this year regardless of how much debt it might be necessary (in which case I would postpone my plans of returning to my country until after I managed to pay the majority of whatever debt I undertake)... In all cases, I think the option of deferring admissions is always very feasible particularly if you can dedicate time only to finding scholarships for an entire year (rather than having to go through the application process all over again) and even more so if you already have a good work opportunity at hand. I would believe that the Admissions Committee is always open to deferring when one does not have enough funding to attend their school now. Also, in the event that you choose to defer, I would ask them if you can be reconsidered for funding next year. If they say so, there is yet another reason to choose this route... Best of luck in your decision...

Excellent point. This is very much in line with how I would approach this decision. First and foremost, where do you see yourself working after grad school, in the US or abroad? IF you intend to stay in the US, I would doubt that your professional opportunities coming from Duke would be "70%" lower than those you might get coming from Harvard. However, if you intend to work abroad (I am international myself), then the "brand power" might be worth the extra debt (although it also means that you might have to pay off your loans first since working abroad might pay well in local terms but not necessarily in US dollars...). In my case, for example, I intend to return to my country immediately after grad school and develop my career back home. If I were in a situation such as yours, I would be inclined to choose HKS over Duke IF, and only IF, the cost of attending Duke were significantly lower than the cost of attending HKS. The question that only you can answer is "how much lower would make it worth it?" From my professional experience in the public sector (WB and IMF), I would never borrow a cent more than one year's overall cost just because of the potential brand power (considering that I had an offer similar to yours at Duke). While coming from HKS might help getting you in the "short list" of institutions such as the WB and IMF, the degree by itself will rarely get you the job. Moreover, keep in mind that it might be easier for you to stand out at Duke (where the funding offer per se suggests that you are one of their top candidates) than at HKS... To shed some light... I have been admitted without funding the the University of Chicago and waitlisted at HKS. I decided to defer the offer from Harris so that I can be reconsidered for funding next year because I do not think the degree will be worth the debt for me given my intentions (plus, having come so close, I would really like to give HKS another shoot before going anywhere else; it is. If I were offered a place a HKS, however, I would do all efforts to take it even this year regardless of how much debt it might be necessary (in which case I would postpone my plans of returning to my country until after I managed to pay the majority of whatever debt I undertake)... I hope this helps...

Similar mindset here... I will probably have to deny my admission offer due to financial reasons but would never do so simply because the decision came late or anything like that -- although it certainly would be frustrating! I might even have to continue working/saving for another year (while I have a job and reapply next year... I wonder if asking for a deferral implies that they won't reconsider you for funding in the next admissions process... Does anyone happen to know? Cheers,

Just keep in mind that although both schools provided "equal funding offers", they do have fairly different overall attendance costs... It really depends on a self evaluation of whether or not, in the long run, it will do you best for you to attend X or Y. In this case, either or have top programs... I would visit both and find out for yourself.

Sorry! I had to respond, but you are right and I won't extend myself... Best of luck!

Sure enough... intelligent are those who judge the quality of a program based on whether or not its Admissions Office can meet a deadline. I feel some frustration on your post perhaps more so for not being admitted than for the wait per se. All schools that I am aware of will give admitted students plenty of time to make a decision, so your argument that Harris made you wait too long that you had no choice but to choose the other school is quite faulty -- or maybe you are just a bit too naive to rush on such an important decision in your life! Anyhow, I just cannot find any rationale to justify someone's anxiety and frustration in curses against an entire school (an attitude, in my view, similar enough to the UCLA girls who used her school name in vain in a terrible attempt to curse another culture!). But what can I do if some do not have enough sense of humor to understand some irony? Be Good,

Last name starts with G! It does not seem that the decisions are coming in any particular order! Fingers crossed and good vibes for you!

Guys, I just got me decision 20 minutes ago. Like most of you, I have been admitted with no funding (in my case, understandable since I had ridiculously low GMAT scores, but still...)!!! I am unsure I will be able to borrow so much money being an international student and having other responsibilities, but will try very hard and Hopefully will be glad to meet those who choose Harris in the Fall. Otherwise, I might have to improve my standardized scores, work and save up some more money, and reapply next year... It was a pleasure sharing this experience with you guys! I hope all of us have a great program lined up for the coming years!!! Blue Skies!!!

Congrats!!! I am happy for you and even more anxious for myself!!!! NOTHING in my inbox so far!!! Have you seen if the updated your status on the application page??

Amazing how some people seem to never learn how to lose!... I am actually GLAD that there is not even a chance that me and this "educated" person will be in the same class! Maybe that girl from UCLA's political science program will be happy to meet you!

Well... it's VERY hard to beat such an offer from Princeton! HKS would have to try very hard And, being on their waitlist, I really wish you were among those admitted =)