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They had a small desk to which you could go to and inquire about financial aid. I wish they would've done a whole segment on it. If you're a permanent resident or citizen, you can borrow the whole cost (tuition/ room & board) from the federal loans. You would get about 1/8 in subsidized and the rest unsubsidized.

I would dispute some of what b00ts has mentioned. (1) There were multiple alumni panels; the one I went to were all placed into- what they referred to as- dream careers. They also discussed how MPP offers more transferable skills which are marketable in diverse employment sectors. (2) The anticipated incoming class is about 125-135 students; I don't recall anyone inquiring about the acceptance rate at the Q&A. We were all asked to introduce ourselves and I have to say I was impressed by the quality of prospective students. Most graduated from prominent universities and colleges- Harvard undergrads, Chicago undergrads, Darthmouth undergrads, UC Berkeley undergrads etc.- plus, a more than handful work(ed) at places like the federal reserve banks, private consulting, etc. The ones I talked to had offers from other equally competitive programs but were leaning towards Chicago. I didn't find any prospective student who didn't belong. Admitting 70% of the students is statistically unlikely considering that this was a record admissions cycle. (3) After inquiring from the current/ past students, they did mention some grievances with the career office. However, they added how the office is going through a complete face lift. Apparently, they fired the career office staff last year and brought in a brand-new team led by Lydia Lazar. She wasn't personable but seemed focused and tenacious. And yes, she didn't have all the info from past years but that's partly because she's been at her job for less than a year. I liked how she didn't sugar-coat anything and gave an unvarnished perspective. She was clear in saying that the career office would not place any student into a job but it's the student's responsibility to obtain a job. The office would simply assist students in matching and locating jobs. (4) They also have two Nobel Laureates on the Harris faculty, out of 5 or 6 at the University. (5) Hyde Park might be an insular place but they make sure that you get outside experience. They will try and assign you a mentor who would assist you in drafting your career goals, expanding your network, and contacting potential employers. _________________________________________ My Dislikes: (1) Yes, the faculty in international policy seems woefully insufficient but I guess you could address that deficiency by enrolling into classes offered through the Booth School and the Dept. of Political Sci. or Economics. (2) The funding seemed scarce. You could possibly obtain RAs/ TAs but that would not remit tuition in any manner. _________________________________________ I think it is a strong program and prides itself on being quantitatively and academically rigorous. They kept emphasizing how you'll get your money's worth here (and I believe them)- keep pushing you to think harder because you can never learn enough. For instance, If you're an Econ major and do well on the Math placement test- you'll be placed in the PhD public policy courses in economics. AND it's University of Chicago: Home of F. Hayek, M.Friedman, G.Becker, S.Levitt, R.Posner, etc. The bad is the scarce funding; you might accumulate tons of debt and start out with an average income of 60,000; might be at a comparative disadvantage in the job-market if coming straight out of undergrad to MPP (like myself).

@ Slow and @Letsjustgo: I'm deciding between Humphrey and Harris. I would have to take out loans to attend both schools. Frankly, I wouldn't mind taking out an additional $15,000 (in relative terms) to go to Harris. But I'm trying to ascertain if the rate of returns on a MPP would be enough to justify the accumulation of so much debt. Plus I'm sure a lot of people fund their education/ room and board via loans at the Harris School; it would be great to hear their experience in the school and on the job market. Let me know if you guys hear something about it. @ "People who're anxiously waiting to hear from Chicago": One of my acquaintances emailed Maggie and got a response today. She mentioned that the applicants would be receiving postal notifications Monday. I'm assuming the decisions are still steadily coming out. Good Luck.

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?

Hi Friends, I'm fielding an unfunded offer from the U of Chicago for Masters in Public Policy. It's certainly one of my top choices but the cost of it is almost prohibitive. I would have to take out massive loans to fund my education, and room and board. I'm wondering if anyone else was/ is in the same position as me? Or if going to the program is worth it?