DancesWithDogs

well i think its really helpful to look at employment statistics after graduating. GPPI actually sends employment stats on their students from the previous year per masters program. (MPP is a little sad.... i think theyre ~30% unemployed) SIPA.... is a little trickier. I was also accepted by both so i looked into this. SIPA lumps ALL of their MPA degrees together and lists the conglomerate statistical data. I personally think that isnt really helpful. I got into the ESP MPA and i want to know about the ESP MPA's success rate at employment.... but clearly cant find any info on it. I even traveled to the school to ask and emailed administrators about it a few times.... no clear delivery on just my program. So try to figure out exactly what you're looking for and what you want out of your degree first. I really value working after graduating! gl!

hmmmm looks like a bit of variety here! thanks for your input!

thanks for sharing!!

Anyone here going to MPA in SIPA ESP? Im having a hard time deciding between NYU Wagner MPA and SIPA ESP MPA.... anyone else having similar dilemmas? thx DWD

Hey guys! congrats! I got accepted as well! My question is-- who did the Optional Visual Explorer Essay? Which one did you do? Did you get accepted? Do you think it helped/matters/hurt? I did the submerged tiger in water and wrote..... actually.... a sci -fi fantasy sort of essay about me being the tiger needing to learn to swim and operate underwater in order to get the skills i need in life-- like school to the world. thx DWD

Hey lenegary, Patrick, thanks so much for the info! I really appreciate it! My lack of familiarity with 'away' schools is... rather vast and well, its easy to distrust things you don't understand. The input was so helpful! I appreciate it! thx DWD

Lucky you! congratulations!

industrial farm

Hi Guys, thanks in advance for any takers. My sister applied and was accepted to the Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Creative Writing. I'm very supportive of her pursuits, but just worry about her school selection. Has anyone heard of this school? is it a good school? I read that it sorta encourages distance learning. Is that typical? Or does that signify a cash-cow scenario? (i come from a very typical type of grad school-- Public Policy, so I am not accustomed to the idea of GRE not required, but open to it) any thoughts, ideas, opinions? Thanks a lot! DWD

thanks guys! i just visited Wagner yesterday and setting up an appointment to sit in on a class for Columbia. I am also going to the open house for Georgetown. So all of these votes for NYU, but any opinions on gtown? thanks!

lordy,... the silence is killer.... i'm on the same boat as you, man

i got the admission email just earlier. but dont do as i did, obsessively click refresh! hmmm, i heard about how great NYU is at personalizing education, but im also worried about the 'glam' feel. internationally, im wondering if it carries the same weight to get me into conferences and whatnot. thx guys!

thx guys

HI! I wasnt sure if i should post here, or in the 'decisions, decisions' area since well, this is regarding a decision, but is more specific to Govt Affairs here we go: I got into some amazing schools: Georgetown GPPI MPP, NYU Wagner MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy, Columbia SIPA ESP MPA (environmental science and policy) now... how do i choose? I actually thought id be a beggar than a chooser, so i guess im pretty lucky here. My main goal in life is to help animals through policy-- I hope my career can lead to many different avenues to help animals in all situations, starting with the poor living conditions farm animals live in now in the United States. Perhaps one day I can venture down to help sea animals, wild animals and so forth (treated politically and socially very differently from consumption animals). Whether I am helping them through lobbyist groups, nonprofits on the front lines writing up evil/abusive farms or through as a third party philanthropy expert... i actually don't know. 1) Georgetown (nonprofit policy and leadership track) isn't strong in environmental, but has policy down cold. Ive read through their website and no matter how strong their policy program is, i feel their environmental sciences is rather weak. They have supplemental courses available to me, but i feel they act as a band aide to cover the sore spot rather than the right magic potion i need to get great! 2) NYU is HUGE in environmental policy, but mostly in the urban domain. I did research on the faculty and am really enamored by 2 professors' research and work in the field of environmental policy. but all because i love 2 professors doesnt mean i will actually get to learn under them! Additionally, I know it sounds silly, but I worry about its 'brand name' of being only a fantastic school recently and not having a glamour or history as say... columbia. and speaking of which: 3) Columbia's ESP MPA is so SO brand new! (also worried Columbia is a cash cow and may not give me the best education, despite its lasting brand name. Furthermore, as a one year MPA, am i paying for a crash course, or something that will truly help me in my life goals? BUT the ESP program is heavy on the environmental sciences while states is top notch on the policy! (oh, and its an Ivy... which i know is stupid, but fulfills my childhood educational dreams! I went to a city school for undergrad) Luckily, funding is not an issue. Although some schools gave more than others, I actually feel that my education comes first and debt can be dealt with later. Money is transient, life is all you have; I want to spend my life doing what i love most: helping poor animals. (and to further the point of it being a non-issue, my family and fiance decided to pool together to make my education happen no matter what) Im awaiting decisions on 2 more schools: Princeton and Yale, but Im not going to hold my breath. any input would be fantastic as i am going nuts here! Any ideas, personal thoughts or even just a funny joke? Thank you all in advance! DWD

thanks Eigen! im getting a little nervous as to how to phrase my thanks, but no thanks letters. i actually didnt think id need to write so many! any thoughts on length?? a paragraph or is 2 overkil? thx!