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Hi Everyone I deferred my KHK admission(MPA program) for a year. I am hoping I might be more successful with the financial assistance next year. What in your opinion is financial need? Though I have corporate banking experience for arnd 5 years since nov 2007 I have been unemployed. When they assess financial need, what would you say constitutes need? Does that mean lots of debt or zilch savings?

Hi Is it possible to defer in more than one school? Is it allowed in most of the schools?

In the ultimate analysis, which schools would be the best for international development (for entry into organizations such as World Bank) Harvard, syracuse What abt NYU and USC? Chicago is good for domestic policy i understand. and so is the case with georgetown.

spitts77 just wanted to confirm if you got my pM - somehow the message I thought I sent you does not seem to appear in my list of sent messages!

hi spitts77 yes i was at the admit session! Have sent you a PM - do have a look!

me too! no money/financial assistance what so ever!

Hello The impression I have so far of the program so far is that it is an ignored program at Georgetown - does anyone have any views/information about this program and its relative imporatance within GPPI and also perception of the program outside the school?

Hi I am interested in International Development in areas such as micro finance. I would like to get into program management (program evaluation,etc) with multilateral organizations such as World bank or get into Philantrophy management.

DEar stigMPA and linden thanks for your responses! Linden so which other option would you consider on par with Harvard ? Can both of you give me your thoughts on my reasoning for shortlisting Harvard and Syracuse - Do my assumptions look valid (based on my research- but am not sure since I'm an international student who has worked in the private sector- so had no idea on public policy schools before i started out my research) - Harris school (1 year program for people who already have other graduate degrees such as a MBA) : I am not inclined towards it since it seems very theoretical and lacks any flexibility. The focus seems to be domestic and on quant. Given My background and what I want to do (intl dev) , this does not seem to gel. Besides for just 9 courses , I am paying the same amt of tuition as Syracuse! - Georgetown - GPPI - MPM (1 year executive track) - I was impressed with the presentation during the information session in DC and decided to apply for the one year program. BUt since I have applied, the response from them has been so poor - nobody responds to mail, i am yet to hear back form them on scholarship, I get different messages every time I call - all this makes me believe that the 1 year program is possibly not as established as the regular MPP program and well maybe the school does not focus on this program as much. I don't want to pay big bucks and be in an ignored program. - USC - MPA - Though they have given me some financial assistance too and the other big plus being that it is close to Denver (my husband will live there and we will commute), in fact I even like what I see in terms of course offerings - but from what i have heard on this forum, it just does not seem to have the same reputation as top tier schools and seems to be more of a regional name . Its also 2 years- so compared to Syracuse which is one year , I will need to stay away form my husband for an extra year! - NYU - MPA - this was the last admit i got - so to be honest I have not even done the kind of research I did for rest of the schools! Also this is a 2 year course and also heard that most people from NYU end up getting jobs in NYU itself - in that sense it still is a regional course. Can I have opinions on the assumptions I have made in assessing the schools. Out of this list, do you feel I need to consider anyone of the school?

Hi dreamer... I decided against harris since its too theoretical for my liking and also because the program seems to lack flexibility (you take more core classes than electives) I am going for the new admit event at Harvarad. Are you going to be there too? undersec.. harvard seems great but tooo expensive! Am seriously considering Syracuse....anyone care to comment on that?

Hi Any thoughts on this? The tuition cost in Syracuse is HALF of Harvard. The question is the brand name of Harvard double of Syracuse. Am looking to do International development in areas such as microfinance,etc. And I hope to work in international organizations such as world bank/UN agencies,etc. Am leaning towards Syracuse rationally and emotionally towards Harvard! What do people on this forum think about Syracuse? Accepted: AM program at Harris; executive track at GPPI; USC SPPD (Half Tuition) ; NYU;

and oh yes.. one more question... Why is nobody mentioning RA/TA opportunities at Harvard - a student i spoke to said that there are many opportunities for taking up paid assistantships - will this not mitigate the debt problem to a certain degree... any comments on this?

Hello! Wow.. I wish I had come across this thread earlier.. would have saved all that agonizing I was doing all by myself! I am in a similar situation to linden- just that I STILL have not made up my mind . My options: 1) Harvard MPA - no funding - I will need to borrow $50,000 (I have some saved money) 2) Syracuse MPA - no funding - N borrowing 3) U of Chicago - no finding - no borrowing 4)University of southern chicago - half tuition - no borrowing So my situation is slightly different from lindens - my top 2 schools have not offered any funding - so though the debt I am talking abt is not $100 but $50 k - additional funding! (but it all amounts to the same right? money not spent is money saved! so I guess the opportunity cost argument would make the debt $100k or in excess of that!) I am leaning towards Harvard due to its reputation internationally and also because the course itslef which is a very flexible program - no core courses (attractive since I already have a MBA and econ degree) . I am going for the information session on the 10th to see for myself and hoping that my gut guides me! In another sense, I am completely convinced abt Syracuse too - its ranked no 1 - its a well known program in the US, its a one year program (a huge plus since I would need to live away from my husband only for one year,not two). I am visiting Syracuse on the 9th for their information sessions Chicago is again a one year program and affordable and USC has the advantage of being able to be closer to my husband +half tuition help. So well - Its been crazy deciding between these schools - need help! What are your views on Syracuse Vs Harvard (I intend to do international development in areas such as micro finance) What abt USC - does it even compare with the other three schools? And ultimately the bottom line - is Harvard worth the extra $50 k compared with any of these other 3 schools.

Dear All Now that most of the results are in(am only wiating fro NYU)... this is the situation (1) Harvard :MPA program(no news of funding) (2) Syracuse MPA - no funding (3) Univ of chicago - MA program - no funding (4) USC - MPA - half tuition (5) Georgetown univ Which would be the best bet for internation ak development/non profit management - am not interested in U domestic policy. Please advice! (dont want a mountain of debt either!!!!) Really value the advice in this forum - look forward to hearing your views!

Dear Stephen33, can I get a copy of the response too? really appreciate you taking time off to help out! Can I also have your views on the AM program?

i applied in early jan and still not heard back.. anyone in the same boat? and how is the financial assistence package offered so far?

Dear xnormajeanx About the 1 year AM program So from what you say I would probably just take abt 9 courses - how much would tuition work out to apprx? It will be significantly lesser compared to those doing a 2year course right? I do have an econ background - BA in economics and i took 2 courses in my MBA too - so would that allow me to take more electives? If I wanted to specizlize in international development/non profit managment - how good are these tracks in chicago? Do students get into world bank/UN,etc? Who are the profs to look out for - interms of their connections in DC? About cost of living for a year - if i wanted to live in a studio close to college, how much would cost of living be? Thank you so much for your insight. it is very useful!

Dear xnormajeanx I wanted some information on the 1 year MA course. I applied for this since I already have a MBA. Do students of the 1 year course take the same classes as MPP students? Is it just a condensed form of the MPP course? So will the fees also be considerably less? What about recognition of this course? is it on par with the MPP? Look forward to hearing from you. Thx!

I just got an admit to the one year AM program. No funding. Quite disappointed. Admits: USC (half tuition); GPPI (MPM) ; Syracuse Maxwell ; Harris school (1 year AM )

Any further offers from Harris? we can check out the diminishing funding theory! I have heard nothing yet.. so would very much be interested in figuring this out

Hi everyone I guess for those of us waiting to hear from Harris and for all of us waiting to hear from Harvard, it is a good idea to take our minds off it... Based on the discussions on this forum why not list out the choosiest schools.. Anyone with any stats on the same?? i recall reading somewhere that princeton just accepted 10% of the applicant pool.. what abt syracuse,GPPI,NYU,USC,GSPP,CHICAGO,columbia - anyone with any stats on these schools?

Hi You make a very important point about the cost of living in LA - the syracuse letter mentions that $1200 would be avg cost of living per month in syracuse.. any guesses what it would be in LA? and of course the point of paying some extra money for the brand name of maxwell school does seem reasonable.. one consideration that puts USC on top is the fact that my husband works in denver.. so LA is going to be a lot easier to handle in terms of travel than Syracuse!

Dear Policywife Thanks for your note. I just wanted to check why Syracuse Maxwell School does not figure in recruitment stats? It seems to be the highest ranked program on US News and have heard a lot about their alumni network,etc. Also how would you say USC figures in the scheme of things? If international development is what I am looking at a career in, would USC have a major disadvantage since its on the west coast. As far as Georgetown univ is concerned, is the 1 year MPM program(mid career executive track) as recognized as the MPP program. Look forward to your views since while i await the kennedy school results, am also having to start thinking about the offers I have received so far.

Dear All Thanks so much for the inputs... So far I have the following options(still waiting to hear from NYU/Harvard/Chicago) 1)USC: with half tuition scholarship 2)Syracuse :waiting to hear abt funding 3) Georgetown :MPM program Any thoughts on how these would rank in terms of having opportunities to get into world bank/UN, big NGO's such as gates foundation,etc working in the areas of non profit management and international development. Which of these schools would have professors and alumni with connections in these organizations? Inputs would be appreciated!

Hello! Given that Syracuse has a brand name, how will the MPA form Syracuse compare with those from Princeton and Harvrad? What abt MPm from georgetown? Syracuse is ranked no 1 much ahead of other programs .. Also how would syracuse compare against USC (SPPD) - the reson i ask is because I have got a merit scholarship in USC and assuming nothing from Syracuse, would it be worthwhile spending an additional $30,000 in Syracuse?