ajl

I'm very torn between three programs I really like, so if anyone has thoughts that I wouldn't see in the marketing blurbs, please chime in.

Everyone seems to have opinions on the relative "cachet" of each name, the closeness of each community, the opportunities of the metro areas, etc.

I'll be concentrating on international trade policy, seeking employment in gov't or business. Regions of interest :Latin America, East/Southeast Asia.

I've been admitted for the MALD, ElSIA MA, and MSFS--just booked a ticket to visit each open house and get a feel, for whatever that's worth. Here are my personal considerations:

Georgetown:
unbeatable brand name, amazing network in government, tiny classes! And, apparently, SFS-SSP paintball battles.
HUGE debt, like six figures.

GW:
gave me some money, cheaper tuition anyway, larger network, mid-semester internships.
larger classes, less valuable brand name (...?)

Tufts:
gave me more money, cross-register w/HKS and MIT (can take advantage of their networks?? or is this just for bragging rights?), close-knit.
thesis, not DC/NY (does this really matter during the semester?)


Thanks for any help!

I'm new here, too, and feeling pretty iffy about the whole app process. I just posted this on the Fall 2012 applicant thread, but would love to get some feedback from anyone with opinions. Here are my stats:

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPA, MIA, MALD, whatever they're calling it
Schools Applying To: GWU Elliott, Columbia SIPA, JHU SAIS, Princeton WWS, Tufts Fletcher, Georgetown MSFS

Undergraduate institution: Notably less-than-stellar large public. But our football team was pretty good.
Undergraduate GPA: 3.77
Undergraduate Majors: International Business, Management [Honors]
Study Abroad: a semester in Germany, a semester in Spain, a month in Guatemala

GRE Quantitative Score: 680-780 [Did they make the new GRE quant harder?]
GRE Verbal Score: 750-800
GRE AW Score: don't know yet...

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 4
Years of Work Experience: 3...?
Describe Relevant Work Experience: One year teaching ESL in Korea [government program], some management experience if that matters, internship with a political advocacy group [unpaid], internship with international development nonprofit [unpaid]

Languages: Spanish [proficient], Korean [intermediate, quickly forgetting], German [uG minor, intermediate], Indonesian [beginner, just for fun]

Quant: One calculus class in UG, a couple economics and stats. They don't tell you when you're good at math as a kid that you should NOT skip courses and do as little as possible.

Strength of SOP: Also currently working on this, will probably be decent. My work experience isn't incredibly relevant, but I've done tons of travel and am hoping to draw on that.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Two profs should be very good, one nonprofit director may not be as strong.

Other: I was fairly involved in extracurriculars in UG, and have numerous short volunteering stints all over the place. Also, I know that odds for WWS are low, but the win is big.

Y'all think I have a shot?

@Rose1

Actually, according to my research that's not quite how it works. The PSLF program applies to federal loans; however, you can probably cover the costs beyond the Direct (Stafford) loan with Graduate PLUS loans--also from the government. That's because as long as the PLUS loans are in your name (as opposed to the Parent PLUS loans, in the name of your parents) you can consolidate them with other federal Direct loans, and that consolidation loan is PSLF eligible. Grad PLUS loans cover total COA above Direct loans, and I don't think you can max those out. The downside is that they have a higher interest rate (7.9% currently) so when you consolidate with a 6.8% smaller loan your interest ends up around 7.2% for the consolidated loan. I linked earlier to my spreadsheet covering cost comparisons; the second tab of that spreadsheet is a breakdown of repayment costs over various periods and at various incomes.

The caveat is that those are only available to US citizens AFAIK; however, the gist is that the government is moving away from private student loans backed by the government, and towards supplying those loans directly since they're assuming the risk for the loans anyways.

Seriously, I feel that. But you managed to get into some killer programs, the best of the best, so take advantage. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness option (which, as far as I know, will apply to ANY gov't or NGO position) will really make life pretty livable. And it might get much better:
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/student-loan-ranger/2012/03/21/learn-what-the-student-loan-forgiveness-act-could-mean-for-you

The numbers are giving me an ulcer, too, but enough people in my life (some who had taken out 200k for law school or over 100k just for undergrad) assure me that it's doable. You're just not filthy, stinking rich until after your hair has begun prematurely graying. Let's not worry ourselves out of what could be one of the best opportunities we'll ever get. Probably.

Making financial spreadsheets can be good therapy, and yours does make it a little easier to be pragmatic about what can be a pretty emotional decision.

I did the same thing, but with a different approach--assumed the worst, that I'll be doing unpaid internships, going to the most expensive school, and taking $120,000 in loans.

Here is my breakdown of repayment options, either a standard 10-year amortized, a couple of income-based repayment options, and just getting it paid ASAP.

Feel free to paste the formulas into your own, hopefully using much smaller numbers!

Two points:

One prospective I've heard repeatedly, which makes a lot of sense to me, is that the pedigree of the school will have the greatest impact on your first or second job. The effect will diminish, as the work that you've done moves to the top of your credentials.

To that point, I'd add that having a reputable school attached to your name may help the chances at a senior position that bears scrutiny from the public. If you wanted to be the president of a non profit, I could see that having a degree from Harvard could help snag potential donors, etc.

As to the money/prestige trade off, each gives you flexability in a different way. Obviously a degree from Harvard will open doors that wouldn't exisit (or wouldn't open as easily) as a degree from No-Name State University. However, $100+k in debt will also limit the types of positions you can take.

IN. This is nuts. I'm having a "Rudy" moment to myself.

I'm assuming we'll all unwittingly meet each other at the various open houses? We can discuss our Grad Cafe obsession over tea with Dr. Albright?

Well, it looks like this might become a moot point for me, because Elliott just offered a ridiculous financial aid package Georgetown is highly unlikely to match. Balls in your court, Georgetown.

in other news, experts are baffled by an unexplainable breakout of stress induced heart failure. all involved belonged to some caffeine worshipping cult, meeting together online on the seemingly benign forum "thegradecafe."

I'd love to know which state you represent as senator.

LOL, you think i am trolling. i am probably the only person on these boards that has an inkling of how the recruiting process works for consulting firms. how am i prestige obsessed? because i keep pointing out his TTT law school failure? i think you might be ignorant since you never applied to law schools but going to a TTT and dropping out means OP went to an unranked law school with abysmal scores and still could not cut it there. by the way, have you ever even done consulting before?

my arguments may be confusing for you because you lack the acumen to understand basic hiring and real world functions, but like i said if you don't believe me, just click on the HKS employment statistics and the answer should be right there assuming you have some basic statistical skills. i don't get what is so hard about looking at the stats when the facts are right there in front of you, but i forgot this board is sometimes filled with people who want to pursue their "dreams" even though ever sign leads to them being in massive debt with no marketable skills.

Got into Cornell CIPA +$26k about a week ago via email

Just heard from CMU Heinz! Got offered $14k, looks like per semester but not sure has anyone else heard back from them yet?

Just got into CMU Heinz as well. 11k a semester. I have to go to the math camp, but who gives a shit. WOOOOOO

Congrats to the Heinz admits!

Heard from the Georgetown MGHD (Masters in Global Human Development) today. Full scholarship ($40k) -- over the moon! I think they are giving out limited full scholarships to attract people for the first cohort of the program. Something to keep in mind for future applicants who want to do development -- this is one of the only options out there for an actual degree in development, as opposed to an elective track in an IR program.

No, it makes sense. You're essentially arguing :

1. since non-elite schools cost so much less, their scholarships give more "bang for the buck"
2. non-elite schools have more money reserved for scholarships
3. public schools = in-state tuition
4. non-coastal locations = lower coast of living (obviously not applicable for a lot of programs).

A lot of really important factors left out though (not your fault, schools are awful at giving detailed info on financial aid). A big factor to consider is class size, since it obviously affects how dispersed the scholarships are. TAMU has well over 500 students - Yale has like 30. Distribution between MA and PHD students, if applicable. TA positions available. etc. etc.

Now if you'll excuse me I have some goats to sacrifice to Adcomminus, the dark god of graduate admissions - once He grants me a ticket to WWS in exchange for my eternal soul, all this fin-aid talk will be irrelevant. Yeah, my financial plan is a bit unorthodox.

In my personal opinion, a lot of people have a "go giant or go home" mentality and only apply to the top top schools. I really do not agree with this mentality, because it implies that only the professors and administrators at 10 schools (The 'top 10') in the country are capable of teaching you the skills and knowledge related to an MPA. Obviously, that's not true.

I personally do not believe that going to a school not in the TOP TEN will hurt you in the long run. Maybe you wi get more networking experience at a top ten school just because be famous or useful people with busy schedules will only have time for these schools, but if you're a hard worker and interview well, I personally believe you have just as much chance to get hired at a government office then a SIPA graduate. And then once you get hired, its not about your school - its about your work ethic, experience and ultimately luck. Have faith in your ability and your school choice. Apply, get in, learn, live your life.

Often time, the people on this forum freak out over the littlest thing ("Omg the envelope I sent my Personal Statement in had a smudge - will they not accept me?"). We all admit that this is a big deal in our lives - we ALL want to get in and help make the world a better place - but we should remember we're all human, even our potential teachers, and should do our best to enjoy our lives before we die. There is NOTHING wrong with your school choices. Power through, my friend.