spitts77

You should check out the other offerings that are going on at HKS beyond just IGA concentration. If you look at what some of the Centers are doing and the caliber of outside fellows. There is much more going on there than meets the eye. I was torn, but when I found out all this other stuff, I felt that HKS would be very strong. Did you know that the British Government has sought a group of MPP students to advise them on some international-related issues as part of the PAE. Gordon Brown actually came and sat in at a student presentation. And this is a relationship, not just a one-off. So anyone out there who is feeling like they made the wrong decision, please check this stuff out and you will get super excited.

Thanks. I think you are definitely right on the second issue and I'm glad to hear that someone else thinks the same.

Did you have any concerns about not being in D.C. or the fact that many of the IR professors have defected to Washington to join the Obama Administration?

Hi - I need to find out the following information in order to finalize my decision. Does anyone know if MPA students can do a PAE or is it reserved for MPPs? Does anyone know anything about career service's effectiveness in assisting students with summer internships/job opportunities in D.C.? Thanks - any info would be appreciated.

Hi I wanted to set up a thread for HKS Admits to discuss who has decided to attend or not and for what reasons. I was admitted to MPA and am extremely close to accepting. Today is my last mulling it over day and I would be declining Fletcher, SAIS, and SFS. I would love to hear the views of others. Thanks.

Today is decision day for me. If anyone has any last minute advice for HKS MPA I would love to hear it!!!!! I'd be declining SAIS, Fletcher and SFS.

pritinsp Hi - I just checked (I have been slow at checking these posts out this week) and I don't see a PM. If you want to email me, let me know and I will send you PM with email address.

Am I the only person who got into HKS that didn't get any scholarship money?

This sort of bums me out as I got no $ from HKS. It makes me feel that HKS doesn't want me bad enough and that I should go somewhere they do. Anyone else feel the same?

What made you choose MSFS. I have acceptances to same schools/degree programs, but having trouble deciding. Only $ I got was Fletcher ($15K).

Pritinsp - I am also HKS MPA admit. Were you at the open house on Friday?

This is almost a perfect description of my own grappling re: hks

Thanks guys. This is all very helpful info/advice. I get the feeling that I am overanalyzing this a bit too much and I should just focus on being happy that I got accepted to these schools.

Hi - I've received similar comments about Kennedy but not from people in the IR world. Do you have any idea why the people who said that did so? Were these people are in the know when it comes to these schools? By the way, SFS is sort of still on my list too. Do you have any more thoughts on it?

I didn't either. We can feel not special together.

I don't think they state a concentration in the letter unless you are in a capped program. I want to do strat studies as well and nothing mentioned. I get the feeling that you can probably change your concentration when you get there if you wish to. Incidentally, since you are interested in strat studies, any thoughts on Walsh and Fletcher, both of which have strong securities studies programs?

My question is whether you can even say that Kennedy is an IR school. That worries me a little when I compare to Fletcher, SAIS, or Georgetown SFS.

Hi - Can you let me know where that is mentioned? I am struggling in my decision re: KSG and want to know how it is regarded in IR communities. I would love to hear anything specific to its MPA program also in this regard.

Why do you say that in IR there is advantage going to HKS over SAIS etc?

My family is the same - when I got in to HKS, they were like "How can you not go?" Granted, my family is from England and so Harvard is a big familiar name over there. I almost feel guilty if I don't choose HKS.

I went to HKS open house and was also impressed by institute of politics. I worry about what seems to be a lack of a strong IR program. Also, I worry whether MPAs are considered sort of below the MPP students. Any thoughts? I am deciding between HKS, SAIS, Fletcher, Georgetown. My thing is national security.

If it makes any of you feel better, I currently have approximately $80,000 left over law school debt. My husband now has about $120,000 in debt (half way through med school). I got 15K from Fletcher, but nothing from SAIS or SFS (although I am conditional b/c econ prereqs so unlikely to get $). Still waiting on HKS $. I will be borrowing a substantial sum to attend any one of these schools, but I refuse to give up my dream b/c money. My view is that educational debt is good debt - an investment in your future as a person and professional. I gave up worrying about school debt a while ago. The reason I gave up worrying is that I know that eventually it will get paid off one way or another. It might be tough, but I am willing to sacrifice to do want I feel like I am meant to do in life. Sounds cheesy, but you have to step back and look at things from a broader perspective. I don't want to wake up one day and be 80 yrs old and look back on my life and wish I had followed my dream, and realize that I didn't because of a lousy couple 100Ks. I've already given up on one dream and I still kick myself every day. I don't intend to give up this one.