nycmpa12

I applied to MPA programs with the goal of being in a COO-type position at a direct service nonprofit one day. However, I get tired of jobs that entail do the same thing every day/week and I've worked with a few nonprofit consultants whose jobs I would love--except that I like to have some contact with the people my organization is serving. Long story short, I want to go to a school where I can study nonprofit management and social policy. I need to improve my skills, broaden my policy knowledge, and keep my options open. SIPA has the Urban and Social Policy concentration and Management specialization, which is why I applied. But it seems like a lot of the courses I'd take are not offered SIPA, but Teachers College, Mailman, etc. Do you think that's an issue? I'm trying to set up a meeting with a USP student at SIPA to get their take--I don't want to go to a school where my concentration is significantly lower on the totem pole than everything else. The MPA at Wagner on the other hand is clearly focused on what I want (not to say that SIPA doesn't have what I need, I'm just not certain yet that it does). And to what extent should the Columbia name play into my decision? I know from experience that Ivy League degrees do generally get noticed by hiring managers, and I don't know if people notice a Wagner MPA. I already live in the city, and I won't be paying rent while I'm in school. Neither school offered me funding and assuming that I don't get funding the second year either, I'd be paying about $75,000 for NYU and $98,000 for Columbia (probably $30,000 out of pocket, and the rest borrowed). This is obviously a lot of money and I'm optimistically looking at earning $60,000/year after grad school. So, thoughts? Help! Thank you!