Eclectic4

Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): University of Arizona Arizona State University Previous Degrees and GPAs: Bachelors in Psychology: 3.93 Masters in Secondary Education: 3.83 GMAT Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 710 total, 6.0 writing Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): Two years in operations department of amusement park 3 years of teaching through Teach for America and then the Australian Education Fund in China Math/Econ Background: Honors Statistics, 2 years of applied laboratory research using advanced stats as used with publishable social science studies Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): 5 Years Spanish, including study abroad in Central America 1 year Mandarin study, basic level, including working for one year in China. Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Masters in Public Administration Long Term Professional Goals: International NGO/Government work with focus on sustainable development Schools Applied to & Results: UC Berkeley - waitlist, UPenn Fels- in with scholarship, Columbia SIPA-in zero money, Johns Hopkins- in with 2/3 scholarship, Ultimate Decision & Why: Still deciding, only have a couple of weeks! I think it is down to SIPA and Fels. Advice for Future Applicants: Make sure you have some good work experience and also a coherent narrative of what you have done in the past, what you want to do, how the past informs that, and how said school will move you down that direction. Also, really do your research on schools, programs, your own interests, etc. Originally I set out to go to business school, even focusing on the GMAT rather than GRE. However, by the end of the process I realized that a high-end Mpa was far more suited to my interests, personality, and goals. This wouldn't have happened if I didn't spend endless hours researching things, going to graduate fairs, etc.

An important note is that both of those UC's are very well regarded schools. It is not as if you are choosing between Columbia and a low end school. Given that, and if the programs are at similar level, I'd do the UC's, especially with funding. An example of the same is that I am applying to public policy and affairs schools and have got into UPenn and Columbia. I got waitlisted at UC Berkeley, which is really well ranked. If I had gotten in there with a scholarship I would have probably gone due to proximity to family, an awesome progressive town, being in Cali, and better money. But, alas, I did not:) Good luck with your decisions

I don't know. Two thoughts: Yes, some people are right on here that I have met a some Ivy-Leaguers who are very down to Earth, can talk to anybody, are humble, etc. However, now that some of my family is attending Ivy's, AND I am accepted to two for this fall, I can say that I definetely ran into the "bubble" at some of my admitted student day events. Even though many elite students are intelligent and even come across as very kind, many of them who come from priveleged backgrounds have zero idea of the socio-economic realities and hardships others face. I myself went to community college after working four years out of high school (including construction, food service). Then I went to a state school. Now, magically, I have been accepted to these Ivy schools. I am very grateful for this and look forward to completing my education at a great school. However, I also very grateful for all of the experiences and friends I have who are absolutely not in that sphere, allowing me to avoid the worst excesses of elitism.

You are welcome!

I would say here is the probable truth: Upenn is overall a far far better school, including prestige, programs, etc. The MPA at Penn is less known, not as well built up, etc. Probably, the MPA at Price is better developed. So, this is a classic issue of the overall school versus a specific program. However, I think that people are correct here that if someone wants to work in the Northeast, then they should go to UPenn's mpa.

Cornell sounds like a good up and coming program. I almost applied there. I am facing a similar choice. I also got into UPenn's MPA program, which is small, intimate, and quality, but lesser known outside of the NorthEast. Further, it is a little bit more domestic focused, as I think Cornell is right? They offered me a fair scholarship though, so it complicates things.

Yeah, I hear you. I've been going back and forth a lot, wanting to go, being overwhelmed by the debt, wanting to go, etc. Sure, that would be great. Send me your number if ya want. By the way, what are your other top couple choices?

Hey guys, Helpplease, have a great time at USC. Being a Cali native, I can say that it is a great place overall. Also, although Penn is a "better school" overall as JAubrey and I have been saying, maybe you are right that the actual program at Price is better. I too am looking at Upenn Fels and there are some issues with that specific program not being that well known, it being small, and having a kind of generic focus. So, in this case, maybe Price is a better program.

Can we get some takers or thoughts on this issue? I know a lot of people applying to MPA's, especially at costly uni's, are struggling with these questions.

Hi everyone! I am currently considering a masters in public admin. However, I wanted to know how easy (or hard) it is to find a job afterwards. Further, do any of you hold an MPA or someone you know, and if so, what kind of work are you doing? The two programs I got into are well-regarded so I suspect the job prospects are at least decent. Please help!

Wow, this sounds great. You sent a letter to Columbia and received some tuition? Which department if you don't mind me asking?

Nice, it is actually refreshing to see some people just going for it. I really want to also do the MPA-DP, and we may have met this past Tuesday at the Admitted Day. Awesome program huh? I like that it is a small intimate program within the behemoth that is SIPA. I think this helps to avoid the stereotypical problems of SIPA being impersonal, too big, etc. How are you justifying the whole debt thing. I feel like I am going back and forth every hour, haha;).

Hey Chipembere, You going for it? I was at the admit day on Tuesday as well, also for the MPA-Dp. This is Andrew, the tall blonde guy. Did you get funding?

Well, Because UCLA is a "public Ivy," meaning one of the best public schools in the world, then I would go with the funding.

Its also important to look at the domestic versus international focus. For example, Columbia Sipa is supposedly ranked in the 20's in Us News. But in international affairs it is ranked by Foriegn Policy as #5, right behind Sais, Harvard, etc.

Again, not to put down USC. However, Penn was rated the 9th best school in the world this year, above Columbia, above Cornell, above Brown, etc. It is in the league of Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, etc.

I am in the same boat as everybody here. I got accepted to three schools. One offered about 3/4 tuition, one offered a little more than a third, and my dream school, Columbia, offered none. I really want to go to Columbia but it would be as you say, at least $80,000 in debt.....

Yeah, I hear you. This is one unfortunate truth about college in general. For example, for undergrad I went to a decent, mid-range school: University of Arizona. The school's honors program was amazing, with very small class sizes and a thesis requirement that was more rigorous than the masters thesis I did later at a different school. I would be willing to bet that their honors program was as good as a generic normal bachelors at a more prestigious school, if not better. However, it is true that employers and people outside of a specific field definitely look at the school's prestige, especially considering that many employers have never heard of lesser known schools. USC of course is a well known school, so don't get me wrong. And it is considered a good school. But, UPenn definitely is in a league above USC reputation wise. If I was choosing between two domestic programs, such as USC and Fels, I would choose Fels. That is just me though.

A-Z, given that you are interested in local government, Fels may be a better choice for you. It seems to me that Fels is really well known for local and state government, and its alumni includes mayors.

First things first, even though UPenn is actually ranked as well as Columbia, it absolutely does not have the name recognition of Columbia outside of the Northeast. Most of my California friends have zero idea what UPenn is nor that it is a great school and an ivy league. I have even had friends tell me "no it's not," etc. Fels is a great program, and I really like UPenn. However, if someone is internationally focused SIPA is a better bet by far. If someone is domestically focused, Fels is great. My biggest issue is that Fels offered me a good scholarship AND I have family near Philly I am trying to stay near. SIPA didn't offer me any money and it is farther from said family.

Hi guys, I am facing a similar decision. I got into both UPenn Fels and Columbia SIPA, both for MPA's. However, Fels gave me a decent scholarship and SIPA gave me none. I have heavily researched the two schools and visited several times, including for admitted day events this past week. Here are my interests: international development and public affairs, perhaps focused on large scale ngo work. Fels has offered me more money by far and also seems to be a really solid public affairs program (not to mention the connections with Wharton and other programs). However, it is also domestic focused. Fels is known for training people for local, state, and federal government as well as ngo, not international work. SIPA is the opposite. It is extremely international, both in curriculum and in student body. Furthermore, for international work nothing beats being in NY, D.C., San Francisco, or L.A. Thoughts?

Hello. I am facing the exact same decision: whether to attend SIPA or Fels. Having visited both and talked to a lot of people about both programs, the difference seems to be basically that SIPA is much stronger for international careers and Fels is great for domestic government and non-profit work, especially in the United States.

Anybody here planning to accept the MPA-DP?

Wow, you got some great admits. You are going to defer and do TFA in Houston? I was a 2008 TFA Phoenix Corps member. The corps definitely was a real world, grassroots, intense experience. It will pay off for ya in later policy and leadership roles.

Hello! Can anyone tell me what the word on the street is regarding UPenn Fels. I got into both SIPA and Fels. Sipa is obviously more international and Fels is domestic focused. However, I got much better funding from Fels. Anybody know the reputation of Fels in the field or alumni?