UCSB Bren vs GWU Trachtenberg - Environmental Policy/Sustainability Management

[spaceodyssey93]

Hello, I would appreciate thoughts regarding graduate school decisions/comments from people in the same boat. Interested in environmental policy and potentially private sector consulting or NGO work. 

Accepted to: 

GWU - Environmental Resource Policy, Trachtenberg School ($10k/year fellowship)

Still waiting on a decision from UCSB Bren MESM.

Obviously this could all be for nothing depending on decision from Bren, but going into this process I regarded UCSB Bren as my #1 choice due to program respect in the environmental field, location (Santa Barbara sounds nice), etc. However, now that I have received word from GWU I'm beginning to like the idea of being in DC and the plethora of internship opportunities, etc. For environmental policy I believe this is potentially more important than program rank necessarily. Also, the GWU ENRP program allows for all classes to be done in the evening allowing for full-time and part-time internships during the semester. (EPA, DOE, EDF, NRDC, etc all having offices in D.C. along with pretty much every other environmental NGO). All of that being said, UCSB Bren is consistently ranked as the top or a top 3 program for environmental management. 

Anyone else with knowledge or experience in environmental sustainability policy have thoughts? I don't necessarily want to stay in DC long term and would actually prefer Southern California as a career location, BUT I feel like the connections I could form in DC could carry anywhere.

I would appreciate any thoughts/advice