Is HKS worth the loans? HKS vs SIPA

[IndiPolicy]

Hi friends,

I have been a silent observer, and found the threads immensely useful in the journey. Need your inputs. I am an international student from India with 6-7 years of experience as an entrepreneur in climate change & livelihoods. Currently in a quite senior role in an top Indian e-commerce company and paid $70K+ and have current offers of $100K+ in India.

I have been admitted to HKS (0 funding), SIPA ($48K funding + better opportunities of internship & TA) & Harris.

I have some personal savings which can cover my living costs, but in a really big confusion of what to do? I believe with scholarship, internship & TA opportunities, I will not have to take a loan to study at SIPA. But to study at Harvard will have to take loan of around $100K. I am also married and will be moving in with my wife (she is one of the verge of completing her PhD, and would be looking out for Post Doctoral opportunities in US) 

I am pretty much sorted but just that is the Harvard brand worth the loan? I believe SIPA will give me similar opportunities and nothing will not restrict for not being at Harvard, but just the overall name and childhood aspirations of Harvard is making me think! 

[ExponentialDecay]

Congrats on your acceptances. What is your end career goal? And what are the specific programs at HKS and SIPA?

 

[IndiPolicy]

I want to work in the energy & environment field in the likes of World Bank and UN across countries, travel and come back to India after 5-7 years. Post which either continue to work in similar domains in India/South Asia, or again start my venture in a similar domain.

Columbia : MPA (Energy + Environment concentration)

Harvard : MPP

Edited March 17, 2018 by IndiPolicy

[irapplicant1776]

11 hours ago, IndiPolicy said:

Hi friends,

I have been a silent observer, and found the threads immensely useful in the journey. Need your inputs. I am an international student from India with 6-7 years of experience as an entrepreneur in climate change & livelihoods. Currently in a quite senior role in an top Indian e-commerce company and paid $70K+ and have current offers of $100K+ in India.

I have been admitted to HKS (0 funding), SIPA ($48K funding + better opportunities of internship & TA) & Harris.

I have some personal savings which can cover my living costs, but in a really big confusion of what to do? I believe with scholarship, internship & TA opportunities, I will not have to take a loan to study at SIPA. But to study at Harvard will have to take loan of around $100K. I am also married and will be moving in with my wife (she is one of the verge of completing her PhD, and would be looking out for Post Doctoral opportunities in US) 

I am pretty much sorted but just that is the Harvard brand worth the loan? I believe SIPA will give me similar opportunities and nothing will not restrict for not being at Harvard, but just the overall name and childhood aspirations of Harvard is making me think! 

I would try to leverage SIPA's funding to get a better offer from HKS. If HKS doesn't give you an offer I'd go to SIPA no question.

[ExponentialDecay]

1 hour ago, IndiPolicy said:

I want to work in the energy & environment field in the likes of World Bank and UN across countries, travel and come back to India after 5-7 years. Post which either continue to work in similar domains in India/South Asia, or again start my venture in a similar domain.

Columbia : MPA (Energy + Environment concentration)

Harvard : MPP

Given your work experience and assuming you can present yourself well in writing and in person, you should be fine wherever you go. IOs are huge organizations that are hard to generalize across, but the Harvard MPP isn't really held in higher regard among the technical staff than any other reputable MPP. It's your background as an entrepreneur in the environmental space in a client country that will be of interest to people (if you can sell it well/there's something to sell, it would be of great interest). If you're serious about the WB, it's regretful that you didn't apply in DC.

[mustardaddict]

On 3/18/2018 at 2:35 AM, irapplicant1776 said:

I would try to leverage SIPA's funding to get a better offer from HKS. If HKS doesn't give you an offer I'd go to SIPA no question.

This seems like a sensible idea. 

I've gotten 24k funding at SIPA, and 56k at Fletcher and I'm waiting on a possible admit from LKYSPP. I'm going to send the letters from the other school(s) to SIPA and hope for more aid.