PhD Public Policy: UNC Chapel Hill or Indiana Bloomington?

[Laura_lostintheocean]

Which one should I choose between UNC Chapel Hill and Indiana Bloomington for a PhD in Public Policy/Affairs? 

 

I have heard that UNC is slowly decreasing in resources invested within the department, while Indiana seems to be growing financially and from the point of view of research quality as well. However, if I look at my research interests, UNC is a better fit. From the stipend point of view, Indiana treats me a little better, but only a minor difference. Please help me with whatever info you have about these departments! I am freaking out here...THANKS!

 

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by Laura_lostintheocean

[rising_star]

What's your particular area of interest? What's the placement like for graduates from each of those institutions?

[Laura_lostintheocean]

I am interested in poverty alleviation, development and social policy (especiall yrelated to education, health and labour markets).

I would say more students from Chapel Hill go to IOs and think tanks, than from Indiana. Students from Indiana go more to universities (especially professional schools).

Indiana department seems more specialized in governance/management/political sciences than I would like but the department looks stronger from the financial/research point of view than UNC is. 2 public policy professors working in the US (I am Italian and studied mainly in Italy) recommended Indiana, but UNC seems to do a lot more development/social/population studies (which I like) than Indiana does.

What do you guys think?

 

[Entangled Phantoms]

1 hour ago, Laura_lostintheocean said:

I am interested in poverty alleviation, development and social policy (especiall yrelated to education, health and labour markets).

I would say more students from Chapel Hill go to IOs and think tanks, than from Indiana. Students from Indiana go more to universities (especially professional schools).

Indiana department seems more specialized in governance/management/political sciences than I would like but the department looks stronger from the financial/research point of view than UNC is. 2 public policy professors working in the US (I am Italian and studied mainly in Italy) recommended Indiana, but UNC seems to do a lot more development/social/population studies (which I like) than Indiana does.

What do you guys think?

 

Isnt the state of North Carolina basically dismantling any aspects of UNC that promote social welfare? (https://alumni.unc.edu/news/bog-votes-to-shut-down-uncs-poverty-center/). 

[Laura_lostintheocean]

Yes I read that too. But the Carolina Population Center seems to be involved in many poverty/development related projects (even with the UN, among others)...

[DLR]

Definitely UNC Chapel Hill.  

[PhDinPublicHealthHopeful]

I don't know what you've heard about funding within the School of Public Health, but as a 2nd year PhD student here, funding isn't too great. You're not guaranteed more than a year, though the average is three years of funding. Friends that are in their fourth years are having to work or go unfunded. I like my program, but I'd really advise talking to people within public policy.