So... is Heinz actually a good school?

[sushitooth]

Now that I've been accepted there... Is it a good school? Should I be somewhat "proud" of this accomplishment?

I know U.S. News rankings has it as a top-10 program and #1 for technology policy (although I am guessing this is because Heinz itself features a Masters of Information Technology program which most of us here would not go for, anyways)... But still, I've been told those rankings don't mean much, and so I am wondering if Heinz is really a well-regarded school my employers?

I come from an economics background, with some extensive math course work... I was looking for the most quantitative public policy program I could find, and while there are others that I have heard are quantitative (Maxwell, Harris, LBJ), I decided this one was as good as any of those in that regard.

I don't really seek a career in Washington (although am not against it). I don't see myself as an "affairs" person so much as working for either a public, private, or consulting company that does policy analysis for various sectors, or a think tank that does research and innovates policy.

Do you think Heinz is good for that? Does it look respectable on a resume? Thank you!

[mppgal55]

Now that I've been accepted there... Is it a good school? Should I be somewhat "proud" of this accomplishment?

I know U.S. News rankings has it as a top-10 program and #1 for technology policy (although I am guessing this is because Heinz itself features a Masters of Information Technology program which most of us here would not go for, anyways)... But still, I've been told those rankings don't mean much, and so I am wondering if Heinz is really a well-regarded school my employers?

I come from an economics background, with some extensive math course work... I was looking for the most quantitative public policy program I could find, and while there are others that I have heard are quantitative (Maxwell, Harris, LBJ), I decided this one was as good as any of those in that regard.

I don't really seek a career in Washington (although am not against it). I don't see myself as an "affairs" person so much as working for either a public, private, or consulting company that does policy analysis for various sectors, or a think tank that does research and innovates policy.

Do you think Heinz is good for that? Does it look respectable on a resume? Thank you!

First, Carnegie Mellon will never look bad on a resume. From everything I've heard (DC people, consulting companies like Deloitte), Heinz is extremely well respected. I know that Deloitte only looks for consultants from Heinz, Georgetown, Columbia, GW, and Harvard. Moreover, they have a strong relationship with Pricewaterhousecooper and other private firms, so much so that PWC hosts a networking night for Heinz students in NYC each spring. As far as the quantitative aspect, I've heard that Ford (Michigan) and Heinz have the most math-based programs.

I don't know if that helps, but hopefully it does! Are you going to the visit days in April? What other programs are you deciding between?

[sushitooth]

First, Carnegie Mellon will never look bad on a resume. From everything I've heard (DC people, consulting companies like Deloitte), Heinz is extremely well respected. I know that Deloitte only looks for consultants from Heinz, Georgetown, Columbia, GW, and Harvard. Moreover, they have a strong relationship with Pricewaterhousecooper and other private firms, so much so that PWC hosts a networking night for Heinz students in NYC each spring. As far as the quantitative aspect, I've heard that Ford (Michigan) and Heinz have the most math-based programs.

I don't know if that helps, but hopefully it does! Are you going to the visit days in April? What other programs are you deciding between?

Yes, that helps a lot! I mean, of course I knew some things about this program and that is why it was my top choice, but now that I have been accepted, I'm very excited and I guess it makes me want to find out every little detail, and your post helped a lot with that! For example, I never knew those tidbits about Pricewater and Deloitte.

Since Heinz was my top choice, it will probably be where I end up no matter what. Some other schools I have applied to but have not heard from are Michigan, GWU, Georgia Tech, George Mason, University of Georgia... That was also pretty much my order of preference, too (with Heinz topping all, again).

So, I guess I am pretty satisfied! I was a bit worried I would only be accepted in places like George Mason or U. Georgia and wouldn't really be able to build a quantitative curriculum... I would most likely study finance policy in those two places, but with Heinz, I feel like I have a much greater opportunity to build "sophisticated" curriculum.

(p.s. - I suppose there is a reason that these places like Heinz, GWU, Harvard, Georgetown, etc. are so expensive, though, right!?)

Anyways, thanks for the reply

[coaks]

Also, at Heinz you should be able to take some classes at the Tepper business school, which is very highly-regarded for its strength in finance, much more so than business programs at any of the other schools you applied. The finance program is held in higher esteem than the one at, for example, Michigan, which many would say has a better-respected business school overall. Wall St. firms and national banks will actively recruit Tepper MBAs.

I sat in on a valuation finance elective at Tepper and I was very impressed with the students and how the class was conducted. I can give you some more info about it if you're really interested.

Edited March 6, 2010 by coakleym

[sushitooth]

Also, at Heinz you should be able to take some classes at the Tepper business school, which is very highly-regarded for its strength in finance, much more so than business programs at any of the other schools you applied. The finance program is held in higher esteem than the one at, for example, Michigan, which many would say has a better-respected business school overall. Wall St. firms and national banks will actively recruit Tepper MBAs.

I sat in on a valuation finance elective at Tepper and I was very impressed with the students and how the class was conducted. I can give you some more info about it if you're really interested.

Hey, yeah, more info would be great, although I'm a bit confused:

1.) Although Heinz does have a financial management and analysis concentration (which would seem like a good fit for me-- coming from b.s. economics undergrad), it doesn't seem to be rated very highly in finance policy (at least according to the U.S. News rankings?)

2.) Do you think taking a few courses at Tepper would really my job prospects with an MSPPM? I mean, I am getting a public policy degree, after all, and not an MBA at Tepper. When I look for a job (or first-Summer internship), I would almost have to mention separately that I took some classes at Tepper. (My basic thought was: It's great that Wall Street recruits Tepper MBAs, but I will not have a Tepper MBA, because I want an MSPPM...).

3.) When I take some classes as Tepper, would that actually be part of my MSPPM curriculum? I ask because I only have two years there, and it is not cheap, so if I am going to be paying additional money just to freelance and take business courses-- It is something I would think about, but it would be a much easier decision if it was actually part of their curriculum.

I guess what I am trying to say is if some Tepper courses, while in my MSPPM, will give me leverage in terms of marketing myself, that is tremendous... But I want to be a little careful and keep in mind that I am going for an MSPPM, not an MBA.

---

Other than that... Yeah, I would like to hear more about your experience at Tepper. I am an undergrad at U. Pittsburgh, so I've heard a thing or two about CMU... But have not really gone in depth to find out about Tepper. When did you do your elective there? Why? (How did it fit your educational/career plans?). And what has you interested in Heinz's MSPPM?

Well, thanks! And perhaps I'll see you on campus soon?

[RH7]

I know that Deloitte only looks for consultants from Heinz, Georgetown, Columbia, GW, and Harvard.

Um...where did you get this information?

[sushitooth]

Another thought I have is: Heinz has a separate information technology program and so perhaps Deloitte/Pricewater looks at those candidates, and not the ones from MSPPM? Or MSPPMs receive those types of job offers, too?

[Fango]

On 3/6/2010 at 1:55 PM, Juli said:

I know that Deloitte only looks for consultants from Heinz, Georgetown, Columbia, GW, and Harvard.

This is incorrect. I've worked with Deloitte consultants that had masters degrees from Texas and Dartmouth, to name but a few.

[34d]

Heinz is definitely a good program. A friend of mine is currently enrolled in the two-year DC track option, and he turned down (Syracuse), GPPI (Georgetown), and SPA (American) for it. Though funding was a big reason why, like you he entered Heinz right after undergrad so he was looking for a school that would help him develop skills; for example, Heinz actually has a writing improvement course, which is an especially important skill for those hoping to give policy advice. You also still get some good adjunct professors, like Mark Roosevelt, the superintendent of PPS. Don't let the financial problems with the Tepper school deter you from taking classes there; it's still one of the top business programs.

Anyway, like you I'm also going straight to grad school right after undergrad (@ pitt too! but I'm poli sci) so I was looking for programs that would develop the skills that I would've garnered from a few years of work. If I wasn't so set on being in DC, Heinz would have been at the top of my list.

[sushitooth]

I just looked at Deloitte's website and found their internships for 1st year MPA/MPP students. It sounds like the dream internship for me.

Their requirements are, from the top of my head, an "MPA/MPP student at prestigious university, solid quantitative skills, leadership and interpersonal skills, etc" I don't actually recall most of it. But how difficult do you think it would be to land this sort of internship after 1 year at Heinz? My advantage would be, I suppose, a "prestigious" program and also, coming from an econ/math undergrad background, I probably have the quantitative thing down. My resume is pretty solid.

Man, I'm not even enrolled yet, but already dreaming about this type of internship!!!

[Putoots]

Hi everyone,

I also got into Heinz with a sizable scholarship (Pittsburgh track). So far I am deciding between GPPI (maybe funding), Heinz, and UCLA (no funding, but I am local).

I posted this in the other Heinz thread, so I hope people don't mind: My planned area of concentration is international policy. I don't plan on being a consultant or anything...my dream job would be a researcher or analyst at a policy think tank (with a position at an international organization a close second).

Is anyone else considering Heinz and international policy?

[mppgal55]

I was looking for summer internships with deloitte and they look for MPP degrees for consulting internships. They post the job specifically for the schools I mentioned; if you look at their website you can see it. I called their recruiting to inquire, and while they will take applications from anywhere, those schools are looked at first. On CMU's website, pricewaterhouse cooper hosts their new york networking night. I don't work at those places so I'm clearly not an expert, but those things tell me these companies definitely recruit heavily at CMU.

[hall0822]

Hi everyone,

I also got into Heinz with a sizable scholarship (Pittsburgh track). So far I am deciding between GPPI (maybe funding), Heinz, and UCLA (no funding, but I am local).

I posted this in the other Heinz thread, so I hope people don't mind: My planned area of concentration is international policy. I don't plan on being a consultant or anything...my dream job would be a researcher or analyst at a policy think tank (with a position at an international organization a close second).

Is anyone else considering Heinz and international policy?

I am! I'm interested mainly in international economic development and possibly consulting but probably more realistically an organization like UNDP.

[mppboog]

I was looking for summer internships with deloitte and they look for MPP degrees for consulting internships. They post the job specifically for the schools I mentioned; if you look at their website you can see it. I called their recruiting to inquire, and while they will take applications from anywhere, those schools are looked at first. On CMU's website, pricewaterhouse cooper hosts their new york networking night. I don't work at those places so I'm clearly not an expert, but those things tell me these companies definitely recuit heavily at CMU.

http://www.cmu.edu/alumni/involved/events/network_nights/index.html

[Paradoxex22]

Yes, but how does that explain this?

http://www.american.edu/kogod/career/calendar/index.cfm?id=2252628

Or this?

http://jobs.deloitte.com/sacramento/management-consulting/summer-associate-mpa_mpp-advanced-degree-consulting-university-of-southern-california-jobs

Those are targeted at American and USC, respectively. I am thinking they reach farther than the universities you mentioned. Perhaps they have people assigned to just those universities, as in they take a select few from those each year. I doubt they only recruit there, however. Deloitte is huge, and does not need to limit themselves.

I was looking for summer internships with deloitte and they look for MPP degrees for consulting internships. They post the job specifically for the schools I mentioned; if you look at their website you can see it. I called their recruiting to inquire, and while they will take applications from anywhere, those schools are looked at first. On CMU's website, pricewaterhouse cooper hosts their new york networking night. I don't work at those places so I'm clearly not an expert, but those things tell me these companies definitely recuit heavily at CMU.

[krok]

Heinz is a very strong domestic/economic policy program. Very quantitatively focused in terms of policy analysis. I graduated from Heinz a while back. If you want international policy, they really are not the school for it. They have some classes in it, but their faculty expertise is domestic/economic policy and their are other schools that do focus on international policy. I myself mostly wanted international policy and was sadly disappointed by the offerings at the time, though I went to Heinz for other reasons. They did give me a very strong foundation in public administration/management/business type skills that I did not have and some Tepper courses are cross-listed with Heinz, such as Advanced Negotiation (however I was told Linda Babcock left and went to Harvard so not sure if they still offer that course). They have since increased their course offerings in international policy, but it's definitely not their strength or the focus of their programs.

[mppgal55]

Heinz is a very strong domestic/economic policy program. Very quantitatively focused in terms of policy analysis. I graduated from Heinz a while back. If you want international policy, they really are not the school for it. They have some classes in it, but their faculty expertise is domestic/economic policy and their are other schools that do focus on international policy. I myself mostly wanted international policy and was sadly disappointed by the offerings at the time, though I went to Heinz for other reasons. They did give me a very strong foundation in public administration/management/business type skills that I did not have and some Tepper courses are cross-listed with Heinz, such as Advanced Negotiation (however I was told Linda Babcock left and went to Harvard so not sure if they still offer that course). They have since increased their course offerings in international policy, but it's definitely not their strength or the focus of their programs.

What about environmental policy or energy? I'm trying to choose a school and I am concerned that the faculty won't exist in my focus area. Also, do you know anything about the DC track program? Overall, did you find it easy to secure a job?

[krok]

For energy/environmental policy I think the school of engineering has the focus on those areas at CMU in their engineering and public policy degree and their new energy master's degree. I don't really know how much of that is involved with Heinz, but in general CMU is pretty interdisciplinary so my guess is engineering and Heinz work closely together on that degree (faculty, research etc) and many professors at CMU have dual appointments in various schools/depts. However, those programs may be more for engineers and not liberal arts majors. I know their energy degree requires some kind of science background, but not specifically engineering. I don't know anything about the DC track program, unfortunately. They did not have it when I went to Heinz (10 years ago). I was already working full time while going to school part-time and my interests were in international policy. I really didn't look at domestic policy, public administration jobs, so I had a harder time finding a job since my education was not in international policy. I did eventually get a job with the US government in international educational work but it was my work experience and my Heinz degree that got me that. overall their career services are not that great for part-time students. I think full-time students have a much easier time finding a job.

[PubPolPal]

Do any more-recent grads or current students have any perspective on this (the thread-title question)?  I got into the MSPPM (two year) program with a pretty sizable scholarship, so I WANT to want to go.

However, I've never even been to Pittsburgh (going to admit day on 3/31), nor do I know anyone who's graduated from the MSPPM program.

So - is Heinz actually a good school? Are career services as helpful as they should be?

For what it's worth, I'm interested in the International Policy concentration (with as much Data Analytics coursework as I can) and eventually working in NYC, Boston, or potentially DC after school.