t44t44 Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 Hi everyone! I need some insight! I have about 5 years of professional work under my belt (all nonprofit, in development/fundraising) and have recently decided that I need an additional degree/accreditation to get myself where I want to go, career-wise (more into policy/program management than development). I already have an MA in the humanities (literature). I don't really want to work in local/federal government and am more interested in private/international/policy-based organizations. I am looking at online MPA programs because at this point I just can't afford going back to school full-time and need the flexibility to keep working. The thing is, I don't know where to start in choosing a program! I have been researching options and so far my top 4 are: American MPAP (I like the policy element) Rutgers MPA (well-regarded program) John Jay at CUNY MPA (I have a particular interest in criminal justice!) USC Price MPA (really really highly ranked) I also have UNC, Johns Hopkins, U Nebraska-Omaha, UPenn, and Columbia on the list (Columbia is offering a fully online MPA come 2020!). I know that at the end of the day an online degree and a brick-and-mortar one are the same to employers, and as long as I work hard I can get the same out of an online degree as I could a traditional one, but I have no experience with distance learning so I just don't know what I am really looking for when deciding where to apply/attend. I know this is a really big investment (time and money) so I want to make sure I make the right choice and balance prestige with quality of learning and value. Do any of you have any experience with these online MPAs? Insights into what I should look for when deciding? Other programs I should be looking at instead/in addition? Ideas where I should turn for further advice? Any and all input much appreciated! thank you!
bness2002 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 On 1/12/2019 at 9:12 PM, t44t44 said: Hi everyone! I need some insight! I have about 5 years of professional work under my belt (all nonprofit, in development/fundraising) and have recently decided that I need an additional degree/accreditation to get myself where I want to go, career-wise (more into policy/program management than development). I already have an MA in the humanities (literature). I don't really want to work in local/federal government and am more interested in private/international/policy-based organizations. I am looking at online MPA programs because at this point I just can't afford going back to school full-time and need the flexibility to keep working. The thing is, I don't know where to start in choosing a program! I have been researching options and so far my top 4 are: American MPAP (I like the policy element) Rutgers MPA (well-regarded program) John Jay at CUNY MPA (I have a particular interest in criminal justice!) USC Price MPA (really really highly ranked) I also have UNC, Johns Hopkins, U Nebraska-Omaha, UPenn, and Columbia on the list (Columbia is offering a fully online MPA come 2020!). I know that at the end of the day an online degree and a brick-and-mortar one are the same to employers, and as long as I work hard I can get the same out of an online degree as I could a traditional one, but I have no experience with distance learning so I just don't know what I am really looking for when deciding where to apply/attend. I know this is a really big investment (time and money) so I want to make sure I make the right choice and balance prestige with quality of learning and value. Do any of you have any experience with these online MPAs? Insights into what I should look for when deciding? Other programs I should be looking at instead/in addition? Ideas where I should turn for further advice? Any and all input much appreciated! thank you! Good Morning ! Former SU Maxwell Alumn Here - The MPA program (One of the Best) just started its online program a few years ago. I did the MPA program 10 years ago though. GRE/GMAT are not required. You should check it out. https://onlinempa.syr.edu/
t44t44 Posted January 16, 2019 Author Posted January 16, 2019 On 1/14/2019 at 8:07 AM, bness2002 said: Good Morning ! Former SU Maxwell Alumn Here - The MPA program (One of the Best) just started its online program a few years ago. I did the MPA program 10 years ago though. GRE/GMAT are not required. You should check it out. https://onlinempa.syr.edu/ Thank you! Maxwell is on my list but they require 5 years work experience by the time the program starts for their EMPA...I will be clocking in at 4 years, 8 months. I think there might be some wiggle room though so I haven't discounted it!
bness2002 Posted January 18, 2019 Posted January 18, 2019 I know some of the folks personally in the front MPA office. I will PM you.
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