Deciding Between International Relations and MPP Programs - A Couple of Wild Card Choices

[H4nkH1ll]

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Long time lurker here looking to get advice from random other forum members. I have used the results search a lot to help make my list and applied to 10 schools this year, before being accepted to 9. I feel like I have no bad options going forward but am worried about taking on too much debt for an MPP / IR Master's. After graduating, I plan to work for USAID if possible, although these spots are difficult to get, and those positions pay $70-90k for starting salaries for candidates with Master's degrees. I'm open to other jobs as well but want to aim for that at the moment. I want to study international development and economic policy in school, but would love to integrate a few language classes and GIS coursework in there. I think I have enough money to cover my living expenses but not tuition. I don't have any undergraduate debt. Getting a Master's is something of a career switching option for me. 

My options at the moment are:

• SIPA: $40-60k in loans needed
• Fletcher: $35-55k in loans needed
• SOAS in London (1 year): $15-20k in loans, depending on one fellowship still pending
• Vienna Diplomatic Academy: $10k in loans
• Ford Michigan: $35-55k in loans
• Carnegie Mellon: $20k in loans
• UVA Batten: Free Ride
• UT LBJ: Free Ride and stipend the first year after receiving a language fellowship from UT

I think Ford is too expensive, but they will waive tuition if you get a teaching assistant position, which I want to do anyway. I'm leaning towards UVA or UT. SIPA and Fletcher get a lot of flak on this forum and I just don't know if I want to have the mental burden of having that many loans. I can imagine the alumni network is amazing from SIPA and that in twenty years maybe I will be proud that I got a degree from Columbia, but being a student in New York sounds awful to me in many ways. Carnegie Mellon isn't standing out to me although I think they really, really put in the work to build a diverse student body (no application fee, lots of outreach, etc.). I think the program focuses on hard skills, which is a great thing but doesn't have as much flexibility for more traditional area studies. 

SOAS and the DA would be awesome for the location, but it really is hard to beat free. I know these schools aren't always the most popular or traditional, but I would love to hear y'all's thoughts on these schools and prices. Thank you!

 

 

[TalkPoliticsToMe]

Hi there - I just got back from Ford’s Open House. A common theme from the faculty, alumni, and several students was not to underestimate the debt burden. A very prominent professor in poverty research in fact told me straight up to go to the institution that would result in the least amount of loans. For me, that so happens to be Ford. 

That said I think it’s 100% wise for you to focus on UVA and UT Austin. They are both large public research institutions like Michigan. As such you will have easy access to all the research centers, academic departments, and support services offered. This gives you flexibility to tailor your degree to your choosing vs being restricted to courses within the policy school only. They are both also very fun college towns with people moving there to study and build a network (vs Columbia or other city schools where folks treat school as a secondary experience, with returning to work and associating with their existing networks as a primary).  As long as you will be happy in the environment / school culture at UVA or UT, go for it. Just my two cents!

(Additionally, if you haven’t done so already, I would also try negotiating with Ford leveraging your funding offers from Batten and LBJ. Never know what they may come back with.)

Edited April 6, 2019 by TalkPoliticsToMe