Masters in Development Practice!

[n_eb_2020]

Hi, due to the lack of consolidated info regarding Development Practice, I thought to create this topic to discuss and compare Development Practice programs! 

I recently got accepted in UC Berkeley's MDP and Columbia SIPA MPA-DP and would like to discuss which do you think is better, in what aspect and why? as well as employment opportunities? networking? Financial Aid options?

[LazarusRises]

Hi nadine! I was also accepted to Berkeley's MDP and SIPA's MPA (not the -DP variety), as well as Duke Nicholas' Masters of Environmental Management. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with SIPA, as they gave me a pretty good chunk of funding, though I'm also going to negotiate with them if Duke gives me a better offer. 

For these kinds of programs, I honestly don't think there's a better place in the world than NYC. Combined with SIPA's excellent reputation and all-star faculty/alumni, it makes a pretty compelling case for itself. Cal was tempting because I'm interested in energy access & DER, so working with ERG and RAEL would have been great, but I know that SIPA's energy & environment curriculum is rock solid and there's plenty of sustainability work that goes on in NYC. Plus the Earth Institute is an extraordinary resource that Berkeley can't match. 

When it comes down to it, even if Columbia hadn't given me any funding, I'd probably pick it over Berkeley. Similar costs for non-Californians, similar costs of living, but one is in the center of the world. 

Personal considerations also applied for me. I'm from NY state and would love to be home; I also moved across the country twice in the past year and the idea of doing that again is totally exhausting.

I hope this was of some help! Let me know your thoughts, I'm curious what other admits have to say. 

 

[Mr. Jameson]

Hello! I was accepted into the MDP at Berkeley and the MPA-DP at Columbia too. 
 

im actually leaning towards Berkeley (not only because financial reasons) because It seems to me their curriculum is a little more academic focused. The mpa-dp seems to be a little more management focused. I like that the MDP at Berkeley has a thesis and a little more broad with the amount of classes you can take and subject you specialize in. I’m also from California and have been looking for a reason to move back to the Bay Area. Because I want to leave the option open for a phd later down the line, I like the Berkeley academic focus and research potential. 

[policywonk12]

On 3/16/2020 at 6:08 AM, Mr. Jameson said:

Hello! I was accepted into the MDP at Berkeley and the MPA-DP at Columbia too. 
 

im actually leaning towards Berkeley (not only because financial reasons) because It seems to me their curriculum is a little more academic focused. The mpa-dp seems to be a little more management focused. I like that the MDP at Berkeley has a thesis and a little more broad with the amount of classes you can take and subject you specialize in. I’m also from California and have been looking for a reason to move back to the Bay Area. Because I want to leave the option open for a phd later down the line, I like the Berkeley academic focus and research potential. 

I'm interested in a PhD at some point later, too, but the Berkeley MDP seemed strictly a professional master's program to me. How does an MDP fulfill the requirements for a PhD in Econ/Poli Sci if one hasn't majored in either of them during undergrad? 

[Mr. Jameson]

30 minutes ago, policywonk12 said:

I'm interested in a PhD at some point later, too, but the Berkeley MDP seemed strictly a professional master's program to me. How does an MDP fulfill the requirements for a PhD in Econ/Poli Sci if one hasn't majored in either of them during undergrad? 

I don’t know how it fulfills requirements for a phd in Econ (I majored in Econ and math in undergrad so I don’t really need additional math/quant training). I’m really interested in the Berkeley ARE phd program and I like the idea of getting to work with those faculty, take graduate level economics courses and courses in the law school, and then doing research with faculty I admire. It also seems that the second year is very open in the MDP and you really have access to all of the graduate departments at Berkeley and can really study whatever you’re interested in. Which for me would be development economics 

[policywonk12]

@nadine! @Mr. Jameson I finalized Berkeley MDP! Sent my SIR. What about you guys?

[n_eb_2020]

On 3/16/2020 at 12:40 AM, LazarusRises said:

Hi nadine! I was also accepted to Berkeley's MDP and SIPA's MPA (not the -DP variety), as well as Duke Nicholas' Masters of Environmental Management. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with SIPA, as they gave me a pretty good chunk of funding, though I'm also going to negotiate with them if Duke gives me a better offer. 

For these kinds of programs, I honestly don't think there's a better place in the world than NYC. Combined with SIPA's excellent reputation and all-star faculty/alumni, it makes a pretty compelling case for itself. Cal was tempting because I'm interested in energy access & DER, so working with ERG and RAEL would have been great, but I know that SIPA's energy & environment curriculum is rock solid and there's plenty of sustainability work that goes on in NYC. Plus the Earth Institute is an extraordinary resource that Berkeley can't match. 

When it comes down to it, even if Columbia hadn't given me any funding, I'd probably pick it over Berkeley. Similar costs for non-Californians, similar costs of living, but one is in the center of the world. 

Personal considerations also applied for me. I'm from NY state and would love to be home; I also moved across the country twice in the past year and the idea of doing that again is totally exhausting.

I hope this was of some help! Let me know your thoughts, I'm curious what other admits have to say. 

 

@LazarusRisesHey, thanks for your comment! Sorry for my very late reply but things have been crazy lately! So, I still haven't made a decision between SIPA and Berkeley. My deadline for both is by the end of this month. It is a very tough decision as Berkeley has provided me with some funding around 16% of the total fees which does not suffice in my case! 

I'm leaning more towards Columbia given its location in NYC and the access to resources one would get there! Given that I have to apply for external funding, Columbia's name go a long way in my country in addition to being an ivy league! It will definitely give weight to my case. Another reason is that Columbia's focus areas and the faculty are very much within the areas of my interest which are Tech, Entrepreneurship and sustainability. When it comes down to the cost, they are both almost the same to me since I'm not a CA resident. 

Summer placement at Berkeley is a bit shorter than Columbia's which is a factor as the field experience is crucial for me so the longer, the better. Columbia seems to me more practice focused and there will be opportunities to intern or part-time work.

Of course if I will think about weather and a more relaxed environment, I would choose CA but I took those factors out of the equation

Anyways, let me know what did you settle on if you did?

[n_eb_2020]

On 3/16/2020 at 2:38 AM, Mr. Jameson said:

Hello! I was accepted into the MDP at Berkeley and the MPA-DP at Columbia too. 
 

im actually leaning towards Berkeley (not only because financial reasons) because It seems to me their curriculum is a little more academic focused. The mpa-dp seems to be a little more management focused. I like that the MDP at Berkeley has a thesis and a little more broad with the amount of classes you can take and subject you specialize in. I’m also from California and have been looking for a reason to move back to the Bay Area. Because I want to leave the option open for a phd later down the line, I like the Berkeley academic focus and research potential. 

@Mr. Jameson Congrats! Yes, that is one of the reasons I'm leaning towards SIPA, the practical and management-focused aspect because it aligns with my interests. 

Berkeley seems to be indeed more academic focused and I hear has some of the best if not the best PHD in Economics in the US given its strength in research.

[n_eb_2020]

5 hours ago, policywonk12 said:

@nadine! @Mr. Jameson I finalized Berkeley MDP! Sent my SIR. What about you guys?

@policywonk12Congrats! It must be a relief! I have not finalized my choice yet! My deadline is at the end of the month. What made you choose Berkeley's MDP over the other many programs you were admitted to? specifically MPA DP at SIPA?

Also, did they provide a fellowship offer or how are you funding your education at Berkeley if you don't mind me asking?

[policywonk12]

2 hours ago, nadine! said:

@policywonk12Congrats! It must be a relief! I have not finalized my choice yet! My deadline is at the end of the month. What made you choose Berkeley's MDP over the other many programs you were admitted to? specifically MPA DP at SIPA?

Also, did they provide a fellowship offer or how are you funding your education at Berkeley if you don't mind me asking?

Check DM

[LazarusRises]

@nadine! I ended up going with SIPA! Cal was never a realistic option for me, as they gave me much less funding (about 25% of SIPA's offer) and even if I hadn't gotten any funding from Columbia, I would have accepted my offer from the Duke Nicholas School. Furthermore, I have family that I can live with in NYC, significantly reducing cost of living. 

That said, I did go to UC Berkeley for undergrad, and I can attest that the culture and weather in the Bay Area is fantastic! It's a truly exceptional place to live, but it sounds like all other indicators are pointing you towards NY. (Which is also a pretty excellent place to live--I grew up in New York State and have spent a lot of time in the city). 

Let me know when you make your decision, and good luck! 

[Mr. Jameson]

On 4/11/2020 at 10:07 AM, policywonk12 said:

@nadine! @Mr. Jameson I finalized Berkeley MDP! Sent my SIR. What about you guys?

I actually ended up choosing Harris MPP. They gave me way more funding than Columbia and Berkeley so I couldn't justify another choice. I am hoping that I have the same opportunities in development doing an MPP since Harris has some amazing economists on staff. 

But good to hear about your decision-- I dont think you could go wrong with either choice.

[policywonk12]

2 hours ago, Mr. Jameson said:

I actually ended up choosing Harris MPP. They gave me way more funding than Columbia and Berkeley so I couldn't justify another choice. I am hoping that I have the same opportunities in development doing an MPP since Harris has some amazing economists on staff. 

But good to hear about your decision-- I dont think you could go wrong with either choice.

That's great to hear. Congrats on Harris!