Last minute funding from GWU--help with a big dilemma!

[Sandmole]

So I recently chose to attend GPPI after visiting their open house the other weekend and really being impressed by the program. While I really like what I saw and think it would be good for me (I'm interested in environmental and energy policy, which they admittedly aren't stellar at, but are in the process of building a strong team for it), they've been incredibly slow getting back to me about any sort of funding, both need and merit-based. With the gigantic price tag of the institution, I've been incredibly anxious to hear from them. To make matters more complicated, I was just contacted late last week by GWU saying I'm eligible for 80% tuition covered plus a $16,000 stipend for a working 20 hours a week for the first year of the program. That would leave me with next to no debt coming out of school compared with Georgetown's potential $120k of debt, which is enough for me to consider rescinding my enrollment at GPPI and go with GWU instead. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend GWU's open house last month, so I'm curious what sorts of impressions people had of it, particularly those of you who also attended GPPI's. I'm wondering if there is a truly substantive difference at the end of the day between the programs. I really think the cohort and connections you can make at the school are vitally important, which I saw at GPPI (along with it's quantitative rigor, which, for better or worse, has incredible applicability), but have no idea about for GWU.

I told myself at the beginning of the process that money wouldn't play heavily into my decision; the school you like should be the one you attend, and you can worry about repayment later, but the current disparity in aid packages is too much to ignore.

Again, I'm interested in environmental and energy policy with a strong desire to enter the federal government and/or politics. I'm hoping to tackle as many internships as I can while in the D.C., which puts a slight damper on the GWU offer given that my first year would basically be working for them, but still, it's A LOT of money. Any thoughts as to what I should? Thanks!

[s33]

So I recently chose to attend GPPI after visiting their open house the other weekend and really being impressed by the program. While I really like what I saw and think it would be good for me (I'm interested in environmental and energy policy, which they admittedly aren't stellar at, but are in the process of building a strong team for it), they've been incredibly slow getting back to me about any sort of funding, both need and merit-based. With the gigantic price tag of the institution, I've been incredibly anxious to hear from them. To make matters more complicated, I was just contacted late last week by GWU saying I'm eligible for 80% tuition covered plus a $16,000 stipend for a working 20 hours a week for the first year of the program. That would leave me with next to no debt coming out of school compared with Georgetown's potential $120k of debt, which is enough for me to consider rescinding my enrollment at GPPI and go with GWU instead. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend GWU's open house last month, so I'm curious what sorts of impressions people had of it, particularly those of you who also attended GPPI's. I'm wondering if there is a truly substantive difference at the end of the day between the programs. I really think the cohort and connections you can make at the school are vitally important, which I saw at GPPI (along with it's quantitative rigor, which, for better or worse, has incredible applicability), but have no idea about for GWU.

I told myself at the beginning of the process that money wouldn't play heavily into my decision; the school you like should be the one you attend, and you can worry about repayment later, but the current disparity in aid packages is too much to ignore.

Again, I'm interested in environmental and energy policy with a strong desire to enter the federal government and/or politics. I'm hoping to tackle as many internships as I can while in the D.C., which puts a slight damper on the GWU offer given that my first year would basically be working for them, but still, it's A LOT of money. Any thoughts as to what I should? Thanks!

I think this is a pretty easy call: go with the money. There are many, many GWU graduates working in the federal government, and in any case the institution attended doesn't make all that much difference when it comes to public sector jobs.

[narius]

I think this is a pretty easy call: go with the money. There are many, many GWU graduates working in the federal government, and in any case the institution attended doesn't make all that much difference when it comes to public sector jobs.

Yeah, I'm going to have to go with s33 here. GWU is no slouch and you'll get just as much cred from the people that matter for going to Foggy Bottom instead. Go with the money - you won't regret this, though you may end up REALLY regretting taking up all that debt for what is possibly (and probably not) only a marginally better program.

[fsowannabe]

So I recently chose to attend GPPI after visiting their open house the other weekend and really being impressed by the program. While I really like what I saw and think it would be good for me (I'm interested in environmental and energy policy, which they admittedly aren't stellar at, but are in the process of building a strong team for it), they've been incredibly slow getting back to me about any sort of funding, both need and merit-based. With the gigantic price tag of the institution, I've been incredibly anxious to hear from them. To make matters more complicated, I was just contacted late last week by GWU saying I'm eligible for 80% tuition covered plus a $16,000 stipend for a working 20 hours a week for the first year of the program. That would leave me with next to no debt coming out of school compared with Georgetown's potential $120k of debt, which is enough for me to consider rescinding my enrollment at GPPI and go with GWU instead. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend GWU's open house last month, so I'm curious what sorts of impressions people had of it, particularly those of you who also attended GPPI's. I'm wondering if there is a truly substantive difference at the end of the day between the programs. I really think the cohort and connections you can make at the school are vitally important, which I saw at GPPI (along with it's quantitative rigor, which, for better or worse, has incredible applicability), but have no idea about for GWU.

I told myself at the beginning of the process that money wouldn't play heavily into my decision; the school you like should be the one you attend, and you can worry about repayment later, but the current disparity in aid packages is too much to ignore.

Again, I'm interested in environmental and energy policy with a strong desire to enter the federal government and/or politics. I'm hoping to tackle as many internships as I can while in the D.C., which puts a slight damper on the GWU offer given that my first year would basically be working for them, but still, it's A LOT of money. Any thoughts as to what I should? Thanks!

Hello Sandmole,

I'm in a similar situation, I feel your pain! I don't have quite as much money from GW, but it would be about a $20k difference between the two programs. I visited both schools and was much more impressed with GPPI. I like the quant classes and the mandatory thesis... I tried to give GW another shot, even calling admissions and asking them to highlight what they thought were the major strengths of the program and I got a really unsatisfactory answer. I'm thinking I'll pay the extra $20k (average salaries of people coming out of GPPI in the field I want to work in were about $10k higher than GW) for the program I like better. However, I don't think you should walk away from free graduate school so for what's it's worth GW sounds like the best program for you. Good luck!

[agh423]

So I recently chose to attend GPPI after visiting their open house the other weekend and really being impressed by the program. While I really like what I saw and think it would be good for me (I'm interested in environmental and energy policy, which they admittedly aren't stellar at, but are in the process of building a strong team for it), they've been incredibly slow getting back to me about any sort of funding, both need and merit-based. With the gigantic price tag of the institution, I've been incredibly anxious to hear from them. To make matters more complicated, I was just contacted late last week by GWU saying I'm eligible for 80% tuition covered plus a $16,000 stipend for a working 20 hours a week for the first year of the program. That would leave me with next to no debt coming out of school compared with Georgetown's potential $120k of debt, which is enough for me to consider rescinding my enrollment at GPPI and go with GWU instead. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend GWU's open house last month, so I'm curious what sorts of impressions people had of it, particularly those of you who also attended GPPI's. I'm wondering if there is a truly substantive difference at the end of the day between the programs. I really think the cohort and connections you can make at the school are vitally important, which I saw at GPPI (along with it's quantitative rigor, which, for better or worse, has incredible applicability), but have no idea about for GWU.

I told myself at the beginning of the process that money wouldn't play heavily into my decision; the school you like should be the one you attend, and you can worry about repayment later, but the current disparity in aid packages is too much to ignore.

Again, I'm interested in environmental and energy policy with a strong desire to enter the federal government and/or politics. I'm hoping to tackle as many internships as I can while in the D.C., which puts a slight damper on the GWU offer given that my first year would basically be working for them, but still, it's A LOT of money. Any thoughts as to what I should? Thanks!

Sandmole,

I am in the exact position you are in. I went to GPPI's admitted student day and really enjoyed it but was scared to death of the price tag. I got the same awards package from GWU as you did. In the end, I decided to go with GWU (despite having not visited). Both schools offer what I want in the same city ranked the same position. The same opportunities are there. Also, working directly with the faculty/staff will help make connections easier because they will know people and have those connections.

Send me a PM. Would love to hear more about your situation.

[washndry]

I'm interested to know how this turned out for you, as I'm interested in much the same topics as the OP, and GW has just offered me (very very late in the game) what amounts to full tuition coverage. In my situation however, I've already given the nod to Syracuse (which gave me next to no $$) so I'm not even sure whether it would be proper or allowed to switch my answer, if I did decide to go with this new offer. To think I had all of this settled already....