Cal Goldman MPP vs UT LBJ MPA

[SketchesOfSpain]

I just need someone to tell me I'm not crazy for turning down Berkeley out of state with no scholarship ($135k COA) for UT LBJ in-state ($61k COA). I have about $70k socked away and a girlfriend coming with who will cut down the living expenses some. 

[GradSchoolGrad]

7 hours ago, SketchesOfSpain said:

I just need someone to tell me I'm not crazy for turning down Berkeley out of state with no scholarship ($135k COA) for UT LBJ in-state ($61k COA). I have about $70k socked away and a girlfriend coming with who will cut down the living expenses some. 

That is totally the right decision. Especially with a recession coming, you don't want that extra debt. I mean the downside is that it will be more difficult to move to California to do a policy job... however you can overcome that with networking and picking the right projects.

LBJ is also an amazing program academically. Lots of career options coming from there. Lots of great professors as well. I know people who transferred my grad program to go to LBJ.

[SketchesOfSpain]

22 hours ago, GradSchoolGrad said:

That is totally the right decision. Especially with a recession coming, you don't want that extra debt. I mean the downside is that it will be more difficult to move to California to do a policy job... however you can overcome that with networking and picking the right projects.

LBJ is also an amazing program academically. Lots of career options coming from there. Lots of great professors as well. I know people who transferred my grad program to go to LBJ.

That was part of my decision, I'm not interested in California state politics. For some reason UT seemed more flexible.

It was one of those things where it was all logical to move to Austin, but it's so easy on this website to get caught up in brand names. I appreciate the help you offered me and everyone else, I gleaned a lot of insight, plus grads rarely come back and help the next wave of applicants.