Princeton MPP vs Harvard MPA ?

[columbia09]

My organization is offering me a full ride to Harvard and Princeton’s MPP is already covered tuition wise. If I had a choice between the two, I’m not sure which one I’d pick. To my understanding an MPA is more practical and can be applied to the private sector if that’s the route I eventually wind up going. But Princeton is closer to home and I can potentially save on room and board. I know they’re both Ivy League schools but Harvard has that “flair” about it and has perks like the Harvard club and so forth. What’s the main difference between a MPP and a MPA? I have a science background so I was hoping to incorporate a couple of science courses into either masters. Especially since I’d eventually would like to get a PhD either in geology or environmental science. The job I currently work is public sector and completely different from what I studied as an undergrad. So what would be the best pick if I had to choose ? 

[went_away]

Princeton is a higher-quality program with a more competitive cohort and better career outcomes. If you're job is offering you a full-ride to Harvard that covers more than the Princeton scholarship then probably should take that offer depending on how many strings are attached.

[columbia09]

26 minutes ago, went_away said:

Princeton is a higher-quality program with a more competitive cohort and better career outcomes. If you're job is offering you a full-ride to Harvard that covers more than the Princeton scholarship then probably should take that offer depending on how many strings are attached.

Both tuition rates will be covered, the only thing I might save on is room and board with Princeton. Is Princeton really better then Harvard ? Again Harvard has the name and that can carry a lot of weight and US News ranks Harvard’s program above Princeton 

Edited August 15, 2020 by columbia09

[Boolakanaka]

Personally, I feel Harvard has overly marketed itself. Is it still a top shelf program—certainly. That said, it’s certainly debatable whether Harvard is appreciably better.

[prokem]

Fwiw, there is also a Princeton Club!

[Boolakanaka]

28 minutes ago, prokem said:

Fwiw, there is also a Princeton Club!

If it’s like Yale, it’s ONLY for those who went to undergrad. I got two grad  degrees from Yale, but I must attend with my youngest D, who went there for undergrad.....nobody does snobby like an Ivy.

[columbia09]

2 hours ago, prokem said:

Fwiw, there is also a Princeton Club!

Is it fancy and have black tie events in a classy 18th century style club house ? 

[columbia09]

1 hour ago, Boolakanaka said:

If it’s like Yale, it’s ONLY for those who went to undergrad. I got two grad  degrees from Yale, but I must attend with my youngest D, who went there for undergrad.....nobody does snobby like an Ivy.

Seriously ? Isn’t it where you finish more important then where you began ? What’s up with that ?!?! 

[Boolakanaka]

53 minutes ago, columbia09 said:

Seriously ? Isn’t it where you finish more important then where you began ? What’s up with that ?!?! 

Right?! As my D tells me, it’s to keep out the riff-raff—wink.

[Boolakanaka]

58 minutes ago, columbia09 said:

Is it fancy and have black tie events in a classy 18th century style club house ? 

https://www.princetonclub.com

[columbia09]

47 minutes ago, Boolakanaka said:

https://www.princetonclub.com

Elite 

[prokem]

4 hours ago, Boolakanaka said:

If it’s like Yale, it’s ONLY for those who went to undergrad. I got two grad  degrees from Yale, but I must attend with my youngest D, who went there for undergrad.....nobody does snobby like an Ivy.

Maybe things have changed since you last looked into it? As far as I can tell, it's open to all Yale degree holders ? 

https://www.yaleclubnyc.org/membership

[Boolakanaka]

5 minutes ago, prokem said:

Maybe things have changed since you last looked into it? As far as I can tell, it's open to all Yale degree holders ? 

https://www.yaleclubnyc.org/membership

Progress!

[GradSchoolGrad]

23 hours ago, columbia09 said:

My organization is offering me a full ride to Harvard and Princeton’s MPP is already covered tuition wise. If I had a choice between the two, I’m not sure which one I’d pick. To my understanding an MPA is more practical and can be applied to the private sector if that’s the route I eventually wind up going. But Princeton is closer to home and I can potentially save on room and board. I know they’re both Ivy League schools but Harvard has that “flair” about it and has perks like the Harvard club and so forth. What’s the main difference between a MPP and a MPA? I have a science background so I was hoping to incorporate a couple of science courses into either masters. Especially since I’d eventually would like to get a PhD either in geology or environmental science. The job I currently work is public sector and completely different from what I studied as an undergrad. So what would be the best pick if I had to choose ? 

Lets focus this in terms of essential basics (FYI - I have family who went to HKS and know Princeton MPP well):

1. Quality of Education (defined as delivery... lets just say for the sake of argument the academic quality is tied): I would give the edge to Princeton here since they are a smaller program and arguably better organized + it does emphasize smaller class dynamics (for better and for worse). HKS is gigantic (by comparison) and there have been times where logistical challenges have made the learning environment a bit more challenging.

2 Interdisciplinary Potential: This is where HKS really shines over Princeton. Bottom line is that PSPIA is the only professional school in Princeton and its other graduate school options are simply not as robust as the Harvard enterprise. Although, please keep in mind that there is even a fair amount of collaboration opportunity between Harvard and MIT (you just have to seek it out).

3. Networking: This is where HKS really takes the cake again. The network is just by virtue of scale massively bigger and more diverse in terms of backgrounds careers. Given the number of dual decreeing that goes on with HKS + how HKS students have inclined towards some career opportunities near unheard of in other policy schools (including PSPIA), you simply have a wider range to draw from. I know people highly in touch with PSPIA alums and they have a tight knight and successful alum base, but generally speaking, they have held more traditional most MPP careers.

We can dig into more, but I think these are the 3 biggest things to think about.

[columbia09]

2 hours ago, GradSchoolGrad said:

Lets focus this in terms of essential basics (FYI - I have family who went to HKS and know Princeton MPP well):

1. Quality of Education (defined as delivery... lets just say for the sake of argument the academic quality is tied): I would give the edge to Princeton here since they are a smaller program and arguably better organized + it does emphasize smaller class dynamics (for better and for worse). HKS is gigantic (by comparison) and there have been times where logistical challenges have made the learning environment a bit more challenging.

2 Interdisciplinary Potential: This is where HKS really shines over Princeton. Bottom line is that PSPIA is the only professional school in Princeton and its other graduate school options are simply not as robust as the Harvard enterprise. Although, please keep in mind that there is even a fair amount of collaboration opportunity between Harvard and MIT (you just have to seek it out).

3. Networking: This is where HKS really takes the cake again. The network is just by virtue of scale massively bigger and more diverse in terms of backgrounds careers. Given the number of dual decreeing that goes on with HKS + how HKS students have inclined towards some career opportunities near unheard of in other policy schools (including PSPIA), you simply have a wider range to draw from. I know people highly in touch with PSPIA alums and they have a tight knight and successful alum base, but generally speaking, they have held more traditional most MPP careers.

We can dig into more, but I think these are the 3 biggest things to think about.

Yes, Harvard has a “bigger” name brand and networking opportunities. An obstacle with them to is their gre requirement. Princeton’s MPP program just dumbed theirs so it’s very appealing to me. HKS has yet to make any real changes for their MC/MPA program. Personally speaking, I’ve been working for years and don’t find it necessary or valuable to take a GRE test where I have a science background and two careers currently. 
 

Other topic is the fact I wish to take geology and environmental science classes towards my degree and you clearly said Harvard would be best because interdisciplinary prospectives  

[GradAdmissions]

The GRE is hardly an obstacle. HKS barely asks for 75th percentile (so like 160) for their most rigorously quantitative program (the MPA/ID), meaning you can get away with a lower score for the MC MPA. If you have a science background and two careers you can do the high school level algebra in the GRE. It’s really not hard if you put the time into it.

[columbia09]

16 minutes ago, GradAdmissions said:

The GRE is hardly an obstacle. HKS barely asks for 75th percentile (so like 160) for their most rigorously quantitative program (the MPA/ID), meaning you can get away with a lower score for the MC MPA. If you have a science background and two careers you can do the high school level algebra in the GRE. It’s really not hard if you put the time into it.

I cannot put the time into it. I took it twice and didn’t do very well. I don’t do standardized tests and since most of these highly competitive programs ( Columbia, NYU, Princeton, etc) are ditching it, Harvard should do the same. Just my two cents, I’m sure eventually they’ll follow but better now than later. I think they just have it just to keep their standards the same. 

[GradAdmissions]

AFAIK both the SIPA and Princeton MPAs still have a GRE requirement. The Princeton MPP didn’t drop it, it just never required it because it targets older people.

The HKS website emphasizes that they value the GRE but it seems like their doctoral programs dropped the requirement, so you might get lucky and they’ll drop it for the MPP and MPA (I really don’t see them dropping it for the MPA/ID). Also the MC/MPA doesn’t require the GRE, so if you’re dead set on HKS that might be an option.

[columbia09]

2 minutes ago, GradAdmissions said:

AFAIK both the SIPA and Princeton MPAs still have a GRE requirement. The Princeton MPP didn’t drop it, it just never required it because it targets older people.

The HKS website emphasizes that they value the GRE but it seems like their doctoral programs dropped the requirement, so you might get lucky and they’ll drop it for the MPP and MPA (I really don’t see them dropping it for the MPA/ID). Also the MC/MPA doesn’t require the GRE, so if you’re dead set on HKS that might be an option.

Columbia’s EMPA program allows the GRE to be wavered (which is what they did for me last year). I spoke to Princeton’s admissions office and before this year, they always required it for their MPP program.

 

Wheres the info that HKS doesn’t require the GRE for their MC/MPA program ? Because as far as I know they still require it (unless they just dropped it).  

[GradAdmissions]

In that case it’s really weird that they dropped it only for the MPP and not the MPA. I wonder what the rationale was behind that.

https://www.hks.harvard.edu/admissions-aid/masters-program-admissions/how-apply/standardized-test-scores

 

You are not required to submit a GRE or GMAT score only if you are applying to the MC/MPA Edward S. Mason Programor Wexner Israel Fellowship. This is our only exception.

[columbia09]

45 minutes ago, GradAdmissions said:

In that case it’s really weird that they dropped it only for the MPP and not the MPA. I wonder what the rationale was behind that.

https://www.hks.harvard.edu/admissions-aid/masters-program-admissions/how-apply/standardized-test-scores

 

You are not required to submit a GRE or GMAT score only if you are applying to the MC/MPA Edward S. Mason Programor Wexner Israel Fellowship. This is our only exception.

That’s for the “Edward Mason Program” which is for applicants coming from developing countries. I’m in the US so I wouldn’t qualify. 

[columbia09]

Seriously think Harvard is the only program that hasn’t made any changes to their gre requirement 

[Srikar]

On 8/15/2020 at 6:54 PM, columbia09 said:

My organization is offering me a full ride to Harvard and Princeton’s MPP is already covered tuition wise. If I had a choice between the two, I’m not sure which one I’d pick. To my understanding an MPA is more practical and can be applied to the private sector if that’s the route I eventually wind up going. But Princeton is closer to home and I can potentially save on room and board. I know they’re both Ivy League schools but Harvard has that “flair” about it and has perks like the Harvard club and so forth. What’s the main difference between a MPP and a MPA? I have a science background so I was hoping to incorporate a couple of science courses into either masters. Especially since I’d eventually would like to get a PhD either in geology or environmental science. The job I currently work is public sector and completely different from what I studied as an undergrad. So what would be the best pick if I had to choose ? 

So which did you choose ultimately - Harvard MC/MPA or Princeton MPP?

[columbia09]

16 hours ago, Srikar said:

So which did you choose ultimately - Harvard MC/MPA or Princeton MPP?

Couldn’t apply this year because I didn’t have enough work experience. 

[Berber]

Does anyone know how Princeton awards the living stipend aid?