2021 Funding - MPP, MPA, International Affairs, etc.

[undergoat88]

It's no surprise schools have seen a surge in applications this season. What do we think this is going to do funding (other than just reduce it)? Will funding just be more spread out? Will more people be accepted without funding this year in hopes they will pay tuition fees if universities are hurting? Will fewer people be accepted to accommodate those who deferred last year? 

TLDR; Does anyone have hope for funding this year? What do those applicants need to have to secure it? 

[GradSchoolGrad]

1 hour ago, undergoat88 said:

It's no surprise schools have seen a surge in applications this season. What do we think this is going to do funding (other than just reduce it)? Will funding just be more spread out? Will more people be accepted without funding this year in hopes they will pay tuition fees if universities are hurting? Will fewer people be accepted to accommodate those who deferred last year? 

TLDR; Does anyone have hope for funding this year? What do those applicants need to have to secure it? 

Think about things from a school's perspective. It makes no sense to spread the scholarship money too thin. The real reason behind scholarships is so school's can compete for the desired students (be it due to academic/professional competitiveness or for diversity purposes). A few grand doesn't really change minds. More realistically, funding starts at a 10K or so (though some schools, might do some marginal stuff here and there as "pot sweetners, but those will be unusual cases). 

Basically you are either getting some scholarship (of at least 10K) or nothing. The people who would have the biggest scholarship differential would be those who are offered nothing that in more generous time would be offered 10K or 15K year.