A little advice - NYU vs LSE

[daffodil1]

To be brief, which is not my strength, I am facing a very challenging and heart wrenching decision. I am 33 and have long waited for the moment to return to graduate school - a choice more dictated by focus than anything else. I worked for an NGO for three years and then transitioned to a for-profit position six years ago. After many years of thought and agonizing process I applied to both NYU SCPS Global Affairs program and LSE MSc Human Rights and was accepted at both. I need some guidance and sadly I have just found this forum. I deffered NYU until Janiary while I waited to secure student loans at LSE. The loans came through but I am beginning to have second thoughts about the program. As I stare down quitting my job, renting my home and taking on $60,000 of debt I am starting to become very nervous about how this degree will serve me in the future. I am perhaps a little caught up in the LSE brand vs the NYU SCPS brand and was hoping someone might be able to comment on the respective programs and opportunities each might afford me upon completion. Given the nature of study at each my anticipation is not that I will be earning six figures - However I will need to earn enough to repay student loans at either institution. I am desperate to attend the right school however I must be most mindful of how that impacts my life going forward. Any guidance/advice would be greatly appreciated. As I troll the internet to find what graduates of the programs are doing there is little evidence and all questions asked of the universities have either gone unanswered (LSE) or resulted in a "we don't track such data" (NYU). Let me be clear that I understand this is not an MBA program where compensation is key post graduation - but post graduation I still have to eat.

Many thanks for any thoughtful response!

[caizlurol]

Hi Daffodil,

Is there any way you can apply to a doctorate program instead of a masters program? There exists a lot more funding for doctorate programs while very little for masters programs. In the event that you don't want to go all the way to the doctorate, there is always the terminal degree, but at least you've found funding.

I would recommend against putting yourself in $60000 debt. I did it for my MA and I'm having a heck of a time trying to pay it off.

Good luck