LSE MPA

[mushroom288]

Hi everyone

Like many of you, I am a MPP applicant waiting anxiously for results from the US schools.

I've received an offer from LSE (Public Policy and Management track), and while I wait for news from the US, I am trying to do a bit of reconnaisance work.

I'm keen to hear views from other applicants, and if there are any LSE MPA graduates still surfing these boards, what do you think about the MPA program?

- Is it highly regarded by international institutions such as UN and World Bank?

- Is the program any good? How about their faculty?

- Is there enough flexibility in the program given 1.5-2.5 units of credits to do electives?

- how do you think the LSE MPA compares to the US schools? Better or worse than - Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley, Syracuse. I know rankings are flawed, but would you consider it a top tier MPP school?

Look forward to hearing your views.

And good luck to all those who are also nervously waiting, checking their emails everyday, in the vain hope that there might be an email.

[RH7]

Not saying this in contempt or anything (I didn't get an offer for the PPM track lol) but the MPA programs at LSE aren't specifically designed very well and you don't nearly take as many classes as other programs in the US. There are so many obscure MScs at LSE now that I doubt most employers would even distinguish the MPA from one of these...

Edited February 26, 2011 by RH7

[kleisthenes]

Not saying this in contempt or anything (I didn't get an offer for the PPM track lol) but the MPA programs at LSE aren't specifically designed very well and you don't nearly take as many classes as other programs in the US. There are so many obscure MScs at LSE now that I doubt most employers would even distinguish the MPA from one of these...

I am in a similar predicament to the original poster here. I'm actually British and working abroad in Asia at the moment so relocation is going to be a factor, but I applied to LSE purely as a last resort in case funding didn't come through for US universities (I have access to loans to study in the UK, I don't in the US). Compared to UK schools, LSE is golden, but perhaps only for it's access to international work. It's a quick-access option for the rich kid, IMO. Here's why:

Pro's to LSE:

Amazing alumni network of world leaders, royalty, and those with 'status'.

Great job opportunities across Europe because of position in London, UK and Europe as number #1 ranked school for social sciences

One year course

Based in - literally - the heart of London

Great international guest lectures because it is literally the top destination for influential lecturers outside of the US, if not including those in the US.

Great international student population, faculty and alumni. Great for other international opportunities.

Con's to LSE:

One year course means limited study options, despite alleged 'named' degrees offering specialisation.

Incredibly expensive for the UK, and living costs in London are, quite simply, ridiculous (from someone who struggled to get by working for a non-profit on £20k ~ $32k)

Complicated, small campus in the heart of London has limited facilities compared to US schools.

Pro's to US schools:

Most US schools also have an amazing alumni network of *qualified alum* rather than those who are rich and have status, as appears to be the case with LSE

US schools (especially those on the eastern seaboard) have better opportunities with international orgs, especially those you mentioned. UN, World Bank, IMF, etc, because of their proximity

Huge range of study options and specialisations that you won't find at LSE. LSE appears to mislead candidates because it has dozens of *named* MPP's/MPA's/IR degrees. In reality, the option to specialise is far greater at US universities.

US universities, especially campus based universities, have a much, much larger range of facilities than those available at UK institutions. LSE is no exception.

Con's to US schools:

Perhaps a saturation in the job market and in future opportunities. As an LSE graduate from a smaller pool you have a much greater opportunity to stand out compared to a graduate from literally dozens of US social science institutions.

Expensive - although you do have access to loans as an American.

Two-year. This is a pro and a con, greater time invested but greater number of study options and definitely a greater opportunity to specialise.

Alumni network is also, I suppose, saturated across universities.

From my experience with alumni - those graduating from LSE have had a tough time finding work post-graduation. Admittedly, the people I know who graduated had little previous work experience which really hurt them (both in finding a path in study and finding a field for work). One from the last batch of graduates is still seeking work, another is interning at US senate, one found a job at the Federal Reserve in DC and another is working for a European think tank. (The two US based-graduates are actually American.

I think LSE definitely provides better links to international opportunities, I'm just not sure if the depth of study comes close to that at US universities. Oh, also, Europe is slashing public budgets while the US and US-states are feeding theirs.

Hope that helps. I'm definitely open to any other pro's and con's from other posters on this board to help me make a better decision. I'm currently stuck in a difficult place of being in a remote location, applying to universities in the US and the UK and trying to get funding for both. If someone can make the coming decisions easier for me, that'd be great!