John Hopkins MPP vs. HKS or WWS

[sunnysideup11]

I just received my official acceptance letter from John Hopkins which included a $20,000/year scholarship. I am very excited but wondered if anyone thought it would make sense to consider deferring and applying to HKS or WWS next fall. I was also accepted to George Washington and American but without any additional funding. Any feedback?

[antonis]

Hi and congratulations! I also received an admission offer of 23,000$ for the first year from Johns Hopkins, MPP. I am very happy and excited but still I have not decided, because I expect decisions from 7 other universities. Like you GWU did not offer me any financial assistance and therefore most probably I am going to reject its offer.

Do you know what are the exact tuition fees for John Hopkins.? The website states 39,100$ but they do not clarify whether this is the total amount or the annual....any idea?

As regards your question, competition for WWS is huge because it is a fully funded program and because it has an excellent tradition. The second applies to HKS as well. My impression is that you should not risk rejecting a very good offer from a world renowned university just to apply to a bigger name. The differences are marginal and are not depicted in job placement or in salary in my view. Go for JHU, I hear very good things about this program.

Best of luck

A.

[hughwu]

Agree.

It will be much much harder to apply to WWS and KSG. JHU is good. No need to take the risk.

[indisabelle]

Hi and congratulations! I also received an admission offer of 23,000$ for the first year from Johns Hopkins, MPP. I am very happy and excited but still I have not decided, because I expect decisions from 7 other universities. Like you GWU did not offer me any financial assistance and therefore most probably I am going to reject its offer.

Do you know what are the exact tuition fees for John Hopkins.? The website states 39,100$ but they do not clarify whether this is the total amount or the annual....any idea?

As regards your question, competition for WWS is huge because it is a fully funded program and because it has an excellent tradition. The second applies to HKS as well. My impression is that you should not risk rejecting a very good offer from a world renowned university just to apply to a bigger name. The differences are marginal and are not depicted in job placement or in salary in my view. Go for JHU, I hear very good things about this program.

Best of luck

A.

Hi there, I received the acceptance email with generous scholarship too. But it's because there seems to be so few discussions about the program and I can only get very limited information from their website that make me being uncertain about the program's prestige and recognition among applicants.

You said that you've heard very good things about this program. Would you mind share more details with us? Thanks!

Edited March 13, 2011 by indisabelle

[antonis]

Hi indisabelle. yes I made a search over the internet and read the review of a graduate. He claims that it is a "family like" program with good support from the career services and strong reputation in the market. He also stated that the graduates had a good placement not only in DC but in all over the country. To be honest I have a good feeling about the program. Do you have any idea id the tuition stated in the website is annual or total?

Hi there, I received the acceptance email with generous scholarship too. But it's because there seems to be so few discussions about the program and I can only get very limited information from their website that make me being uncertain about the program's prestige and recognition among applicants.

You said that you've heard very good things about this program. Would you mind share more details with us? Thanks!

[indisabelle]

Hi indisabelle. yes I made a search over the internet and read the review of a graduate. He claims that it is a "family like" program with good support from the career services and strong reputation in the market. He also stated that the graduates had a good placement not only in DC but in all over the country. To be honest I have a good feeling about the program. Do you have any idea id the tuition stated in the website is annual or total?

Though not stated clearly on the website, I'm pretty sure that $39,000 is an annual tuition number. It's extremely expensive right? So they offer large amout of student huge scholarships to attract them.

If this is a total tuition number, I guess I definitely will go there. However, now I have to wait for other programs and consider lots of pros and cons. Cause even granted with nearly 20k/year, I still have to pay almost 60k in total to finish the program.

Let's hope there will be more generous schools that accept us!!!

[antonis]

It is the most expensive MPP program around I think...this is negative especially if it does not come with top class education and good job placement.

I am exactly in the same position with you. Given that this scholarship will be renewed for the second year, and I work as assistant to the maximum permitted hours I still need around to invest 45k ....

Another thing. I come from Greece, where Johns Hopkins is only well known in circles of people who have studied either midicine or international affairs. Do you buy "good brand" in the US market when you graduate from this school?Any clues?

Though not stated clearly on the website, I'm pretty sure that $39,000 is an annual tuition number. It's extremely expensive right? So they offer large amout of student huge scholarships to attract them.

If this is a total tuition number, I guess I definitely will go there. However, now I have to wait for other programs and consider lots of pros and cons. Cause even granted with nearly 20k/year, I still have to pay almost 60k in total to finish the program.

Let's hope there will be more generous schools that accept us!!!

[CC139]

It is the most expensive MPP program around I think...

I am not sure, but I believe that CMU's and Duke's MPPs are more expensive.

[kapture]

Hi there, I received the acceptance email with generous scholarship too. But it's because there seems to be so few discussions about the program and I can only get very limited information from their website that make me being uncertain about the program's prestige and recognition among applicants.

You said that you've heard very good things about this program. Would you mind share more details with us? Thanks!

Just my two cents: The concerns you're feeling are reasonable, and I would suggest trying to get as much information as possible. If you can, visit the schools. If not, send out emails. I'm starting to send out emails to each of the schools that I was accepted into, especially the offices of career services asking questions that I can't find on their websites: job statistics, services offered, etc.

I'm also going to be emailing specific professors whose interests match mine to ask about their research interests.

It wouldn't hurt to ask the admissions office if they can put you in contact with current students--emphasis on the plural--so that you can communicate with them via email and ask them specific questions about the program.

I would not be shy about approaching the schools with these kinds of questions. It's more work on your part, but ultimately, the schools are working for you and you shouldn't attend a school that isn't right, especially since it is such a huge investment in time and money. Be polite and professional in all of your communications, and understand that it may take a while for schools to respond b/c it is a busy time right now.

Good luck! I'm also having a really hard time making a decision!

[indisabelle]

It is the most expensive MPP program around I think...this is negative especially if it does not come with top class education and good job placement.

I am exactly in the same position with you. Given that this scholarship will be renewed for the second year, and I work as assistant to the maximum permitted hours I still need around to invest 45k ....

Another thing. I come from Greece, where Johns Hopkins is only well known in circles of people who have studied either midicine or international affairs. Do you buy "good brand" in the US market when you graduate from this school?Any clues?

I dont know the situation in the US market since I'm from abroad too... Do you plan to work in the US after graduation?

[indisabelle]

Just my two cents: The concerns you're feeling are reasonable, and I would suggest trying to get as much information as possible. If you can, visit the schools. If not, send out emails. I'm starting to send out emails to each of the schools that I was accepted into, especially the offices of career services asking questions that I can't find on their websites: job statistics, services offered, etc.

I'm also going to be emailing specific professors whose interests match mine to ask about their research interests.

It wouldn't hurt to ask the admissions office if they can put you in contact with current students--emphasis on the plural--so that you can communicate with them via email and ask them specific questions about the program.

I would not be shy about approaching the schools with these kinds of questions. It's more work on your part, but ultimately, the schools are working for you and you shouldn't attend a school that isn't right, especially since it is such a huge investment in time and money. Be polite and professional in all of your communications, and understand that it may take a while for schools to respond b/c it is a busy time right now.

Good luck! I'm also having a really hard time making a decision!

Hi Kapture, thanks so much for your advices. I really need to act more actively and utilize every resources possible to get the information I need.

Let's keep on exchanging information and hope we'll pick the best fit!!!

Edited March 14, 2011 by indisabelle

[carpecc]

I just received my official acceptance letter from John Hopkins which included a $20,000/year scholarship. I am very excited but wondered if anyone thought it would make sense to consider deferring and applying to HKS or WWS next fall. I was also accepted to George Washington and American but without any additional funding. Any feedback?

Sunnyside,

You've got a great deal on your hands. I think Harvard has more prestige but whether or not the program is for you depends on your goals. I'd consider the following:

1. Closely examine the curriculum at Harvard and SAIS. Will Harvard offer more of you what you need then SAIS will? Will it give you the skills you need? If SAIS can give you what you need, then I'd go on and go.

2. Money. You have a good scholarship at SAIS and this will let you be more flexible in what you do after school. If you get into Harvard with no money, would it be worth the extra cost? In other words, would it be worth it to pay an extra 40k to put off grad school for a year and go to Harvard? This is especially important if you do not have the money and want to go to govt or NGO work after school. WWS of course, would be ideal, but remember that program is best if you like to go to government.

3. Do you have a good job now, or will you need the grad degree to do what you want? What's the opportunity cost of putting off school? If you're already doing something interesting/exciting/lucrative, then maybe you can afford to wait an extra year and reapply to Harvard. If you don't have something lined up right now, I'd think hard about turning down SAIS.

4. I don't know about Princeton, but harvard is very quantitative and requires multivariate calculus to apply. Can you meet this requirement?

That's my two cents!

[fso2k11]

The original poster isn't talking about SAIS. I think he/she is talking about the MPP.

Sunnyside,

You've got a great deal on your hands. I think Harvard has more prestige but whether or not the program is for you depends on your goals. I'd consider the following:

1. Closely examine the curriculum at Harvard and SAIS. Will Harvard offer more of you what you need then SAIS will? Will it give you the skills you need? If SAIS can give you what you need, then I'd go on and go.

2. Money. You have a good scholarship at SAIS and this will let you be more flexible in what you do after school. If you get into Harvard with no money, would it be worth the extra cost? In other words, would it be worth it to pay an extra 40k to put off grad school for a year and go to Harvard? This is especially important if you do not have the money and want to go to govt or NGO work after school. WWS of course, would be ideal, but remember that program is best if you like to go to government.

3. Do you have a good job now, or will you need the grad degree to do what you want? What's the opportunity cost of putting off school? If you're already doing something interesting/exciting/lucrative, then maybe you can afford to wait an extra year and reapply to Harvard. If you don't have something lined up right now, I'd think hard about turning down SAIS.

4. I don't know about Princeton, but harvard is very quantitative and requires multivariate calculus to apply. Can you meet this requirement?

That's my two cents!