Harris v. CMU Heinz

[Joe S.]

Hello Everyone,

Long story short in at CMU ($) and Harris (no funding) and I am trying to decide which is the better program to attend. These are the following questions I'm considering.

1) I'd like to do something in domestic economic policy dealing with urban development issues or in investment banking. Which school would suit me with the economic tools necessary to be effective in these arenas?

2) Is it possible to leverage more money out of CMU at this point?

3) Which student body is friendlier?

Thank You!!

[aliicat11]

Hello Everyone,

Long story short in at CMU ($) and Harris (no funding) and I am trying to decide which is the better program to attend. These are the following questions I'm considering.

1) I'd like to do something in domestic economic policy dealing with urban development issues or in investment banking. Which school would suit me with the economic tools necessary to be effective in these arenas?

2) Is it possible to leverage more money out of CMU at this point?

3) Which student body is friendlier?

Thank You!!

I'm making the same decision between Harris and Heinz (the DC track) except I have nearly equal funding from each school and want to go into consulting for the public sector. I'm visiting both in the next week, and while I'm not sure what I can contribute to your decision right now, feel free to PM me if you want to commiserate about choosing between Harris and Heinz!

[s33]

I'm making the same decision between Harris and Heinz (the DC track) except I have nearly equal funding from each school and want to go into consulting for the public sector. I'm visiting both in the next week, and while I'm not sure what I can contribute to your decision right now, feel free to PM me if you want to commiserate about choosing between Harris and Heinz!

I looked closely at Heinz (as well as Michigan), before ultimately choosing Harris. My sense is that Heinz and Harris have a lot of the same strengths - in particular, a solid grounding in economics and quantitative methods. The main differences that I observed were as follows: 1) Heinz seems to have a more 'MBA' type curriculum, with a fair bit of emphasis on management and 'job-related skills', whereas Harris approaches matters from a somewhat more academic/theoretical perspective. If you enjoy theory, I'd say you might be more comfortable at Harris; if you strictly prefer applied work (or dislike theory), Heinz might be a better fit; 2) political economy is a central part of the Harris curriculum, unlike most other policy programs (including Heinz, at least when I was looking into it).

In short, if you enjoy theory, economics and political science, Harris should be a great fit. If you strongly prefer applied work and gaining job-related skills, I'd give the nod to Heinz, all else equal.

I hasten to add that I liked a lot about Heinz, and came fairly close to going there, and that these are only my impressions. I hope I have done justice to the Heinz program -which looked really good to me, if not quite the best personal fit.

[mppgal55]

I looked closely at Heinz (as well as Michigan), before ultimately choosing Harris. My sense is that Heinz and Harris have a lot of the same strengths - in particular, a solid grounding in economics and quantitative methods. The main differences that I observed were as follows: 1) Heinz seems to have a more 'MBA' type curriculum, with a fair bit of emphasis on management and 'job-related skills', whereas Harris approaches matters from a somewhat more academic/theoretical perspective. If you enjoy theory, I'd say you might be more comfortable at Harris; if you strictly prefer applied work (or dislike theory), Heinz might be a better fit; 2) political economy is a central part of the Harris curriculum, unlike most other policy programs (including Heinz, at least when I was looking into it).

In short, if you enjoy theory, economics and political science, Harris should be a great fit. If you strongly prefer applied work and gaining job-related skills, I'd give the nod to Heinz, all else equal.

I hasten to add that I liked a lot about Heinz, and came fairly close to going there, and that these are only my impressions. I hope I have done justice to the Heinz program -which looked really good to me, if not quite the best personal fit.

This is a pretty good comparison, and reinforces the image us Heinzers have of the folks over at Harris. Most of the faculty and students will admit that Harris is very well known for theory, and Heinz is more known for practice. They don't hide it nor are they ashamed of it. If you're seeking a PhD immediately following a Masters, Harris may be a better fit. If you're looking to go into business at some point, Heinz may be a better fit.

*edited to add that the above doesn't mean Harris is only worth it if you're interested in a PhD, only that it is more likely better preparation than Heinz.

One of my favorite professors and I were discussing admissions (which he used to run), and we were talking about how for most Heinz students, their decisions ended up between Ford, Harris, Heinz, and Maxwell. Ford gets most of the IR folk (though ID is getting stronger every year at Heinz), and is the hardest to distinguish from Heinz. Harris is more for theorists, Maxwell is more for public administration, Heinz and Ford are more policy analysis. Heinz puts the largest focus on MBA-type skills and "practical" knowledge, Harris has more political economy, Maxwell has more on bureaucracy, Ford has more electives.

That's full of rampant generalizations, but it sums up as comparing fit of each program to what your end-goal is. In general, it helps to pick a program that strengthens your weaknesses.

Edited March 31, 2011 by mppgal55

[s33]

This is a pretty good comparison, and reinforces the image us Heinzers have of the folks over at Harris. Most of the faculty and students will admit that Harris is very well known for theory, and Heinz is more known for practice. They don't hide it nor are they ashamed of it. If you're seeking a PhD immediately following a Masters, Harris may be a better fit. If you're looking to go into business at some point, Heinz may be a better fit.

One of my favorite professors and I were discussing admissions (which he used to run), and we were talking about how for most Heinz students, their decisions ended up between Ford, Harris, Heinz, and Maxwell. Ford gets most of the IR folk (though ID is getting stronger every year at Heinz), and is the hardest to distinguish from Heinz. Harris is more for theorists, Maxwell is more for public administration, Heinz and Ford are more policy analysis. Heinz puts the largest focus on MBA-type skills and "practical" knowledge, Harris has more political economy, Maxwell has more on bureaucracy, Ford has more electives.

That's full of rampant generalizations, but it sums up as comparing fit of each program to what your end-goal is. In general, it helps to pick a program that strengthens your weaknesses.

Just a quick followup to my previous comments.

I found the 'theoretical' orientation at Harris - in particular, the core political economy sequence - to be of practical benefit in aiding my understanding of political processes. This is not a 'hands-on' type of skill, but is very useful nonetheless for those of us whose policy work interfaces directly with the political world. I did not want to leave the impression that Harris is a good choice only for those who are PhD- bound. I am not - and never was- PhD bound, and I chose Harris for its distinctive strengths. I was very satisfied with the program, which provided pretty much exactly what I was seeking and expecting.

I think the bottom line is that these programs are all of high quality, but each has somewhat different orientations and objectives. The best advice I can offer is to find out as much you can about each program, know your own strengths, weaknesses, needs and objectives, and decide on the basis of these factors (and funding, if there are financial differences). It really is a question of fit.

[fso2k11]

Heinz puts the largest focus on MBA-type skills and "practical" knowledge, Harris has more political economy, Maxwell has more on bureaucracy, Ford has more electives.

MPPGal,

I noticed just now that Heinz has a dual MSPPM/MBA with the Tepper school....am now interested in that program but I see that the traditional dual degree students take their first year almost entirely at Tepper. I am wondering if my late notice and late interest for this admissions cycle in getting an MBA would prevent me from doing the dual degree at Heinz/Tepper. Do you have any knowledge of students who came to CMU as MSPPMs and THEN added the MBA dual degree?

[Joe S.]

MPPGal,

I noticed just now that Heinz has a dual MSPPM/MBA with the Tepper school....am now interested in that program but I see that the traditional dual degree students take their first year almost entirely at Tepper. I am wondering if my late notice and late interest for this admissions cycle in getting an MBA would prevent me from doing the dual degree at Heinz/Tepper. Do you have any knowledge of students who came to CMU as MSPPMs and THEN added the MBA dual degree?

BUMP this, I am interested as well!

[mppgal55]

Sorry, I've been computer-less (not a good plan in grad school).

I'm not sure on this. I know a few dual students, but most started at Tepper. I think it is possible, but you'll have to be accepted through Tepper's program independently of all things Heinz.

I do know you can take 4 courses from Tepper, no more than 2 in a semester though. You can also take classes at Pitt's GSPIA and in other departments on CMU's campus (I'm a fan of engineering and public policy classes, because it is focused a lot on energy).

BUMP this, I am interested as well!

[fso2k11]

MPPGal,

I noticed just now that Heinz has a dual MSPPM/MBA with the Tepper school....am now interested in that program but I see that the traditional dual degree students take their first year almost entirely at Tepper. I am wondering if my late notice and late interest for this admissions cycle in getting an MBA would prevent me from doing the dual degree at Heinz/Tepper. Do you have any knowledge of students who came to CMU as MSPPMs and THEN added the MBA dual degree?

I found out today via the official channels and the answer is no. You have to be admitted to both and start at Tepper. Hypothetically you could add the Heinz MSPPM once you got to CMU, but definitely not the other away around. Heinz accepts Tepper credits for core courses, but Tepper does not accept Heinz credits for core courses. In my opinion, a graduate stats class is a graduate stats class, regardless of the building it is taught in. I guess I'm too millennial to understand this disconnect. Oh well.

Now it is on to the decision...

[Slow]

Thanks everyone for the comparison of Heinz and Harris. I found the ifnormation useful. I'm now wondering if the difference between the two -- Harris being more formally quantitative/theoretical and Heinz being more managerial -- will play out in the job market. Wil one school's approach more in deman in the job market:? I am asking this as I thoroughly enjoyed my visit at Harris but going to Heinz will save would save me something like $40,000 in tuition

[pure7b]

As for economic policy, I will choose harris school. They also dont give me any funding, but i will still choose harris too.

Hello Everyone,

Long story short in at CMU ($) and Harris (no funding) and I am trying to decide which is the better program to attend. These are the following questions I'm considering.

1) I'd like to do something in domestic economic policy dealing with urban development issues or in investment banking. Which school would suit me with the economic tools necessary to be effective in these arenas?

2) Is it possible to leverage more money out of CMU at this point?

3) Which student body is friendlier?

Thank You!!