GSPP vs. Harris

[mccain2000]

Dear all,

I am in a predicament. I attended both of the open houses for GSPP and Harris. GSPP was basically everything that I could dream of, while Harris was disappointing.

Financially, GSPP essentially gave me in-state fees (I am out-of-state). However, Harris gave me the motherload: full-tuition plus a stipend. If I attend Berkeley, I will end up with 30K to 45K in debt, depending on how much I work. I have no debt from undergrad.

I have little preference in terms of where I would like to work after my MPP (I am from the Midwest). I also am hoping to work in domestic policy and play some sort of role in the legislative process, perhaps as an analyst at a place like the CBO.

Edited April 14, 2011 by mccain2000

[greendiplomat]

Dear all,

I am in a predicament. I attended both of the open houses for GSPP and Harris. GSPP was basically everything that I could dream of, while Harris was disappointing.

Financially, GSPP essentially gave me in-state fees (I am out-of-state). However, Harris gave me the motherload: full-tuition plus a stipend. If I attend Berkeley, I will end up with 30K to 45K in debt, depending on how much I work. I have no debt from undergrad.

I have little preference in terms of where I would like to work after my MPP (I am from the Midwest). I also am hoping to work in domestic policy and play some sort of role in the legislative process, perhaps as an analyst at a place like the CBO.

It would be a much tougher decision if you simply had a preference for GSPP over Harris, but if it's the difference between "everything that I could dream of" and "disappointing", I'd say the 30K-45K in debt is totally worth it.

[Nimesis]

If it makes you feel any better mccain, I left pretty much a full scholarship at USC on the table to go to GSPP at nearly full cost, and I don't regret making that decision one bit. GSPP is incredibly dynamic, exciting, and full of opportunities. If you felt that way at the Open House and you were disappointed by Harris, I'm not sure why there's even any reservation on your part, as greendiplomat said.

Edited April 14, 2011 by Nimesis

[oogabooga]

I'm in a pretty similar position, except that for me it's USC instead of Chicago. They're vastly different programs and I like them both. But one thing to consider with GSPP (I'm looking at the same funding levels as you, I'm guessing you got $10k for the first year or so and are relying on the in-state tuition for 2nd year) is the strong possibility of getting a GSI/GSR position that will cover your tuition. If you choose to go that route, it seems like you can substantially reduce your costs.

[egmpp2010]

I'm a current GSPP student who happened to stop by the board again, since it was helpful last year. I turned down the money from both USC and Chicago last year to come to GSPP as an in-state student and I haven't regretted it. I'm GSI'ing this semester to help defray costs and I'll probably do it again for one or two semesters next year. It's quite a bit of work to GSI, but it's also been a new challenge and I've actually enjoyed having that. The end result is I'll have perhaps $20,000-25,000 in debt that I wouldn't have had if I went to Chicago, but that just doesn't seem like that much in the long run for being at a place that was the right fit for me.

What helped me to feel better about the financial trade-off was to think about it as a cut-off a grad school had to meet more than a factor in comparing them. As long as the grad school would not leave me with debt that would prevent me from taking any job I wanted after graduation, it was in the running. (Any job for me could include a nonprofit type job that might pay $50-60K). I think, for an MPP, graduating with less than $45,000 debt from undergrad and grad school meets that criteria. Obviously less debt is better, but if it's not debt that will be burden, then it's probably ok.

Just my two cents as someone who was there. Trust your gut and you (probably) won't regret it.

Edited April 15, 2011 by egmpp2010

[mccain2000]

OK, you guys convinced me, sort of (I do not really make my decisions based on the grad school cafe). I am sending in my acceptance to GSPP today!

Dear all,

I am in a predicament. I attended both of the open houses for GSPP and Harris. GSPP was basically everything that I could dream of, while Harris was disappointing.

Financially, GSPP essentially gave me in-state fees (I am out-of-state). However, Harris gave me the motherload: full-tuition plus a stipend. If I attend Berkeley, I will end up with 30K to 45K in debt, depending on how much I work. I have no debt from undergrad.

I have little preference in terms of where I would like to work after my MPP (I am from the Midwest). I also am hoping to work in domestic policy and play some sort of role in the legislative process, perhaps as an analyst at a place like the CBO.