Applying to WWS - Again

[byrnetj]

Last year I tried to apply straight into a PhD program in public policy with little success. In retrospect I think I should have applied to all MPP programs instead. A few offered automatic consideration for the MPP program, so I ended up at UMD - College Park with a 1/2 grad assistantship.

I certainly dont want to waste a year in student loans, but I'm wondering if it's worth applying to WWS's MPA program this fall, given it's generosity with financial aid.

WWS does not admit transfers, so I would have to take the full two years in addition to the year at Maryland. Supposing I did get into WWS, do you think it'd be worth it to take an extra year? Right now at UMD I am paying about $20k in loans per year. At WWS from what I understand I could get up to a full-tuition plus stipend package. I'd also be forgoing a year of income, probably greater than $20k. Obviously, a lot of this is contingent upon getting in and a package, but I'm just asking hypothetically would you do it?

[MYRNIST]

Last year I tried to apply straight into a PhD program in public policy with little success. In retrospect I think I should have applied to all MPP programs instead. A few offered automatic consideration for the MPP program, so I ended up at UMD - College Park with a 1/2 grad assistantship.

I certainly dont want to waste a year in student loans, but I'm wondering if it's worth applying to WWS's MPA program this fall, given it's generosity with financial aid.

WWS does not admit transfers, so I would have to take the full two years in addition to the year at Maryland. Supposing I did get into WWS, do you think it'd be worth it to take an extra year? Right now at UMD I am paying about $20k in loans per year. At WWS from what I understand I could get up to a full-tuition plus stipend package. I'd also be forgoing a year of income, probably greater than $20k. Obviously, a lot of this is contingent upon getting in and a package, but I'm just asking hypothetically would you do it?

Yes. The education, faculty, resources, and networking at WWS dwarf UMD-CP to such an extant where, in my opinion, it would be worth it. That said, I wouldn't get your hopes up or even consider it a "realistic" plan. Even for highly qualified applicants, WWS is basically a crapshoot. Maybe look at other options that have admit rates higher than 10% (and that is culling from a highly qualified field of applicants)? Ford School, Goldman, UChicago, etc.? That way even if WWS doesn't happen, you still have options and are not stuck somewhere just because that's where fate tossed you.