Rutgers SPAA or Milano?

[EarlGrey103]

I was admitted to Rutgers SPAA (MPA) about a month ago (I was thrilled because I was nervous about not getting accepted anywhere) and was set on attending. And then I received an acceptance to Milano's (The New School) Masters in Urban Policy Analysis and Management program yesterday. I applied to Milano because I didn't want to apply to only 2 schools (Rutgers and NYU) but after looking at the website, faculty, and courses, it seems like an interesting program.

Now I have a dilemma.

Rutgers is about half the cost of The New School and it's (apparently) better known. However, I wasn't too impressed with the faculty and the courses I have to take seem very general. Also, I tried to find alumni statistics and information, but could not find anything.

Milano is a newer program, but the faculty research is more interesting to me. They had alumni statistics readily available on the website and the courses seem to cover topics that I am interested in. I would like to work in an international ngo and Milano has courses that are related to global policy. The thing is I'm honestly not sure if The New School is just better at marketing their program or if it really is better than Rutgers.

If anyone has insight on which program would be more beneficial for me or which school is better respected in the field, I would really appreciate it.

P.S. - NYU is not really in the running since I applied in early March and will get the decision after the confirmation of attendance for Milano is due... so I'm pretty much trying to make a decision based off of these two.

[Olga Childs]

well, I'd say 100% Milano, and I take issue with The New School being less known. Milano isn't the best known bit of The New School, but The News School itself has been there for ages and in many circles is considered very well respected and even elitist, in ways in which Rutgers certainly isn't. At least, as far as The New School for Social research goes, it's not the same as Milano, but still.

Also, if you are a New Jersean and would be paying resident tuition at Rutgers, depending on to what extent money matters to you, I'd say why not Rutgers, but if you can make The New School work financially, i think in terms of academic excitement and prestige it's a definite choice....