Need Advice: American U, UPitt, Brandeis, or Clark?

[Dea Januari Verina Ismail]

Hi guys,

I need some advice on deciding where to go. I would like to study International Development/ Community Development and I've got four admissions:

1. Brandeis University (Heller school). I got partial tuition waiver, but the shortfall that I have to cover for tuition fees and living cost is around $17,000 per year.

2. UPitt (GSPIA). So far, there has been no funding decision but the living cost is cheapest of all schools I got in. However, with the lack of funding I would have to cover the shortfall of $23,000.

3. Clark University (IDSC). They awarded me with 50% tuition waiver, but again this is not a free ride and the shortfall is around $8,000 per year.

4. American U (SIS). Awarded me with some credit remission, so the shortfall for both tuition and stipends amount to around $11,000 per year.

The shortfall that I mentioned is all rough calculation and I think I'd be able to slightly reduce that by living frugally.

Right now, I'm very interested in SIS for its location and being one of the top schools for international studies. So, any advice emphasizing whether I should or should not go for SIS would be highly appreciated.

I'm a Foreign Fulbright Grantee from Indonesia and I have little knowledge on what those schools are actually like. Please give me some more information, anything regarding those schools that would help me decide.

Thanks!

[Chipembere]

Go to D.C. and attend AU. Am I understanding correctly that the AU option will cost you 11,000/year? I'm not sure how you are working the numbers - DC is expensive - but if that is accurate go for it. Best option of them all at the most affordable price (other than Clark).

[Dea Januari Verina Ismail]

Go to D.C. and attend AU. Am I understanding correctly that the AU option will cost you 11,000/year? I'm not sure how you are working the numbers - DC is expensive - but if that is accurate go for it. Best option of them all at the most affordable price (other than Clark).

Hey Chipembere,

That shortfall was the estimate after I get my funding both from Fulbright and the school.

If I do end up at AU, looks like we'll be going to the same school

[Dea Januari Verina Ismail]

*bump*

[K.Ash]

American is definitely the best known program of those listed. The other three aren't even in the same playing field as SIS. Given that it is pretty good financial support as well, it is easily the best option here -- as long as the curriculum meets your interests, of course.

[Dea Januari Verina Ismail]

thanx

[rose1]

Go to AU! It's the best school, it's in by-far the best location, AND it's the cheapest! No question!

[Johnnyquest2009]

Hi,

Brandeis-Heller is a great program as well. Since it is tech. a social policy school it is ranked under social policy by US Newsweek etc. I would therefore disagree that it is not in the same playing field as AU. http://heller.brandeis.edu/

Heller is actually ranked 9th. However, if the other programs are cheaper I would recommend American.

However, you mention cost shortfall per year. Are all these programs the same length? Also the cost of living varies from one place to the other.

[Dea Januari Verina Ismail]

Thanks for your input.

All those shortfall were calculated including the cost of living. They're all also the same length.

Heller is a good school and offers the program that I'm really interested in, which is why I applied for it in the first place. I'm grateful for the tuition waiver they have offered me,but it's still too expensive for me.