MPP or Ph.D?

[Calvin_xc1]

Hi everyone,

Well after spending several several months stressing like crazy over my applications, I finally got acceptances! Two on the same day even!

Here's the conundrum I'm in though, I have two very very good choices to work with, which are:

Brandeis University Heller School

Master's in Public Policy

Partial funding (~20k/yr of the ~60k/yr I'll need)

University of North Carolina - Charlotte

Doctorate in Public Policy

Full funding + 14k/yr stipend

I'm interested in family policy, and Brandeis is top-tier for that. Not scoffing UNC Charlotte, but Brandeis' program is much more robust in that area. If I get my MPP at Brandeis I can get a Ph.D later from pretty much anywhere, but I'll be up to my neck in debt (95k at worst, 55k at best), and will be on a slower track to the kind of career I want, which would be researching state and/or federal family service programs on effectiveness, improvements, etc.

On the other hand I can go to UNC Charlotte and jump straight into the thick of things (which is actually kind of intimidating!) with little-to-no financial worries, and come out with a Ph.D, ready to jump into a career.

I'm inclined towards Brandeis, if nothing else than that their program has a much more solid focus on family policy studies, but I wanted to ping GradCafe and look for advice as I'm not totally sure. I just found out about these acceptances two days ago, so I haven't had the chance to really talk with either of the program directors. Thankfully I have spring break this coming week, so I'll be able to then, but I'd love some feedback.

Thanks everyone!

[StephanieJ]

I just went through the whole MPP or PhD dealio. I asked advice from some friends in public policy. It boils down to WHERE you want to do research. I want to do policy analysis also, but not in academia...more government analysis or think tank stuff. This is a rather long email from my friend that works for a think tank about my conundrum. Enjoy the advice

The short answer is that if your desire is to work in the policy arena rather than academia, a PhD would probably be overkill for most positions. There are certainly scholars at places like Heritage/AEI/Mercatus et al that have PhDs and do more serious, scholarly analysis, but a PhD is a huge investment of time and money that might be more than you’d need.

The other piece of advice I would give is to be very careful about student loans. I know it’s hard to conceptualize while you’re still in school, but student loan debt can be a huge drag on your income and quality of life. I would only take out loans if you are absolutely certain that the degree you’re seeking is something you’d enjoy AND that said degree will be necessary to get you where you want to be professionally. If you can’t honestly say that you’ll need that degree, then I’d reevaluate whether or not going into debt for it makes sense.

As an example, a former colleague of mine left NTU to go to law school. He didn’t particularly want to be a practicing lawyer, he just thought the law was interesting and, hey, lots of smart and ambitious people go to law school, right? Well, three miserable/difficult years and $100,000+ in debt later and he’s now at a policy job he could have gotten without the degree and has huge debt payments weighing him down.

Don’t get me wrong; advanced degrees are great and continuing your education can be a wonderful thing. Just make sure you’re absolutely certain it’s what you want to do AND that it will be worth your while professionally.

The short answer is that if your desire is to work in the policy arena rather than academia, a PhD would probably be overkill for most positions. There are certainly scholars at places like Heritage/AEI/Mercatus et al that have PhDs and do more serious, scholarly analysis, but a PhD is a huge investment of time and money that might be more than you’d need.

The other piece of advice I would give is to be very careful about student loans. I know it’s hard to conceptualize while you’re still in school, but student loan debt can be a huge drag on your income and quality of life. I would only take out loans if you are absolutely certain that the degree you’re seeking is something you’d enjoy AND that said degree will be necessary to get you where you want to be professionally. If you can’t honestly say that you’ll need that degree, then I’d reevaluate whether or not going into debt for it makes sense.

As an example, a former colleague of mine left NTU to go to law school. He didn’t particularly want to be a practicing lawyer, he just thought the law was interesting and, hey, lots of smart and ambitious people go to law school, right? Well, three miserable/difficult years and $100,000+ in debt later and he’s now at a policy job he could have gotten without the degree and has huge debt payments weighing him down.

Don’t get me wrong; advanced degrees are great and continuing your education can be a wonderful thing. Just make sure you’re absolutely certain it’s what you want to do AND that it will be worth your while professionally.