SIPA or Fels (Columbia or UPenn)

[A-Z]

Hi guys! I'm from Kazakhstan. My major is Master of Public Administration. I'm interested in local governments (In the future I plan to become a mayor of governor).

I was admitted by SIPA and Fels. I'm scholarship student and tuition for me does not matter.

Therefore I want to choose the best school for me.

I heard that SIPA has better international recognition (probably because of International Affairs), while Fels prepares specialists for the U.S. and little bit international.

Also heard that SIPA does not care about students so much as Fels - for example - they just say which books to read and that's it, while at UPenn professors closely work with students. Is it true?

I heard that Philly is better for studying than NYC, but NYC has better night life and amusements.

SIPA requires internship for graduation and Fels no...

May you share your opinions please? Feel free for everything...

Thanks!

[erry3779]

Columbia (and SIPA) is like New York City, you must be ready to seek out what you need and can't be timid about accessing help and support,,, but everything is there!

[Eclectic4]

Hello.

I am facing the exact same decision: whether to attend SIPA or Fels.

Having visited both and talked to a lot of people about both programs, the difference seems to be basically that SIPA is much stronger for international careers and Fels is great for domestic government and non-profit work, especially in the United States.

[A-Z]

Hello.

I am facing the exact same decision: whether to attend SIPA or Fels.

Having visited both and talked to a lot of people about both programs, the difference seems to be basically that SIPA is much stronger for international careers and Fels is great for domestic government and non-profit work, especially in the United States.

UPenn has very famous business school - Wharton. We can take some elective courses there (maybe something, what is useful for public-private partnerships or government and business (something like this).

Among my friends I know many people who were admitted by SIPA (alumni, current students and applicants who are attending now). And I do not know anybody who was admitted by Fels (I heard about only rejections). Thus, Fels seems more unique than Columbia.

About NYC - except Manhattan there is nothing to do (even northern Manhattan is not attractive). NYC is more expensive for housing and others. However I heard that Philly also has many ghettos and only couple good neighborhoods (University City and City Center). But UPenn's campus definitely looks like campus, while CU's is not so big.

Do I need better international recognition? I believe that intelligent people know both Universities well

[Chipembere]

UPenn has very famous business school - Wharton. We can take some elective courses there (maybe something, what is useful for public-private partnerships or government and business (something like this).

Among my friends I know many people who were admitted by SIPA (alumni, current students and applicants who are attending now). And I do not know anybody who was admitted by Fels (I heard about only rejections). Thus, Fels seems more unique than Columbia.

About NYC - except Manhattan there is nothing to do (even northern Manhattan is not attractive). NYC is more expensive for housing and others. However I heard that Philly also has many ghettos and only couple good neighborhoods (University City and City Center). But UPenn's campus definitely looks like campus, while CU's is not so big.

Do I need better international recognition? I believe that intelligent people know both Universities well

Huh???

[HDPFDan]

Huh???

LOL! I'm an NYC resident and have lived in 3 boroughs - Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan - and I too found that to be about the most puzzling statement I have encountered on this forum. I was ready to go off but then decided I should try not to reinforce any New Yorker stereotypes.

A-Z: there is a TON to do all over NYC. It's a bit of a trek to get to Brooklyn from Morningside Heights, but it's about as interesting a place as you will find in these United States. And "northern" Manhattan, however physically unappealing the landscape may be, is also an interesting area to explore. Harlem has more culture in one block than half of the cities in this country.

[Eclectic4]

UPenn has very famous business school - Wharton. We can take some elective courses there (maybe something, what is useful for public-private partnerships or government and business (something like this).

Among my friends I know many people who were admitted by SIPA (alumni, current students and applicants who are attending now). And I do not know anybody who was admitted by Fels (I heard about only rejections). Thus, Fels seems more unique than Columbia.

About NYC - except Manhattan there is nothing to do (even northern Manhattan is not attractive). NYC is more expensive for housing and others. However I heard that Philly also has many ghettos and only couple good neighborhoods (University City and City Center). But UPenn's campus definitely looks like campus, while CU's is not so big.

Do I need better international recognition? I believe that intelligent people know both Universities well

First things first, even though UPenn is actually ranked as well as Columbia, it absolutely does not have the name recognition of Columbia outside of the Northeast. Most of my California friends have zero idea what UPenn is nor that it is a great school and an ivy league. I have even had friends tell me "no it's not," etc.

Fels is a great program, and I really like UPenn. However, if someone is internationally focused SIPA is a better bet by far. If someone is domestically focused, Fels is great.

My biggest issue is that Fels offered me a good scholarship AND I have family near Philly I am trying to stay near. SIPA didn't offer me any money and it is farther from said family.