Decision: American University, U of MD, or U of MN

[jinwick]

I have been recently accepted to these schools, and I'm hoping to become a policy analyst. These schools are ranked similarly, and I was hoping to get some feedback from anyone who has been or knows anyone at these programs as far as what kind of success he/she has after graduating.

American seems to have the best internship program (the only one that was actually part of the curriculum--the others just offer/suggest). American and U of MD seem instinctively seem to be fitting locations for studying policy. However, U of MN seems to have more diversity.

Since I was accepted late due to delayed letters of recommendation, all of the merit awards had already been given before I was accepted. All three schools have similar tuition rates, but does anyone know what kind of assistance each provides?

And the biggest question, does anyone know what kind of success these schools have in employment rates?

Thanks for any info!

[rose1]

For what it's worth, American is really on its way up in the rankings. I think a degree from there will probably increase in value over time. I had a friend who went there for undergrad and loved it. I also think the internships/professional connections you will get in DC could be at least as important as the degree, if you're worried about employment upon graduation. I chose another DC school, but I was accepted to American as well and they REALLY impressed me. Before I had even made my decision, they called me to offer me an internship with Save the Children. I thought that was super cool.

[state_school'12]

You might be able to secure in-state tuition at UMN and UMD for the second year. At UMN it seems like you might be more likely to get a TA/RA position, since with a large undergraduate population UMN will need lots of teachers for the hordes of intro undergraduate classes. UMD may follow similar lines.

Do you want to pursue a career in DC? American puts a ton of people into the PMF program (arguable the best way to launch a career in Federal government. How about the Midwest? Did you visit any of these schools? Are you interested in domestic policy, public/private sector (be more specific if you can)?

On the jobs front, I'd advise you to change your thinking slightly. Rather than ask about employment rates, it's probably more useful to explore the kind of job you'd anticipate after you graduate. Eventually, everyone finds a job, but not everyone finds their first, second, or third choice job. After 9 months, I think most people are pretty desperate, and expectations are low. That why all these schools have pretty similar employment stats. So, look at the jobs recent (past 3-5 years) grads are getting. Look at LinkedIn, and try googling ("Humphrey grad", "MPP Humphrey", etc). I'd imagine that the cast majority of American and UMD grads stay in the DC area, and likewise for UMN grads staying in the twin cities/midwest.

Edited May 8, 2012 by state_school'12