SIPA or Fels (Columbia or UPenn)

[wiseking]

Hi guys! I'm from Turkey. My major is Master of Public Administration. I'm interested in govermental financial instituions.

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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.



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


Thanks!          

[wiseking]

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

[wiseking]

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          

[wiseking]

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.          

[VirginianFeminist]

About NYC - except Manhattan there is nothing to do....

 

Oy. That's like saying except for the Beatles the Brits haven't contributed much to the rock music genre.   

[MontaukPoint]

About NYC - except Manhattan there is nothing to do        

 

Hahahahahaha....

[rpokharna]

Yeah, am facing similar dillema, Columbia is shit expensive and don't know if I can afford it, but rejecting is hard though I have a feeling that is ultimately what I will end up doing and going to Fels!