American or Mason for MPP?!

[MsMPP]

I am really torn between these schools for different reasons. I think both have a lot to offer me.

I choose American because it is a Tier 1 school over all, and the School of Public Affairs is ranked 14 in the nation(Mason is a Tier 3, SPP ranked 45). I like that the classes are on the main campus with all of the amentities including a full library and student life, plus free parking after 5:30 p.m. I love the closeknit community feel of the school. I am against American because they are so dang expensive! Although my financial aid covers my tuition little to nothing is left over for other expenses.

I choose Mason because they are a 15 minutes drive from my house, I like the reaction I get from people when I mention the school, and they are very cheap. With my financial aid, I wouldn't have to work while in school(but I will anyways), I can afford extra classes over the summer, and live VERY comfortably while in school. This is a luxury I totally missed out on in undergrad. I also like that it is a large school with a very large alumni network, and more students for me to get to know. I don't like that Mason campuses are broken up all over the Northern VA region. The program I am going into is not on the main campus, it is a building in another city. I have heard Mason students aren't very social for some reason. While I believe their program is 'good', I don't think it is better than AU's.

Is American worth giving up the luxurious life style Mason is offering me?

[stilesg57]

If you're conservative or have any interest in working for conservative groups/organizations/administrations I would do George Mason. I worked at the NRA for a year - we were DIRECTLY tied to George Mason for our scholarly research/researchers, law student, policy practitioner, etc. needs. GM was heavily tied to every other conservative or right-leaning organization in DC that I had contact with. Two of the NRA lawyers I worked for (out of 6) were GM Law grads. I'm serious: I had never even heard of GM till I worked there, but I was soon dealing with them every day. They are really becoming a top institution for conservative-flavored thinking - the econ dept. is like The Chicago School but even more Friedman-centric and the core law school faculty is made up of a group who pulled a coordinated "exodus" from more liberal institutions about a decade ago to form a law school to their specs. Dean of the law school offered me admission without even applying at our Christmas party

If not, I'd consider taking on the debt for American as it is a nationally-known institution whereas GM is much more of a regional school. One more thing to consider: I'm kind of a moderate lefty who worked for the NRA because I'm a huge civil libertarian and happen to like the Second Amendment as much as the First. I'm admittedly a bit of an 'educated' hick, if you will. And even I was annoyed as hell by many of the GM students I dealt with (from several different programs). Lotsa crazies. Worth thinking about.

[MsMPP]

Stilesg57,

Thanks for your reply. I have heard Mason was conservative but I did not know it was to that extent. I hear AU is pretty liberal. I thought it would be the other way around.

I am about 90% sure I will attend AU. I told myself I am going to school for academics, not to be comfortable and the bottom line is AU has the academics in my book.