University of Maryland MPP

[publicpolicystudent]

Received an email today with a pdf telling me I was accepted, with a substantive funding offer. I applied to UMD for a number of reasons, but I'd be interested to hear what others think of it? Past threads seem to have some mixed opinions. 

[wintergreenfiend]

UMD also accepted me with a good funding offer. At the moment it's my best offer for funding, but not my top choice. I'm torn between going to a more expensive option that I'd prefer and UMD. Also interested in any info others have. 

[fma0204]

I also received an email with a pdf, which included a funding offer of half an assistantship.  For each year, I would be paying 23,000 plus living expenses. Is this price worth it for UMD's MPP program?  

Edited February 27, 2015 by fma0204

[MJA87]

I also received an email with a pdf, which included a funding offer of half an assistantship.  For each year, I would be paying 23,000 plus living expenses. Is this price worth it for UMD's MPP program?  

 

Of course this is just my opinion (and I'm interested in hearing from others), but I don't know that I could justify $86,000+ ($46k in tuition and AT LEAST $20k a year in living expenses) in debt for an MPP from UM. I might consider something close to that debt load for a TOP (HKS, Goldman, Harris) program, but probably not UM. I'm fairly deb averse though, and am bringing almost no savings to grad school.

Edited February 27, 2015 by MJA87

[Wozezeka]

U of Easjington have me funding, but not enough to make it affordable. It's not my top choice but I'm not saying mo yet. I contacted them and discussed funding. They referred me to a few more fellowships and discussed ga/ra/ta jobs that would cover tuition and provide a stipend. You might look in to that.

Congrats on the admission! I'm still waiting to hear back!

[Wozezeka]

** Washington. I'm typing on my phone!

[publicpolicystudent]

Here's my sense from UMD and brief conversations with people familiar with the program: DC focused, great for jobs in the beltway, good curriculum, not prestigious, not the most useful if you're not federally focused.

 

Does that sound right to others? UMD made me my best funding offer by far so far, but I think they're worse at what I want to do than other programs, and the prestige factor concerns me.

[fma0204]

Of course this is just my opinion (and I'm interested in hearing from others), but I don't know that I could justify $86,000+ ($46k in tuition and AT LEAST $20k a year in living expenses) in debt for an MPP from UM. I might consider something close to that debt load for a TOP (HKS, Goldman, Harris) program, but probably not UM. I'm fairly deb averse though, and am bringing almost no savings to grad school.

 

 

Apologies, I didn't read my funding offer correctly.

 

I would have to pay 38k total for my MPP degree and I would get 30K in funding.

 

So  I would pay 8k out of pocket, along with living expenses.

 

Now does this sound slightly more worth the jump to UMD?

[MJA87]

Apologies, I didn't read my funding offer correctly.

 

I would have to pay 38k total for my MPP degree and I would get 30K in funding.

 

So  I would pay 8k out of pocket, along with living expenses.

 

Now does this sound slightly more worth the jump to UMD?

 

So $8k total in tuition + at least $40k total for 2 years living expenses? $48k for the degree is obviously MUCH more manageable than the $86k+ I originally calculated.

 

At the end of the day, you have to weigh the costs and benefits and decide what's right for you. I'm sure UMD is a fine program and it will give you access to a huge job market, so that sounds good to me.

[fma0204]

Thank you for your advice.

I'm debating staying in my home state (New Jersey) and attending Bloustein for its MPP program, but then I'd only really be limited to local/state affairs which is perfectly fine for me.  I guess it all boils down if I wanna go local/state (Bloustein) or federal (UMD).  Decisions....  

 

 

 

 

 

 

So $8k total in tuition + at least $40k total for 2 years living expenses? $48k for the degree is obviously MUCH more manageable than the $86k+ I originally calculated.

 

At the end of the day, you have to weigh the costs and benefits and decide what's right for you. I'm sure UMD is a fine program and it will give you access to a huge job market, so that sounds good to me.

[ashfaq_1988]

Hi everyone

 

I got a decent offer from UMD (half grad assistantship). Some other schools offered admission too but funding decisions are pending. My goal is to do as much quant as possible in this Masters and then apply for a PhD in policy (or related fields), possibly doing a job for a year in between. Do you think UMD would be a good choice? I would really appreciate some help, really confused at this point.

[goebelb]

Hi everyone

I got a decent offer from UMD (half grad assistantship). Some other schools offered admission too but funding decisions are pending. My goal is to do as much quant as possible in this Masters and then apply for a PhD in policy (or related fields), possibly doing a job for a year in between. Do you think UMD would be a good choice? I would really appreciate some help, really confused at this point.

[goebelb]

Oops sorry - replying on my phone and can't get it to quote correctly. What other schools did you get admitted to? UMD definitely comes off as having less of a quant emphasis than some other programs in my experience.

[Brewmaster]

Hi everyone

 

I got a decent offer from UMD (half grad assistantship). Some other schools offered admission too but funding decisions are pending. My goal is to do as much quant as possible in this Masters and then apply for a PhD in policy (or related fields), possibly doing a job for a year in between. Do you think UMD would be a good choice? I would really appreciate some help, really confused at this point.

Did the funding offer come together with admission decision? I got the admittance letter but no news on funding yet! 

[PublicService]

Hi everyone

 

I got a decent offer from UMD (half grad assistantship). Some other schools offered admission too but funding decisions are pending. My goal is to do as much quant as possible in this Masters and then apply for a PhD in policy (or related fields), possibly doing a job for a year in between. Do you think UMD would be a good choice? I would really appreciate some help, really confused at this point.

 

UMD-MSPP is not particularly quantitative oriented. Its stronger areas (international security, performance management) tend to be less quantitative. But the curriculum is flexible enough if you'd like to take quantitative classes in other departments (econ, poli sci, etc, which are stronger than other options in the DC area, and probably preferable if you plan to apply to PhD programs).

[ashfaq_1988]

Thanks so much goebelb, Brewmaster and PublicService. @Brewmaster the fundning offer came with the admission letter. @goebelb I got offer from CIPA, GWU, GSPIA (Pittsburgh), Humphrey (Minnesota). All of them are making me wait for their funding decision so thus far UMD is the only REAL offer I have since funding is my biggest concern. I feel pretty relieved after reading PubliService's reply. At least there's a way to do what I want to. Thanks everyone again- this forum does help blood pressure level to fall!

[texlax03]

Anyone here apply for the 1 April deadline for Fall 2015? I've applied and have yet to hear back or see any update on the applyyourself page in the notifications.

[Rap Game Harry Kane]

Anyone else end up committing to UMD?  I'll be heading there in the fall.

[texlax03]

Still nothing, have called twice and emailed once and each time (last contact was by phone this Monday) I'm told my application is still under review with the committee. Not sure what could be holding up, but according to the results page no acceptances or rejections have been made in the last month.