Berkeley Goldman MPP vs Harvard Kennedy MPP 2015

[TROD43]

I found a similar thread for last year, but wanted to create one for the newly admitted folks who are in the midst of decision making. 

 

I have a few programs that I'm exploring, but GSPP (substantial scholarship) and Kennedy (funding pending) have surfaced to the top. As others have in the past, I'm having some trouble deciding between the two. I'm planning on visiting both schools and I've already spoken with students at both as well. I'm specifically curious about the curriculum differences, the quality of the professors, the extracurriculars (policy journals, internships (summer and during the year), other enrichment opportunities?), practice vs research focus, etc. 

 

Some additional details:

 

- I'm interested in social policy (women's issues and poverty alleviation)

- I'm not interested in working at the federal level or in DC

- I'm not interested in international development, but would like to have the ability to go to a school with international recognition since I'm from the Caribbean and it's not a sure thing I'll be staying in the US for the rest of my life. 

- I have a very good network in NYC of both prestigious research organizations and non-profits, which I could tap back into once I'm done with grad school. 

- I'm entertaining the idea of a PhD (Anthro or sociology), but not yet sold on the idea. Would like to got a school that doesn't close that door for me. 

 

Other offers I have on the table:

- SIPA MPA ($0 funding)

- Harris MPP (substantial funding)

- NYU Wagner (lots of funding, potentially the cheapest option) 

 

Phew! OK. Any thoughts or suggestions on how to go about choosing or some of the consideration you are also making in regards to these schools would be great. 

 

Congratulations to all!! Very exciting stuff. 

[MJA87]

Berkeley Goldman and HKS are obviously amazing schools but, depending on the numbers, I'd probably be leaning towards Wagner. It too is a very good school in a huge job market, where you already have an extensive network, AND it's your cheapest option.

 

Like I said, the numbers make a difference. If HKS is your dream school and it's ~$20,000 more than Wagner, I'd say go HKS, but if the difference in cost is much much more, I'd definitely take Wagner. Great education from an impressive school, in a world-class city where you already have a professional network, for much less debt? That's an easy choice as far as I'm concerned.

[TROD43]

Thanks for your response! Points well taken. 

 

Half of the funding that Wagner is providing is tied to a graduate assistant position doing office work 20hrs/week during the first year, so not something that seems particularly enriching, but greatly lowers my debt. This strikes me as a lot of time that I'm not able to dedicate to research, study for class, and more meaningful internship/practice-based opportunities. It's funding with some strings attached, I guess. For that reason, I'm entertaining the idea, but not really sold on it yet. 

[kooyah]

I'm just going to surmise what I've read in previous Berkeley & Harvard threads, research on the schools, and multiple skype sessions I've had with friends who are now alumni from both schools. 

 

Firstly, I'd go down the route least riddled with debt. Speaking to your points, I believe extra debt from HKS is NOT worth it, especially if you don't plan on working in DC or internationally and because you already have outstanding admissions with funding. The education you can receive at HKS is top notch, but that also holds true from your other admits. Both the Berkeley and Harvard name carry tremendous weight overseas (along with MIT, Princeton, and Stanford noted in my travels) but Harvard is undoubtedly King. Since Berkeley is in that elite class, the recognition will be there, so I wound't worry too much about it. Also, I don't think either school will harm your case for a doctorate more than it can help, which isn't much either. 

 

To your first point, Berkeley reigns King on social issues. An alumnus also confirmed that the women's policy journal/circle is absolutely buzzing and entertains a number of prominent women that visit Goldman. It's also been noted that Berkeley doesn't get as much of a constant stream of prominent people to speak at the school. 

 

On curriculum, Goldman's is more quant focused relative to Harvard which I personally find as a plus. Goldman trains generalists and at HKS you must choose a concentration. I find the latter a little restricting since my personal interests lay across different courses in varying concentrations. This coupled with the fact that Harvard grads do indeed use a bidding system that's a bit disconcerting because some of your said points must go to classes you need first making it harder to get into popular courses such as HBS's famed Negotiations course. It seems much easier at Goldman to tailor your MPP to what you want career wise. No core curriculum is full proof but the idea of more applicable quant as ground training is appealing to me personally. 

 

As far as practicality of what you learn, at Goldman you MUST complete the notorious 48 hour policy project designed and assigned by faculty to simulate a real work place situation, the IPA (Introduction to policy analysis final written and oral presentation based on real client pro bono cases) at the end of year 1, and the APA (Advance Policy Analysis) solo project that serves as your master's thesis that is done with a client organization (that you typically get paid somewhere around $6,000 on average) at the end of year 2, along with a REQUIRED summer internship. I'm not sure about the range of HKS required projects but I know there are definite options, one of them being spending a significant time abroad (and domestically?) at a client location serving to use your policy skills to design and implement a solution to some problem. Alumni at both schools have noted that their multiple networking events at and around the school in surrounding cities (and both in DC) are pretty legit and you can even get multiple verbal agreements on job offers in a single event. That to me is probably the most important point, because after your first job offer, the school you went to is a one second glance when applying for positions thereafter. Also, if you already have a network in New York, the degree where you're going to obtain your masters should matter a lot less. However, if you want the west coast connection, Berkeley.

 

Some questions I would further ask myself in your shoes. Do I like snow and the cold in general enough to live in it half the year? Do I value a tight-knit, supportive community or a bigger, seemingly more diverse sprawl of folks from around the world. How active do I want to be in interacting with professors (Berkeley is much more accessible). If not Federal or International work, what organizations would I like to work with and which schools have those connections? Just to name a few. I'm obviously slanting towards Cal because I simply see it as a place where I'll really enjoy Goldman, my life outside of it in an unbeatable environment for 20/30 somethings, and my life AFTER it, debt free and free to choose where I want to work not having to choose high paying/soul crushing work because of debt. 

 

Side note: we must be a couple of the very few people who was offered substantial funding since Berkeley is public and doesn't have deep pockets. Good luck!

Edited March 19, 2015 by kooyah