Columbia MPA-ESP vs Maryland MPP

[kathena]

Columbia MPA-Environmental Science and Policy is a very intensive one year program, and also expensive. Even though 10,000 bucks fellowship offered, it still costs a lot.

 

Maryland MPP with concentration on environmental policy, in-state tuition, half graduate assistantships

 

 

Would like hear some insight comments from you guys? Does a master from Columbia help a lot on jobs or future Ph.D application?

 

Thank you so much. 

[rising_star]

I would go to Maryland. I don't think that simply having a degree from Columbia will really help you that much on future Ph.D. applications. The Maryland degree might also be a broader degree, which could ultimately make you more employable. Even if it doesn't, having less student loan debt will enable you to take jobs you might otherwise have to pass up.

[kathena]

I would go to Maryland. I don't think that simply having a degree from Columbia will really help you that much on future Ph.D. applications. The Maryland degree might also be a broader degree, which could ultimately make you more employable. Even if it doesn't, having less student loan debt will enable you to take jobs you might otherwise have to pass up.

Thank you rising-star.

 

 

I prefer to Maryland, for

1) longer program period, so that I will have more opportunitiies to do research and take internships (though SIPA also hold captone projects)  

2) Maryland quite focus on policy analysis, I think it's a more applicaple and transferable skill for jobs

3) Maryland offers me a generous funding package compared to SIPA

4) Close to DC, still a good location

 

However, SIPA has excellent reputation, higher student profiles(expected), renowned faculty(might not accessible to one year professional students) I just need to persuade myself that it will not lose much to not attend SIPA.