MPP Exchange Semester UCLA/USC/UT/AU/Duke

[dschm]

Hi everyone,

I am in the MPP program at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. In the fall semester 2016, I am planning to do an exchange semester in the US.

We can apply for two partner schools. My first choice is Georgetown, but I'm having a hard time deciding on my second choice.

The other partner schools are:

UCLA, USC, UT Austin, Duke, American

Any suggestions on which of these would be the best choice, both academically as well as in location and overall experience? My specialization is policy analysis, so from what I can tell each of these schools will have enough to offer in terms of quantitative courses. 

I am leaning towards either UCLA or USC because I have family in LA, but that wouldn't be the main reason for me to choose a school if there are good arguments for others. It might make things easier though. The policy schools at UCLA and USC both seem to be great, the only thing I read that would make UCLA more appealing is the better/safer location. Any thoughts on which of these schools would be a better choice?

 I might come back to work in the US one day, so good name recognition is a factor as well.

Thanks,

Dennis

[chocolatecheesecake]

I think your fellow Hertie students are really the best resource for you to answer this question. Ask those who have spent a semester at each of these places - there should be quite a few around for the D.C. area schools, especially. I think all the schools you mentioned are fairly well-known institutions, both public and private, with maybe the private ones being just a tiny bit more highly regarded. I attend Duke, which is probably the most geographically different from the others on your list. All the other schools are more or less urban, whereas Duke is situated in Durham, a college town, near a larger city. It's not urban, but it's not rural either. I've gotten to know both of the Hertie students who came the past two years, and they've really enjoyed being at Duke. Good luck wherever you choose to go!