Hertie School of Governance 2016

[ChocChoc]

4 hours ago, Flou said:

Yes

Thanks Flou! Will look it up!

[Ro Ro Ronin]

Hi Guys!

Same here, got the acceptance for MPP, but no funding! :/ 

Any clue regarding job market for Hertie graduates??? I know Hertie advertises that their graduates are quite successful (but so does every other university). As HSoG is a relatively new institute, there is a significant dearth of information on web. I wish I had a more clearer perspective regarding this matter.

Best,

Ro.

 

[sdonovan77]

Hi All,

Great thread.  I am an American who was accepted on March 8 to the MIA program.  I had a couple questions:

I've noticed that some of you were in touch with international alumni.  Was this through your own devices or via the Hertie website?  I would really like to know what kind of career prospects the university holds. (I'm happy to work in Europe)

Did anyone else receive a letter from Brain Capital to fund their tuition?  I was wondering if anyone had experience with it.  The terms (I haven't really seen specifics) seem pretty generous and I'm curious to see if anyone else has participated.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall!

[seaglass0025]

7 hours ago, sdonovan77 said:

Hi All,

Great thread.  I am an American who was accepted on March 8 to the MIA program.  I had a couple questions:

I've noticed that some of you were in touch with international alumni.  Was this through your own devices or via the Hertie website?  I would really like to know what kind of career prospects the university holds. (I'm happy to work in Europe)

Did anyone else receive a letter from Brain Capital to fund their tuition?  I was wondering if anyone had experience with it.  The terms (I haven't really seen specifics) seem pretty generous and I'm curious to see if anyone else has participated.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall!

Hey there sdonovan77! Welcome

Fellow American I see *high five*, sounds like you're pretty certain you'll be taking the offer for Hertie! Did you apply elsewhere? Was Hertie your first choice? Would be interested to hear your reasons for choosing the school. 

I've been in touch with international alumni by reaching out to folks on linkedin and I know one personally who is an alum of a program I am currently on. I know the Hertie website also provides alumni ambassadors and I requested an introduction, was copied to an email from alumni affairs-- but I received no responses from the said person. 

Yes, I have received an email from Brain Capital and I'd also be interested in hearing any thoughts about this from current students! 

 

[be409]

9 hours ago, seaglass0025 said:

Hey there sdonovan77! Welcome

Fellow American I see *high five*, sounds like you're pretty certain you'll be taking the offer for Hertie! Did you apply elsewhere? Was Hertie your first choice? Would be interested to hear your reasons for choosing the school. 

I've been in touch with international alumni by reaching out to folks on linkedin and I know one personally who is an alum of a program I am currently on. I know the Hertie website also provides alumni ambassadors and I requested an introduction, was copied to an email from alumni affairs-- but I received no responses from the said person. 

Yes, I have received an email from Brain Capital and I'd also be interested in hearing any thoughts about this from current students! 

 

You won't find any trials on Brain Capital, as it is the first year that Hertie is offering this program. Still, Brain Capital has a whole network of funds throughout Germany to help students finance their studies. Most of the German private universities are part of that Network. It was founded as a Start Up Company at the top German Business School WHU and is for example also available at the renown Bucerius Law School. They also contacted me after I got atmitted, and I was quite surprised that Hertie is now part of this funding Network, because up til now I only heard about it through friends, who have been studying at these other schools. Sure it sounds awesome but at a second glance, it's really nothing more than a loan without interest, that can even double if you earn too much afterwards. I deem 9% quite high per month and I don't want to begin work-life with such a burden. But I guess for you Americans, who are used to educational-debt, loan-wise this is still cheap compared to your universities. Since I didn't get any funding, I guess I will have to look out for a solution. Not sure if Brain Capital is such a solution. On the other hand, it is also very difficult to get external scholarships.

[sdonovan77]

Seaglass,

*high five* right back at ya man!  I am pretty confident I'll be attending in the fall.  I just want to work out the best financing plan first and would really like to get some concrete illustrations of an international student building a career after attending the school (I've found a couple but am still not totally convinced).  Berlin sounds incredible and the program, while a little young, seems like its really headed in the right direction and has a great focus on quality.  I also really liked the Trade and Finance track in the MIA, it's something that's always interested me and the fact that I could get into it without real prior financial experience was big for me. 

I've also applied to Sciences Po PSIA (app went in yesterday) but am a little doubtful of my chances there.  I was a French major and lived and studied in France for about a year so it would certainly be my first choice but I know it can be very competitive.

be409,

For an American student, the terms of the brain capital loan are fantastic to the point where I thought it might be a scam.  It's funny to hear someone say it's "nothing but a loan without interest" like it's not a big deal.  That is incredible to an American student!  I'm glad to hear that the program is well established in Germany though.  I'll probably be pursuing it as well as FAFSA funding at home.  Thanks for the reply.

Edited March 16, 2016 by sdonovan77

[be409]

6 minutes ago, sdonovan77 said:

Seaglass,

*high five* right back at ya man!  I am pretty confident I'll be attending in the fall.  I just want to work out the best financing plan first and would really like to get some concrete illustrations of an international student building a career after attending the school (I've found a couple but am still not totally convinced).  Berlin sounds incredible and the program, while a little young, seems like its really headed in the right direction and has a great focus on quality.  I've also applied to Sciences Po (app went in yesterday) but am a little doubtful of my chances there.

be409,

For an American student, the terms of the brain capital loan are fantastic to the point where I thought might be a scam.  It's funny to hear someone say it's "nothing but a loan without interest" like it's not a big deal.  That is incredible to an American student!  I'm glad to hear that the program is well established in Germany though.  I'll probably be pursuing it as well as FAFSA funding at home.  Thanks for the reply.

I am totally aware, that you Americans have a different point of view in terms of education and especially educational debt. I know that you have a horrendous amount of money to pay if you want to get decent education. Luckily we Europeans and especially Germans have a different system, that's funded by the state and ensures everybody can attend University. For example, I didn't pay a dime in tuition fees for my undergrad degree, so it's quite clear that from our point of view, tuition fees that are that high are making us think at least 3,4,5..10 times. I know that it must be awesome for you, coming from the states and overall Brain Capital seems like a solid deal, will be thinking about it as well.

[seaglass0025]

9 hours ago, sdonovan77 said:

Seaglass,

*high five* right back at ya man!  I am pretty confident I'll be attending in the fall.  I just want to work out the best financing plan first and would really like to get some concrete illustrations of an international student building a career after attending the school (I've found a couple but am still not totally convinced).  Berlin sounds incredible and the program, while a little young, seems like its really headed in the right direction and has a great focus on quality.  I also really liked the Trade and Finance track in the MIA, it's something that's always interested me and the fact that I could get into it without real prior financial experience was big for me. 

I've also applied to Sciences Po PSIA (app went in yesterday) but am a little doubtful of my chances there.  I was a French major and lived and studied in France for about a year so it would certainly be my first choice but I know it can be very competitive.

be409,

For an American student, the terms of the brain capital loan are fantastic to the point where I thought it might be a scam.  It's funny to hear someone say it's "nothing but a loan without interest" like it's not a big deal.  That is incredible to an American student!  I'm glad to hear that the program is well established in Germany though.  I'll probably be pursuing it as well as FAFSA funding at home.  Thanks for the reply.

sdonovan77, agree with you on so many points you've made in your post! There are folks out there for sure who are foreign students but it's difficult to get a truly solid idea of how precisely the odds are for non-European folks. It does help that it seems like administration is very concerned about the student body and is efficient. Also waiting to hear from other programs as well, so we'll see about it. But like like you, I feel optimistic because the program at Hertie seems stellar and everyone i've spoken with about Berlin has been raving about it! 

9 hours ago, be409 said:

I am totally aware, that you Americans have a different point of view in terms of education and especially educational debt. I know that you have a horrendous amount of money to pay if you want to get decent education. Luckily we Europeans and especially Germans have a different system, that's funded by the state and ensures everybody can attend University. For example, I didn't pay a dime in tuition fees for my undergrad degree, so it's quite clear that from our point of view, tuition fees that are that high are making us think at least 3,4,5..10 times. I know that it must be awesome for you, coming from the states and overall Brain Capital seems like a solid deal, will be thinking about it as well.

Indeed, though I was a lucky undergrad since I got a full ride. Loans are a new concept for me in a sense, but in terms of looking broadly and in comparison with many of my compatriots taking out loans is the norm in the states for sure! My boyfriend is from the EU and was horrified when he had to finance his MBA  Don't get me wrong, I'm also horrified but more willing to bite the bullet I suppose. 

[creativeusername]

Congratulations to all of you that got accepted.

I'm a current student at the school and am happy to field a couple of questions.

[stmas78]

30 minutes ago, creativeusername said:

Congratulations to all of you that got accepted.

I'm a current student at the school and am happy to field a couple of questions.

Do you think it still makes sense to apply now? The deadline is May 1st (for Public Policy), but I am guessing a lot of spots have already been filled.

[seaglass0025]

18 hours ago, creativeusername said:

Congratulations to all of you that got accepted.

I'm a current student at the school and am happy to field a couple of questions.

Hi there! Wondering if you could tell us a bit about your background, what your interests and focus are, nationality, what made you choose Hertie (what were your other choices?), and the pros and cons you've experienced as a student. Please feel free to be as candid as you wish! Thanks in advance! 

[seaglass0025]

18 hours ago, stmas78 said:

Do you think it still makes sense to apply now? The deadline is May 1st (for Public Policy), but I am guessing a lot of spots have already been filled.

Well, I think they have a May 1st deadline for a reason...if they already anticipated being booked up already they could've easily made their deadline sooner. 

What is for sure though is that your chances may be more minimal as this is rolling admissions. But you still may have a good shot! Go for it!!

[creativeusername]

2 hours ago, seaglass0025 said:

Hi there! Wondering if you could tell us a bit about your background, what your interests and focus are, nationality, what made you choose Hertie (what were your other choices?), and the pros and cons you've experienced as a student. Please feel free to be as candid as you wish! Thanks in advance! 

I was 26 when I entered the school and had to decide between LSE, Sciences Po, and Hertie. I chose Hertie because they were the most responsive in their communication and the most generous with financial aid. I also did quite a bit of research on all three schools, speaking with both alumni and current students about their experience. I was hard pressed to find someone who had anything bad to say about the school. This was less true for Sciences Po and LSE.

The Pros as I experienced them:

• School is cheaper than competitor schools (though - full disclosure - I did receive a scholarship);
• Berlin as a city is much cheaper than London, Paris, or New York;
• The school is very small, making it easier to assimilate into the Hertie community and build friendships;
• The school is entirely dedicated to the MPP (and now MIA) meaning that all of the infrastructure and human resources are at your sole disposal;
• The school is new, so the facilities are nice (rooftop terrace, bathrooms, classrooms, etc.)
• The academics are the same quality as other GPPN schools;
• How you conduct your studies is very flexible. You can take a semester or a year off; do a professional year; study abroad, etc.
• The school has some really cool study abroad options, and everybody has the opportunity to go abroad if they are flexible;
• Because the staff is mindful of the school's nascent reputation, they work extra hard to provide good services;
• The same is true of alumni with respect to helping students.

The cons:

• The school has a comparatively small campus. This can lead to difficulties in finding empty study rooms, e.g. for group work;
• The selection of electives on offer are comparatively small. My impression is that the list is becoming increasingly diversified, especially now that the MIA exists. Nevertheless, prospective students should study available courses closely to avoid disappointment later on.
• Due to the school's size, there are comparatively fewer clubs and associations. However, Hertie is very open to students starting their own associations and clubs.

Those are really the only grievances that immediately come to my mind. The first one never bothered me since I study at home anyway. As for the second one, that's an easily avoided pitfall. 

You're going to like some people and classes more than others, but you have that everywhere. 

Assuming that you're set on doing an MPP - as opposed to law or business school - Hertie is as good a school as any. If you're American and want to go back to the U.S. for work, well, people do that all the time. There are a lot of Americans at Hertie.

Edited March 21, 2016 by creativeusername

[creativeusername]

20 hours ago, stmas78 said:

Do you think it still makes sense to apply now? The deadline is May 1st (for Public Policy), but I am guessing a lot of spots have already been filled.

If you're interested in attending, you should apply.

[sdonovan77]

20 hours ago, creativeusername said:

Congratulations to all of you that got accepted.

I'm a current student at the school and am happy to field a couple of questions.

First off, thanks for offering up your expertise, it's much appreciated.  Your response above is really helpful for those of us trying to make a decision in the coming weeks.  I was wondering if you could get into more specifics regarding what an international student's (I'm an American) career path may be after Hertie.  Are there some specific companies or organizations that Hertie alum tend to succeed with? Where have your friends who have graduated ended up?  I'm open to working in Europe or the States but really want to make sure there's a quality ROI on the degree.  Thanks again for your help.  I'm leaning really hard toward Hertie for pretty much the reasons you listed above but want to be absolutely sure that I'm employable after graduation.

[creativeusername]

22 minutes ago, sdonovan77 said:

First off, thanks for offering up your expertise, it's much appreciated.  Your response above is really helpful for those of us trying to make a decision in the coming weeks.  I was wondering if you could get into more specifics regarding what an international student's (I'm an American) career path may be after Hertie.  Are there some specific companies or organizations that Hertie alum tend to succeed with? Where have your friends who have graduated ended up?  I'm open to working in Europe or the States but really want to make sure there's a quality ROI on the degree.  Thanks again for your help.  I'm leaning really hard toward Hertie for pretty much the reasons you listed above but want to be absolutely sure that I'm employable after graduation.

In general, and from what I can tell, graduates from the Hertie school end up in the same organizations as graduates from other public policy schools. 

I think there's a propensity by incoming students to overrate the degree to which your alma mater will secure you a job. For public policy schools, in my opinion, the name of the school you went to matters much less than other factors. Do you know what job you want to do after graduation? What are you doing to meet people in that field? What skills do you need to have to be employable/competitive in that field? Can you build those as well or better at Hertie than elsewhere? Are your soft skills on point? Are you using the summer to get an internship in that field? 

To be sure, there is uncertainty for just about everyone after graduation. This is as true for people from HKS and SIPA as it is for students from Hertie. It is up to you to make the most of your education, to use it as one stepping stone on a path that you are hopefully in the process of defining as clearly as possible. If you have a goal in mind, you will be able to achieve it sooner or later.  

People are uncomfortable with the idea, but, in the end, it will always come down to you. Nobody gets hired because they went to a specific school. For entry-level jobs, what matters are the skills and qualities you bring to the table, and how well can you convey those in an interview. Yes, school names are sometimes used as a proxy for those skills and qualities. However, if you write a good cover letter and have a decent CV - or better yet: network yourself in - you'll get an interview. The rest is up to you. 

EDIT: To be clear, the fact that Hertie alumns can and do end up at the same organizations as people from other schools doesn't mean you should go to the Hertie school. Going there should make sense and be compatible with your overall professional and personal ambitions. For instance, if it's your dream to work on capitol hill, yea, you could probably get there as a Hertie school alumn, but it would likely be much easier to just go to American, George Washington, or Georgetown and spend two years networking the hell out of the beltway --- then again, someone on Capitol Hill might be looking for someone who has experience on matters of European Governance one day.... it all depends

Edited March 21, 2016 by creativeusername

[sdonovan77]

7 minutes ago, creativeusername said:

People are uncomfortable with the idea, but, in the end, it will always come down to you. 

I was afraid you would say that!  

Thanks again for the thoughtful response.  I'm happy to hear that the school is essentially on par with the other GPPN schools. I really like the Hertie program and have been very impressed with their administration's work during the application process, particularly compared to other schools. (I'm looking at you Sciences Po).  Really my only concern is the "prestige" factor, but if you've been happy with your experience that certainly helps put me at ease.

[seaglass0025]

10 hours ago, creativeusername said:

I was 26 when I entered the school and had to decide between LSE, Sciences Po, and Hertie. I chose Hertie because they were the most responsive in their communication and the most generous with financial aid. I also did quite a bit of research on all three schools, speaking with both alumni and current students about their experience. I was hard pressed to find someone who had anything bad to say about the school. This was less true for Sciences Po and LSE.

The Pros as I experienced them:

• School is cheaper than competitor schools (though - full disclosure - I did receive a scholarship);
• Berlin as a city is much cheaper than London, Paris, or New York;
• The school is very small, making it easier to assimilate into the Hertie community and build friendships;
• The school is entirely dedicated to the MPP (and now MIA) meaning that all of the infrastructure and human resources are at your sole disposal;
• The school is new, so the facilities are nice (rooftop terrace, bathrooms, classrooms, etc.)
• The academics are the same quality as other GPPN schools;
• How you conduct your studies is very flexible. You can take a semester or a year off; do a professional year; study abroad, etc.
• The school has some really cool study abroad options, and everybody has the opportunity to go abroad if they are flexible;
• Because the staff is mindful of the school's nascent reputation, they work extra hard to provide good services;
• The same is true of alumni with respect to helping students.

The cons:

• The school has a comparatively small campus. This can lead to difficulties in finding empty study rooms, e.g. for group work;
• The selection of electives on offer are comparatively small. My impression is that the list is becoming increasingly diversified, especially now that the MIA exists. Nevertheless, prospective students should study available courses closely to avoid disappointment later on.
• Due to the school's size, there are comparatively fewer clubs and associations. However, Hertie is very open to students starting their own associations and clubs.

Those are really the only grievances that immediately come to my mind. The first one never bothered me since I study at home anyway. As for the second one, that's an easily avoided pitfall. 

You're going to like some people and classes more than others, but you have that everywhere. 

Assuming that you're set on doing an MPP - as opposed to law or business school - Hertie is as good a school as any. If you're American and want to go back to the U.S. for work, well, people do that all the time. There are a lot of Americans at Hertie.

Many thanks my friend! Not only informative but also comforting to hear... you've affirmed a lot of my own pros and cons looking from the outside in. Are you American by the way? Or European? 

Are you doing a Professional Year currently? What kinds of opportunities have students gotten for internships and professional year and of the alums you know, where have they gone after graduation? As you mentioned above, I'm aware that a lot has to do with student ability but it seems like different MPP programs attract a variety of students who end up pursing more of one area than another or multiple more than others. Does it seem for the most part that a majority of graduates have no problem obtaining the jobs/opportunities they set their minds to?

Appreciate it! 

Edited March 22, 2016 by seaglass0025

[creativeusername]

14 hours ago, seaglass0025 said:

Many thanks my friend! Not only informative but also comforting to hear... you've affirmed a lot of my own pros and cons looking from the outside in. Are you American by the way? Or European? 

Are you doing a Professional Year currently? What kinds of opportunities have students gotten for internships and professional year and of the alums you know, where have they gone after graduation? As you mentioned above, I'm aware that a lot has to do with student ability but it seems like different MPP programs attract a variety of students who end up pursing more of one area than another or multiple more than others. Does it seem for the most part that a majority of graduates have no problem obtaining the jobs/opportunities they set their minds to?

Appreciate it! 

No problem. Glad to see people doing their due diligence.

I spent most of my life in Europe, but was not born there. 

I did not do the professional year, though that is a popular option with many students. My sense is that it is preferred by those students who are on the younger end of the spectrum and may not have previously garnered much work experience.

If you google "Hertie School student profiles" you can look at detailed profiles of each class going three years back. This should answer your question about demography/background/internships.

To be completely honest, I have not had that much contact with alumni (though I'm sure they'd be very helpful if I reached out to them) -- I recall that, as with many other public policy schools, the alumni graduate pool split more or less into thirds with respect to the field of work they went into (1/3 public, 1/3 private, 1/3 NGO). 

Many of the German students pursue careers in various branches of the German government; the GIZ also seems to be quite popular; a lot of students go into consulting (management or PR); people join the UN; some work for start-ups;...... you get the idea. It's a lot of people, with diverse interests, doing many different things. The bottom line is this: any organization that graduates from other prominent MPP programs go to, there's probably also a Hertie alumnus there by now.

https://www.hertie-school.org/alumni/get-in-touch-alumni-worldwide/  This page from the website has a selection of alumni grouped by region that are willing to talk to prospective students. Perhaps you want to reach out to some of the people from the U.S. to ask them directly about what it was like finding a job with a Hertie diploma. 

 

Edited March 22, 2016 by creativeusername
added link

[Christina123]

Hi everyone, 

I was accepted for the MIA program at Hertie as well as for the International Relations program at Freie Uni/Uni Potsdam/Humboldt Uni. I have a really hard time deciding which offer to accept. Anyone around who knows anything about the career prospects from graduates of the public universities as opposed to the Hertie alumni? I definitely do not want to do a PhD so I like the idea that Hertie emphasizes the contact with professionals in the field. 

I'd appreciate hearing from you!

 

[creativeusername]

On 3/31/2016 at 3:27 PM, Christina123 said:

Hi everyone, 

I was accepted for the MIA program at Hertie as well as for the International Relations program at Freie Uni/Uni Potsdam/Humboldt Uni. I have a really hard time deciding which offer to accept. Anyone around who knows anything about the career prospects from graduates of the public universities as opposed to the Hertie alumni? I definitely do not want to do a PhD so I like the idea that Hertie emphasizes the contact with professionals in the field. 

I'd appreciate hearing from you!

 

From what I've heard, the IR program at FU/Potsdam/Humboldt is pretty solid. I really can't speak to what type of resources they offer in the way of career services, etc. It's a small program at a good university, though, so I'd assume that they take good care of their students. You can always call them and ask.

I think the two major determinants here would be (1) Finances and (2) Curriculum -- I'll restate my recommendation to look closely at the curricula of the programs you are interested in to discern how much they match up with your academic/personal interests.

I wouldn't base my decision on some abstract notion of how much a program "emphasizes the contact with professionals in the field" -- it is up to you to network and make the most of your time at the school you attend. Hertie sets up "professional perspectives" sessions where organizations come and present their institution and speak with students a bit. I'd imagine FU does the same thing. At any rate, these aren't meetings that will make or break your career (prospects), not least because there's no guarantee that the organizations visiting campus will be the ones you're actually interested in.

Edited April 4, 2016 by creativeusername

[Christina123]

Thanks for your opinion! So you wouldn't say that the Hertie program is in itself more practically oriented and thus makes it easier for graduates to find their way into the labor market? What about the professional development courses? The curriculum of both programs is pretty convincing to me, of course the public universities have a huge amount of classes from which to choose. Do you know if it is possible to check a more detailed course catalogue for Hertie? I have only found that kind of information for the IR program and for Hertie the electives come with no description at all.

[creativeusername]

5 hours ago, Christina123 said:

Thanks for your opinion! So you wouldn't say that the Hertie program is in itself more practically oriented and thus makes it easier for graduates to find their way into the labor market? What about the professional development courses? The curriculum of both programs is pretty convincing to me, of course the public universities have a huge amount of classes from which to choose. Do you know if it is possible to check a more detailed course catalogue for Hertie? I have only found that kind of information for the IR program and for Hertie the electives come with no description at all.

The professional development courses are cool. You can take anything from basic Excel to media courses where you practice giving radio and tv interviews (that one is particularly fun) - As far as Hertie's curriculum overall is concerned, it's true: many assignments take the form of a presentation or a memo as opposed to longer research papers. I can't speak to what assignments are like at FU. 

To be sure, I wasn't trying to suggest that Hertie's curriculum isn't practically oriented. It definitely is, and potentially more so than a "traditional" Master's at a public university. I'm just not convinced that that fact alone will somehow make you more attractive to potential employers. And again, I do not know the details of the FU program. Best to call and ask if there are no details on the website with respect to the weighting of "traditional" academics vs practical skills.

As for the course descriptions for the electives: http://bfy.tw/564T

Edited April 5, 2016 by creativeusername

[Christina123]

Alright, thanks again for your help! 

[seaglass0025]

How many of you guys have formally committed or are planning to?