Harvard IEP vs Penn IEDP

[jimglue]

Fiancee is faced with the two choices. Tried to find resources online to compare pros/cons and career focus for graduates but couldn't find any so I'm turning to the lovely people on thegradcafe. Would anyone be kind of enough to outline what type of candidates go to each school and the pros/cons? Thank you in advance.

[Vulpix]

1 hour ago, jimglue said:

Fiancee is faced with the two choices. Tried to find resources online to compare pros/cons and career focus for graduates but couldn't find any so I'm turning to the lovely people on thegradcafe. Would anyone be kind of enough to outline what type of candidates go to each school and the pros/cons? Thank you in advance.

I am currently facing the same choice as your fiancee.  Will  he/she have the chance to visit either school?  I will be doing so for both schools this weekend, so can hopefully weigh in even more by Sunday.  Both programs seem excellent.  The Penn program has the required summer internship in a developing country, which may or may not be appealing depending on the existing level of experience your fiancee has?  (AKA more experience, go to Harvard for the quick degree, instead of the longer program + internship at Penn).  I think Penn has on average a younger cohort (slightly less work experience, though not especially notable).

Penn's program is relatively new (2008) so career data is less available.  I have heard that Harvard is slightly more quant-focused, but that may not be true, and your career is certainly what you make of it.

[JB91]

I am facing the same dilemma. Can anyone of you share what you chose and how it worked?