Berkeley MPP vs Fletcher

[LifeOnMars]

Hello everyone

Like many of you, I'm in the final throes of the decision-making process and still have mixed feelings. At this point, I am considering the MPP program at UC Berkeley and the MALD program at Fletcher, and here I am just reaching out to get some other points of view! Thanks for your two cents!

If money were no object, I'd likely choose Fletcher because I'd lke to work internationally and Fletcher has a very strong network in a wide range of locations and sectors.  I also happen to be from the Bay Area, and would prefer to go to grad school in a new area. 

However, Berkeley seems to be a great program and would be a LOT cheaper for me. Like 60k cheaper.  I could still do some internationally-focused coursework, but few of my peers would be on similar tracks, and the GSPP network is pretty small outside of California and DC (though it seems to be very strong in the Bay).  However, a handful of current students I met were internationally-oriented, and they spoke postiviely of the program and seemed optimistic about future job prospects abroad.

I've visited both schools.  The students seemed very happy with the program at both places, professors were good at both places (a bit better at Berkeley, tbh, but too small of a sample size to really know), curriculum would be fine with me at both places... My visits did not move the needle very far in either direction.  Almost none of the current students at Berkeley knew anything abotu Fletcher, and vice-versa, making me think that Public Policy and IR circles have far fewer points of contact than I would have expected. Surprisingly, almost none of the current students at Berkeley knew anything about Fletcher, and vice-versa, making me think that Public Policy and IR circles have far fewer points of contact than I would have expected.

I have many interests, and regrettably vague ideas about post-graduation career goals.  Yes, the decision would be much easier if I knew exactly where I wanted to end up!  But I don't. I can say that I have worked abroad for about 7 years already (maybe this might help make up for the lack of international focus/network at Berkeley?), and would like to continue doing that.  On the other hand, I'd also like to be able to work in California at some point in the future.  More generally, I would like to have a varied and diverse career, both geographically and in terms of position/subject area.

Any thoughts? If someone is on here who has post-grad school experience with this, hearing about your experience and perspective would be really useful!

Much appreciated!

[3dender]

My thought, given your "vague ideas about. . . career goals," is that you should go with the more generalist program at Berkeley, which will give you broader training across policy areas and set you up better for domestic work (especially in CA, where the Goldman name weighs significantly more than Fletcher).  Its broader scope could even reveal a new area of interest to you that you hadn't previously considered.  At the same time, even though it will cost more effort than at Fletcher, you should still be able to forge connections abroad, given both your work experience and the quality of faculty/staff at Goldman.

All of those points, combined with the significant savings of going to Goldman, makes it a better choice IMO.  I would also recommend that you start thinking now, in earnest, about what and where you want to do.  What area of policy most fascinates you?  What type of work will give your life meaning and fulfillment?  These are a couple of the questions that can help distill your true desires.

Edited April 8, 2017 by 3dender

[LifeOnMars]

Thanks for the reply! I've defintiely been doing a lot of reflection recently.  I do know that I want to go abroad again, and it seems like that would be easier with Fletcher, but Im not sure that the advantage would be great enough to justify the difference in cost.  Does anyone with experience going through either an MPP/MPA program or Fletcher who went on to work abroad after school have any advice?  Thanks again!

[berkeleympp]

I think that between your desire to go to grad school in a new area and your interests in working internationally - Fletcher would be the better option for you. While cost is a consideration, my understanding is that Fletcher has a phenomenal network and stronger international presence that would be more aligned with your career goals which I think would help justify the difference in cost for you. Additionally, Berkeley's network is much more based in CA so if you wanted to have a more varied network than Fletcher would be better for you and would expand your network tremendously. 

[went_away]

You should probably go to Berkeley because Follow The Money.

Ironically to some, Berkeley may actually give you better career opportunities than Fletcher given its rather advantageous geographic location.