Heinz School Admits

[mppgal55]

Anyone know when Heinz is giving out their need-based aid? They gave their merit scholarships out with acceptances.

I was looking through the admitted students website, and there is another form you have to fill out in addition to the FAFSA. The posted deadline is March 1st, but it is an open deadline. I'm kind of nervous that I didn't hear about this form earlier (I hope I still get need-aid or I can't attend). Did everyone else already know about this form?

[cosmike10]

I was looking through the admitted students website, and there is another form you have to fill out in addition to the FAFSA. The posted deadline is March 1st, but it is an open deadline. I'm kind of nervous that I didn't hear about this form earlier (I hope I still get need-aid or I can't attend). Did everyone else already know about this form?

i didn't know about it until after my acceptance came. sent it in a few days ago. i'm in the same boat as you. pretty sure we'll be ok though.

[Putoots]

I was looking through the admitted students website, and there is another form you have to fill out in addition to the FAFSA. The posted deadline is March 1st, but it is an open deadline. I'm kind of nervous that I didn't hear about this form earlier (I hope I still get need-aid or I can't attend). Did everyone else already know about this form?

I returned it in late February after receiving my decision (I randomly saw the form after poking around the site).

However, I haven't received anything since I mailed the form. I never even received anything confirming that they got it. I would probably call them and mail it out as soon as possible (unless they tell you they don't need it).

So are you seriously considering Heinz? What are you weighing it against? I'd really like to take the scholarship they offered but I'm worried that this slightly-less orthodox program is too focused on organizational and quantitative analysis and less issue-focused. Since I'm doing public policy over IR, I'd like to have academic experience analyzing international issues or case studies. The Ford School would be a lot more money but potentially richer in international policy...

Also, I'm a little uneasy about have the degree MSPPM on my resume as opposed to MPP, which is much more common and recognizable. But maybe I'm getting caught up in minor details.

Thoughts anyone?

[ThinkingAboutPhd]

I emailed about financial aid (need-based, the merit-based has been given out) and they said that they will be putting packages together in April. They actually said that you might not hear about your financial aid before April 15th, when you had to make a decision. I thought that was completely absurd. They said they could give me some preliminary breakdown, which I said yes please to, and then they informed me that I had not submitted my FAFSA. Well, I double checked because I completed it in early February and sure enough i HAD completed it AND sent it to the Heinz school specifically. So now I'm worried that they are disorganized.

Also, I sent the second financial aid app (not FAFSA, the one through the school) a little late as well because I did not know about it either (again, disorganized department) and they said it was fine (I'm guessing because they are not doing anything with them until the beginning of April).

I got a merit scholarship and that certainly helps, but the school is very expensive and with the economy the way it is and no guarantee for a job it would be stupid of me to choose a school that is almost twice as much as other programs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm torn. Heinz MSPPM is ranked 4th in the country (Harvard's MPP is ranked second, even though the school is ranked first, to put it in perspective) so I know what I would be turning down. But I know I'm going to work hard and do something interesting no matter where I go and I don't want to accept admission and then not get aid.

Hopefully the admit weekend will help me make a decision.

[mppboog]

i didn't know about it until after my acceptance came. sent it in a few days ago. i'm in the same boat as you. pretty sure we'll be ok though.

I need to fill out this form and haven't seen it on the sight. Where is it?

[ThinkingAboutPhd]

I need to fill out this form and haven't seen it on the sight. Where is it?

I found it on the accepted students page, but i bet it is in on the financial aid page

[mppgal55]

So are you seriously considering Heinz? What are you weighing it against? I'd really like to take the scholarship they offered but I'm worried that this slightly-less orthodox program is too focused on organizational and quantitative analysis and less issue-focused. Since I'm doing public policy over IR, I'd like to have academic experience analyzing international issues or case studies. The Ford School would be a lot more money but potentially richer in international policy...

Also, I'm a little uneasy about have the degree MSPPM on my resume as opposed to MPP, which is much more common and recognizable. But maybe I'm getting caught up in minor details.

I'm seriously considering Heinz. My other top choice right now is Maryland-College Park. I honestly can't decide. I'm not too worried about having MSPPM v. MPP, because I figure anywhere I apply for a job will likely be familiar enough with Heinz to know what it is.

I'm looking at the DC-track, so I'm a little concerned about not having a focus area because I want to do environmental/energy policy and it seems likely companies would prefer I have some specific training. At Maryland, I have an assistantship and the faculty in environmental/energy policy is absolutely amazing - they have people right in my area, and I would be able to work with them closely. I don't really know about research opportunities at Heinz, and I can't seem to find a faculty member there in my field. (I've emailed to try to find this out). Also, I ideally would like to work in public service, and I am getting the impression that CMU aims more towards private sector work.

That said, I can't find any concrete career facts from Maryland, and Maryland's curriculum is more "floaty" coming from a poli sci background, I really need to get some serious quantitative work under my belt, which CMU offers. Heinz has a lot of really great benefits - networking nights, almuni mentoring, great reputation, etc., but it is so expensive I really want to be sure before I commit. So, hopefully visit weekend will help, and in the meantime I'm emailing people left and right and reading old boards on here for advice.

Does anyone think that Heinz will offer more merit aid after people decline the program, or do you know how to go about asking? Also, if you know anything about research at Heinz, I'd love to hear it.

[coaks]

Also re: MSPPM v. MPP, just put on your resume that you have an "MS in Public Policy" or a "Master's in Public Policy." You don't have to actually write Heinz' abbreviation. And I agree with Juli that anyone that is looking to hire an MPP will definitely know that Heinz is a top 10 program and probably also that they offer an MSPPM specifically. Anyone that isn't looking for an MPP will have little idea what it is anyway.

[res]

I am sorry to invade you guys' topic but I have a quick question if you don't mind (It's not easy to get advice regarding this).

Do you guys know anything about the Engineering and Public Policy program at CMU? I know it's officially not linked to Heinz (it's housed in the engineering department), but I guess it still has a lot overlapping professors/classes/research areas. Any insights would be really appreciated.

I talked with one professor who is involved in EPP department and mechanical department about this program. He told me that job market knows the mechanical engineering more than this program and just some people know about this program. It means that EPP is not well known as well as the other majors. Hope it works

[mppgal55]

If anyone else is considering the DC track program, I spent an hour on the phone with the director today and found out all sorts of information. If you're interested, let me know (pm or on here). I don't want to clog this with the information if no one else is looking at that track. I will put that they had 100 applicants for the DC program this year, and 25 were selected.