Sneaky

DCMPP - those were the two schools I was choosing between in the end. Ultimately, my decision boiled down to Cost: both schools offered scholarships, but GW was significantly more affordable. Curriculum: I appreciated that GW gave me more options for courses and emphasized working while taking classes. An MPP is supposed to be a practical degree, after all! There's no distinction between full-time and part-time students; everyone is in the same sections of the same classes. Community: the faculty, staff, and students I met when visiting GW were consistently welcoming and engaged, and now that I'm here I can confirm - everyone here is very close-knit and active. Even part-time students regularly show up to happy hours, networking events, and even the formal dances and annual retreat that students lead. Honestly, both GW and GU are great schools; you probably couldn't go wrong with either. GW made more sense for me, and I'm more than happy with my decision. Alexarg - You're definitely spot-on about the flexibility of the degree (we can even take classes in Elliott and other GW schools) and the focus on fieldwork (almost everyone works or interns at least part time while studying here). As for how GW's recognition compares to other schools, I feel like it's a nonissue. Here in DC, both Georgetown and GW (and the other area schools you mentioned) are well-respected MPP/MPA programs. The Trachtenberg School has alumni everywhere in DC - local and federal government, non-profit groups, even private consulting firms - and those alumni are great resources for learning about career paths or getting your foot in the door someplace. Hopefully these responses are helpful!

Hey folks, if anyone is still making decisions and has questions about the Trachtenberg School, I'd be happy to offer my two cents as a current student. I made my decision almost exactly 12 months ago so I still remember how tough it can be to choose a grad program!

Current GWU student here, happy to chime in. Compared to some of the other schools I was accepted to (see signature below), GWU probably had less outright 'name recognition' or instant prestige associated with it. People from back home in the Midwest would hear me say "George Washington" and assume I had meant to say "Georgetown." I was worried sick about this before making a final decision, something you can probably understand if you're browsing Grad Cafe right now. However, I can now safely look back and say that I feel silly in retrospect. Within the realm of public policy, GWU's program is certainly held in high regards. While much of its network is located in DC, the school is well-established enough that there are alumni across the country. I have no qualms about being able to land a job if/when I head back to my hometown or wherever else my career might take me, especially if I make the most of my time here in DC and the unique policy opportunities it affords. Lastly, to go back to what the original poster mentioned, I feel grateful that I'll be able to graduate with much more work experience under my belt than I'd have coming from my other top-choice schools. When I graduate, instead of just a list of MPP skills on my resume, I'll have previous jobs and references that show I know how to apply what I learned.

I can't remember specific numbers but, to be honest, I felt like I spent too much. I applied to several schools that I knew I was unlikely to attend unless I received funding, the odds of which were extremely low. Even more than the monetary cost, I do wish I had saved myself the time and stress of going through those application processes!

Current GW Trachtenberg student here - with the MPP or MPA degree, you can choose international development policy or security policy as your area of concentration (or design your own). The overall degree program would not be as internationally focused as other degrees out there, but you could still take plenty of courses in that area (including those in the Elliot school).

Congrats, Hilldog! Way to not only earn that award but to actually make it happen.

Yep, you guessed it! For what it's worth, as others have pointed out, interaction with the school was a big factor I failed to mention. Receiving attention in the form of direct, personal emails from professors and admissions personnel made a strong impression and was definitely reassuring about how they would work with students. Have you made your final decision?

I was about ready to pull my hair out on my way to a decision! Ultimately, I had to think very carefully about my most important factors and how I would weigh them. I also happened to like every single school I applied to, meaning that I couldn't really make a bad choice but I also found it tough to narrow my options. Personally, my biggest considerations were the quality of the program (curriculum, professors, etc.), post-grad prospects (employment figures, networking opportunities, strength of school's 'brand'), and cost (total tuition, funding offers, or future chances for scholarships). The schools I got into were all well-respected programs with strong career services programs and connections in the places I want to work, so in the end funding became the tiebreaker.

Where are you getting the $7k figure? Scholarships or financial aid aside, the sticker-price tuition at GPPI is $20k more than GWU. At any rate, I've narrowed my decision to the same two schools. At this point the main advantage I see at Georgetown is the network and reputation, but since GW has a big DC presence I may be overplaying that advantage in my head.

I went to the Trachtenberg school's admitted student day, and I was definitely impressed. The students and professors I met were friendly, and I got a clearer sense of their curriculum, career services, and so on. The biggest factor they touted was the program's flexibility - MPP and MPA students can easily switch their courseload each semester, so the vast majority of students work full or part-time while taking classes. That wasn't something I was initially looking for in a MPP program, but I can easily see the benefits of this setup. Did anyone else attend? If anyone has any questions about the event I'd be happy to take a stab at answering them.

After this weekend I am in pretty much the same boat, and I agree with your major factors. I definitely liked GW's admitted student day - it made me realize the value of working while studying, something I had not considered beforehand - but I still can't make up my mind. One difference for me is that I would be coming to DC from outside the city, so it's not like I already have a job to hold onto once I start studying. One factor that I am having trouble differentiating is career prospects - the data for recent graduates (which sector they entered, who employed them, how much they earn, etc.) seems very similar across both of these schools, with maybe a slight edge for GPPI. Then again, it seems easier to graduate from GW with work experience already accumulated, so who knows?