I think you would be more likely to be perceived as that person based on relevant work experience rather than the degree – and for what you suggest – the studio is going to be working with lawyers & accountants. My daughter definitely gets involved with that sort of stuff, interfacing with lawyers, accountants, insurance brokers regularly, as she handles the business end of things - so she’s got to be aware of tax issues, liability, intellectual property, etc. But most of that is knowledge she has acquired on the job – she found very little of what was covered in her MPA curriculum was focused on the type of issues that she dealt with regularly with her job. That’s why I suggested that the program with an arts-focused concentration option might be better suited to your needs – it was a source of frustration for my d. that her program didn’t offer any arts-management focused courses.
Her situation was dictated by circumstance – SIPA didn’t offer her money and they didn’t have a part-time program, so she turned them down. I remember she was offered fairly big scholarships from U. of Chicago and JHU, but not enough to make it feasible for her to attend. Unfortunately at the grad school level the school the scholarships are simply tuition discounts which still leave a lot of money owed. (In other words if tuition is $50K and you are given a $25K scholarship, that still leaves you owing $25K plus having to manage living expenses.)
Do you have other sources of funds, such as parental support?
Just to be clear, the rankings you are looking at are for international relations programs, not for straight public policy. For IR programs, Columbia does rank close to the top. For public policy, USC is better, based solely on the rankings, not on any knowledge.
JHU SAIS is strictly for international relations/policy/business - there is no general MPA degree there. Even SIPA seems more focused on international than local. USC seems very focused on public policy.
It seems you are looking for validation for going to Columbia full pay vs USC at half tuition. If you want to work in international policy, that could be the case or if you only want to be in NYC. But it seems from an economic perspective and your stated goals, USC will be much less expensive and still offer you a great education at a highly regarded program. But of course it is up to you and only you can answer the question as to whether SIPA is worth an additional $55K or more.
If working in the entertainment industry is your goal, it’s not clear how going to HGSE will get you there. Similarly, Columbis SIPA doesn’t seem like it is the path to a career in entertainment either.
Assuming that you want to be on the administrative side of the entertainment industry and not the creative side, why don’t you do some informational interviews with people in the entertainment industry who have positions that interest you. You could learn about their backgrounds and how they got to where they are?? Check Linked In for clues or maybe see if your undergrad school has any alums in the industry. Doing those interview might give you a clearer idea of the kinds of grad programs that might lead you to your goal.
I’m guessing that the OP is not at all sure of goals at this point, but is feeling stuck with no clear path for advancement and is thinking that an advanced degree of some sort is needed. I understand that sentiment, because that is where my DD was, 3 years out of college, and finding herself essentially stuck on the administrative assistant / office manager track. But her goal wasn’t to improve her standing with the media company she worked for, but rather to get some sort of credential that would take her in more fulfilling direction. She fully intended at the time to seek different employment. If she had known that 4 years down the line her company would have reorganized & promoted her to a management level administrative position, she probably wouldn’t have wanted to apply to grad school.
Unfortunately, I don’t think an MPA is particular valuable within the entertainment industry – if any degree has cachet, an MBA would probably be preferable. But I think there is also value to just building a reservoir of contacts and experience through continued work. And part of the process is just getting older. My d. understood and was frustrated by what she perceived as “ageism” – no one took her seriously because she was the youngest & newest person on staff. But I don’t think she quite understood that the simply staying in the same place over time would resolve that problem.
Thank you all for your input. It’s really appreciated. It seems like yes I do not yet have a clear clear direction. I applied to policy schools because it’s always been a subject area that I’ve liked and most of my volunteer experience has dealt with rebuilding Detroit. I think my work in Detroit is what got me into these policy programs despite my career in media.
@calmom you are quite spot on. I do feel stuck. I know I want a media career but I see that there are so many people who do other things beforehand. I was thinking I can get a degree in a new area I enjoy, work in education/policy somehow and then end my career as an entertainment executive. I suppose none of this makes sense.
I think that both of my kids with MPA degrees are still feeling stuck, but they are just now stuck at a different level. (Better for their bank accounts, but they have their share of frustrations with their current jobs.)
Given that USC has offered a half-tuition scholarship, and that they offer an MPP with policy & media specialization… it seems to me that is the obvious choice. It’s the more affordable of your options and the only one that offers something close to what you think you want to do with your degree.
thank you for your response! For am update, I am close to deciding on Harvard GSE. I visited the campus, met with students and just really liked the program. Once specialization focuses on tech, media, and education and it just connected with me and I like where the alumni have ended up (disney, sesame Street, nbc, etc).
The immediate cost of the program (not including food, personal expenses) would be 30K.
I am still in the process of seeing whether going back to school is the right move for me
My former post-college roommate went through that program. From what I’ve heard from him and observed after his graduation, that program…along with the rest of Harvard’s GSE isn’t going to give you the networks, connections, or background for your stated goals.
He went through it because he was already contemplating being a Science and Computer technology instructor in middle/high school and for that, Harvard’s GSE program in tech, media, and education makes sense.
Don’t see it as much if your intention is to go into public policy work/consulting in the private sector unless it’s restricted to education/education policy.
You’re much more likely to get the networks, connections, and education at USC’s program than Harvard GSE because of its proximity to Hollywood and plenty of future aspiring entertainers(Top 3 Film school), aspiring entertainment lawyers(Top 20 law school with strong alum connections in Southern Cal), etc.
Unless you want to pursue teaching mostly in K-12 or work in education/public policy related to education…especially K-12, Harvard’s GSE program…even one in Tech, Media, and Education is far less likely to provide what you need for your goals than USC or other programs on your application list.
Having family who attended HKS, I hope you don’t decide to go to HGSE as a substitute for HKS. Some students do and you will have a dramatically different experience and take very different courses. I agree with others that I don’t think HGSE will meet your aspirations. If HKS is you first choice and you have been waitlisted, write to them, reiterate your interest and provide any information that can strengthen your application (make sure it relates to public policy!).
While Princeton funds literally all of its students, my N. was granted a full scholarship by HKS. She was in its MPP Program. The scholarship covered all her tuition and fees and a bit of her room and board. She borrowed the remainder during her first year. In year second year, her scholarship went up a bit and she covered the difference working as a teaching assistant (or whatever they call them). She loved working as a TA.
Hey all! Providing an update because you all have given me such great advice.
About two months ago, I landed a pretty great opportunity within the entertainment industry. I’ve been working all summer with the thought that soon I’d have to go to HGSE but I am hesitant.
After much evaluation, a degree in education (plus the $50k debt) does not really align with my career aspirations. A lot of my mentors, however, are telling me to go to Harvard regardless of cost and degree program because it’s a network.
My plan was to go to HGSE then onto business school so that I can ultimately end up in private sector (entertainment/media).
But man, I just can’t seem to get myself to believe that HGSE is best next step for me, especially now that I’ve landed a dream job position
Perhaps a network of educators – which I seriously doubt; regardless, will having a rolodex of educators help you in your planned career (which is NOT education)?
OTOH, a top B-school will provide you with a network that you can actually use.
See if you can defer Harvard for a year. It sounds like you really love your current job and the skills and connections you are gaining. Congrats on that!
This is not great advice. First of all, I think people put more emphasis on alumni networks than they absolutely deserve, even at the graduate level. Alumni networks are great, but they should not be the chief concern when picking a graduate program. They’re not the only way or even the main way that students get positions after graduate school.
But even if they were…you don’t need an education/education policy focused network; you need a business-focused network (particularly in entertainment, if possible). Honestly, I don’t even know why you want a policy degree at all; the work that you seem to want to do in the future doesn’t seem related to policy at all. It seems like you want a business position within the entertainment industry. AND you already have your dream job. The point of graduate school is to get the dream job; if you already have the dream job, it doesn’t make sense to leave.
It’d be better for your career if you stayed at your job for another couple of years and then maybe went to business school.
This can vary depending on what type of graduate program/jobs one is targeting.
One reason why admission to topflight MBA programs and biglaw are so highly prized is precisely because the alum networks are considered so valuable and do play critical roles in hiring for the jobs/career paths most of their applicants/graduates seek/end up joining. In the latter case, it can even play a critical role in whether one finds lucrative gainful employment or end up un/underemployed with $150k-200k of law school debt hanging over one’s head.
However, for OP…the fact a dream job landed in his/her lap is far better than any grad school admission…including elite ones in his/her aspiring industry or business sometime down the road.
Keep the dream job and consider business school after you have had 3-5 years of work experience. All the elite B-schools want people who have job experience.