Advice please. Georgetown or Chicago for MPP.

Graduate School
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<p>Hi all, this is my first post and i`m looking for opinions on where to do my MPP.
(I have a Ba in Economics, btw).

I was admitted to both, the Uof Chicago and to Georgetown for my master in public policy program. I haven`t visited any of the two campuses, but i expect to do it soon.</p>

<p>Academically, I think I have a decent idea of what to expect in both (correct me if wrong please): Chicago will offer me a program more focused in quantitative stuff (economic/financial analysis, special emphasis in economic theory and lots of maths in general), while Georgetown will focus more in qualitative stuff (international politics, political-economic ideas in general, more class disussions, etc...).</p>

<p>After Grad school, I`d like to do public finance consulting and in the mid run I would love to work at a development bank. And probably in the long run try to get into public service.</p>

<ul>
<li>Which school do you think would help me more to obtain these goals (speaking in general)?</li>
</ul>

<p>My second concern is regarding which school/atmosphere I will be able to enjoy more.
For what I<code>ve heard the students in Chicago are a lot more intellectual (i</code>m generalizing here, but let<code>s say the "stereotypical or average student") or even nerdy. On the other hand, I</code>ve heard that in Georgetown people is more snobby and for recreation they normally do what any average person in his/her 20s does (moderate partying/play-watch sports/ocassional traveling, etc...).</p>

<p>To be honest, I<code>m none of the two, but i definitely relate more to my description of a person from Georgetown. Of course this doesn</code>t mean i would pick a school based on my socializing/partying/entertainment preferences, but it<code>s still a factor i want to consider. I wouldn</code>t give up my career (assuming chicago gives me a better certainty to achieve my professional goals) for a couple of years of having a good time.</p>

<p>Lots of people have told me this is a decision i cannot get wrong, since both schools are great and well recognized. </p>

<ul>
<li>So, given what I wrote, what would you guys do if you were in my position? where would you go? Any other comments are more than welcome.</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks a lot in advance and good luck to everyone.....</p>

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<p>Where did people get the idea that Chicago students sit around studying all the time because they are nerds and never go out or party? Please. I live in Hyde Park, and my husband is graduating from the med school. The undergrad is VERY tough, but they still find time to party. The grad students socialize even more. They take their studies seriously, of course, but any group of students at a top school will do that. So if you expect to go out to bars with students during finals week or whatever, forget it. But if you plan on studying during the week and going out with your friends on Saturday night, Chicago will serve your needs just fine.</p>

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<p>No, of course studying and my career are my priority, but I still love to have fun with like-minded people....
thanks for your comments</p>

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<p>I'm also choosing between Chicago and GPPI--funny huh? I was also waitlisted at Michigan and accepted at NYU, AU, and GWU.</p>

<p>I don't necessarily agree that Chicago will give us more quant skills than GPPI, especially since GPPI has a 3-semester stats/quant sequence that ends with you completing a thesis. I think either will provide the skills necessary to work in private sector consulting, etc. At GPPI, you can take econ classes through the econ department as well. Chicago's program is a little more flexible--your entire 2nd year is for track and elective classes.</p>

<p>Did either school offer you a scholarship? Chicago offered me a $10k scholarship, but I'm leaning towards GPPI. Chicago's core class sizes are 120 students i.e your entire cohort, which doesn't appeal to me. And I like the fact that GPPI doesn't require you to come in with extensive math/econ/quant background before classes even begin.</p>

<p>Anyways, I share your confusion--I go back and forth all the time. Good luck!</p>

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<p>klf, thanks for your opinion and i get a weird comfort knowing you<code>re also in the exact same position as me, ha.
I was also offered 10 k by chicago. I hope to get other forms of financial aid soon, but the less i get from other sources, the more significance those 10 k from chicago will have. Right now, it is something that i don</code>t consider in order to make my decision.</p>

<p>I hope to visit both schools soon (probably go to one of the open houses) in order to have a clearer view....</p>

<p>Like you say, i hope Georgetown doesn`t "close" more doors in the private sector (consulting) because i have this feeling that chicago offers me a bigger opportunity for consulting in the future.</p>

<p>But for developing instituions i reckon Gtown could be stronger....</p>

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<p>Fil, it's nice to know someone else isn't choosing entirely based on the money. I figured when it comes down to it, $10k is really negligible. Although it was a nice surprise! :) I'm planning to attend the GPPI open house next Friday. I'm not sure where you live, but they are also hosting receptions for admitted students in various cities. I'm still deciding whether I'm going to Chicago's open house on April 7.</p>

<p>I think you may be right about that fact that Chicago opens more doors for private sector work. You should check the career services websites for each school and look at the employers that hired students in the last couple of years. That might help too.</p>

<p>Let me know what you decide!</p>

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<p>klf, you too let me know....
I think i will be in chicago`s open house on the 7th, and i expect to visit Gtown earlier that same week (not an open house)....

I`ll check out the career services page.</p>

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<p>Fil--any other thoughts on either school? I'll take all the information, opinions, etc I can get my hands on at this point.</p>

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<p>Not for now, those were the main points I<code>ve heard about.... Everything else depends on the plan of studies/career plans of each one.
I</code>ll wait after I visit both places and talk to some teachers/students, check out the general atmosphere, etc.... to make my decision.</p>

<p>Right now I can honestly say I`m 50%-50%... on one hand i think that among economist/finance circles, the UofC is slightly more recognized in general, but Georgetown is not that far off and also DC attracts me more than Chicago..... just some thoughts....</p>

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<p>what about you..any other comments to share?</p>

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<p>OK I just talked to my friend who is a current MPP student at Delaware.</p>

<p>If you want a more quantitative-focused curriculum, especially if you want to pursue economics and finance in the future, he definitely recommends Chicago Harris. Plus, it's more respected nationally.</p>

<p>He only recommends Georgetown if you want an international focus and qualitative-based curriculum. And it's less respected than Harris.</p>

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<p>Fil--not really. Like you though, DC seems to be more of a place I'd like to live, especially considering the job opportunities available during the year and summer and the better weather! :) Not that there aren't jobs in Chicago, but if you wanted to work in DC during the summer, you wouldn't have to sublet your apt and move for 3 months. Seems much more convenient.</p>

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<p>i agree about the conveniance of living in DC if you plan to work in DC in the summer, but regarding the opportunities available, a friend told me that this is unsignificant (whether you live in chicago or DC) in order to work in an institution in DC.</p>

<p>I<code>m not american and currently don</code>t live there so i don<code>t know much about the issue, but he told me that in the States the companies/institutions/organizations or whatever, go draft people to every school, they don</code>t give priority to those studying in the place where that company/institution is located.... don`t know what you think about this?</p>

<p>So, assuming i go to chicago and want to do an internship in the summer in the World Bank or IMF, i would have exactly the same chances as if i had gone to georgetown....do you agree?</p>

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<p>I completely agree that you would have the same chances to get an internship regardless of where you went to school. For me, however, leaving Chicago and moving to DC for 3 months in the summer wouldn't really be an option because I'm married and have other personal responsibilities. Also, I couldn't afford that option because I plan to work part-time to help with living expenses. If you look at the places where students interned in the summer at Chicago, you will find that many of them did not leave Chicago and that's probably for the reasons I mentioned above.</p>

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<p>For more thing, if you're interested in international work (which it looks like you are since you mentioned the World Bank and IMF), I think you will be disappointed in Chicago. They are most well known for domestic social policy.</p>

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<p>klf, do you mean domestic social policy = USA domestic policy??</p>

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<p>Yes, sorry domestic = USA i.e poverty, education, health care, etc.</p>

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<p>i see, thanks.
I`ll check the career services in each school to see if they mention something...</p>

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<p>Forgot to tell you that a friend of a friend that graduated from harris told me that the school sends people to countries in asia/africa/latin america during the summer to work with local governments.... this also attracts me a lot cause apart from the knowledge gained, i looove traveling. I don`t know if this is also common in Georgetown.</p>

<p>I would actually prefer to go to a country in Africa during the summer than to stay in the US or in home....</p>

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<p>Chicago Harris: International Policy</p>

<p><a href="http://harrisschool.uchicago.edu/Academic/concentrations/international.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://harrisschool.uchicago.edu/Academic/concentrations/international.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Georgetown Public Policy Institute
INTERNATIONAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT TRACK </p>

<p>The International Policy and Development track offers opportunities for students who are interested in exploring the process of economic growth in countries around the world. It includes the analysis of different approaches to alleviating poverty, the role of institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and USAID, and the comparison of economic policies across countries in both the industrialized and developing world. The track offers courses on key areas of development such as microfinance, corruption, post-conflict reconstruction, European Union, and pension reform. Courses also cover the approaches of multinational and bilateral development institutions, non-governmental and non-profit organizations, and private foundations. IPD courses cover economic development, social development, comparative economic policy, economic and social policy of advanced industrialized countries, the role of international institutions, and key policy issues in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the wide variety of IPD courses offered at GPPI, students occasionally enroll in courses through the Science, Technology & International Affairs program, the McDonough School of Business, and the School of Foreign Service.</p>

<p>Students in this track become well-versed in key international policy issues and, as a result, are well-positioned for careers in a variety of international, national and non-governmental organizations such as the World Bank, Development Alternatives, Inc., Inter-American Development Bank, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), U.S. Department of State, Oxfam America, U.S. Agency for International Development, Population Services International, Pan American Health Organization, and Save the Children. </p>

<p>I think you can make your own decision, Filipo.</p>