<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I was recently accepted into Johns Hopkins AAP in Environmental Sciences and Policy and Towson University's graduate program in Environmental Science. My problem is that I cannot decide between the two programs. Johns Hopkins has a more reputable "name brand," but Towson's course schedule is more demanding and the school is ALOT cheaper, especially considering that I would receive in-state tuition. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Best</p>
<p>Where do the graduates of these two programs get jobs?</p>
<p>If there is no real difference in employability after graduation, go to Towson and save your money. </p>
<p>If graduates of the JHU program start out at higher salaries than graduates of Towson, then you will have to determine if that jump in salary is enough to make up for the difference in the cost of the two programs. For example, if the JHU grad makes X, and a Towson grad makes Y, how many years of a salary differential of X-Y would be needed to cover the difference in the cost of the two programs.</p>
<p>The JHU AAP is not one of the programs that JHU is famous for. It looks like a typical cash-cow professional certification program for people who are already working in this field. That’s fine if that is what you need. But if the Towson program will fulfill your needs for a lot less money, I’d say go to Towson.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>I think that JHU’s AAP is analogous to Harvard’s extension school.</p>
<p>As a professional degree program, do you not think that the AAP program cannot help get your foot in the door? The JHU AAP is better at promoting its alumni than Towson University. I would not want to spend money on either school and not be competitive within the job market.</p>
<p>You really do need to talk with each of these departments about job placement. Where do their grads go. What are their starting salaries. Is there any indication that those grads hit a glass ceiling at some time?</p>
<p>Get the contact information for a couple of the recent graduates and call them and ask about their experiences at their university, and during the job hunt. You will learn a lot from these conversations.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I thought that I should post a follow up regarding my decision. I choose the JHU AAP program after careful consideration and I could not be happier with my decision. I cannot speak for Towson’s program, but I can speak for JHUs. The program is awesome… Simply put, the professors are all top notch. For example, the two professors that I had for Environmental Policy making both had 60+ years of federal service under their belts - one worked for years at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the other worked at the Department of Interior in DC for god knows how long. The scientific based classes (which are the majority of the classes offered) are demanding but the professors and field work make them worth while. The ONLY problem that I have with the program is a general lack of community among students, but I hear that is the case with Hopkins in general.</p>