<p>It's my first post here. I am kinda puzzled because I got admitted by Cambridge University, Umich and UIUC. Umich and UIUC can provide me some kind of financial assistance. I applied Mphil in Real Estate Finance in CAM and urban and regional planning in both Umich and UIUC.</p>
<p>I do not know which one is better for my future career. Although Cambridge is much more famous than the other two institutions, I heard that the 10-month program in UK is not as appealing as it sounds. As for Umich and UIUC, the programs in these universities are both good, but UIUC provides more financial aid than Umich. </p>
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<li><p>If you plan to live and work in the US, does the Cambridge program offer enough to make its expense worthwhile? Is the Cambridge <em>program</em> respected where you want to work? Or will you have to explain it for half an hour every time you interview? Will it prepare you for the AICP exam? </p></li>
<li><p>Be aware that after your first couple jobs, no one will care where you went to school (except you and your mom of course). What you have done will be far more important than where you spent a couple years learning the basics.</p></li>
<li><p>What does the financial situation look like? For a professional degree like this what kind of starting salaries are you looking at? Does it make sense to spend <em>any</em> money for the degree? In Illinois for example, I'm seeing salaries in the $45K - $50K range. (<a href="http://www.ilapa.org/jobpost.html)%5B/url%5D">http://www.ilapa.org/jobpost.html)</a>.</p></li>
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<p>Be aware of going to Cambridge just for "the name." Although people you meet at cocktail parties may be impressed that you went there, your future employmer might not be if your graduate degree has little to do with what you are applying for. Go to the school that fits best what you plan on doing upon graduation, and also the one that is the most financially manageable.</p>