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HKS with no funding
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Date: April 4th, 2009 9:45 PM Author: Confused Kitchen Subject: Is HKS MPP worth $120K in debt? Admitted to HKS (MPP) but with no funding. Is the Harvard name,alumni network etc. worth going $120K+ in debt? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11334995) |
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Date: April 5th, 2009 6:22 AM Author: orchid keepsake machete No, it's not. Not for gov't, NGO, etc. type jobs. Otherwise the MBA is far better, and then it is worth it. But $120k+ for a public policy master's is insanity. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11337790) |
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Date: April 5th, 2009 1:53 PM Author: costumed galvanic national volcanic crater depends on where you want to work. if abroad, yes, if at home, probably not. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11338924) |
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Date: April 5th, 2009 2:29 PM Author: Marvelous Rehab Therapy What kind of career options are you interested in after HKS and why? What is your work experience so far and your undergraduate majors/institution? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11339237) |
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Date: August 10th, 2009 8:08 PM Author: Cream Gaming Laptop some of these posters are total noobs, i don't even think they're truly in the govt with jobs. The federal government, for the most part, go to the OPM website,
http://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/studentloan/index.asp
will repay student loans up to 10k/yr for up to 60k.
so yeah, if you're going to get a govt job for sure, that is certainly something to consider. You commit in 3 year increments, at least that's what they have us do at the DoD. So you'd have to commit for 6 years to get the 60k. You'd do 3 years, then re-signup and do it all again. So your debt would be cut in half. I've heard rumors of that 60k getting significantly upped as well, but who knows if that'll happen. So really, if you spend less than 60k and intend to go to the government to work, then you could've spent more. |
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Date: September 4th, 2009 8:25 AM Author: Pearl adventurous dysfunction party of the first part Out of curiosity as I'll be applying to HKS for 2010, what was your undergrad gpa, institution, and gres?
I know I know...I'm a nosy sob... |
Date: April 5th, 2009 12:27 PM Author: Dashing indian lodge persian You are big time now. Do it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11338325) |
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Date: April 5th, 2009 3:55 PM Author: Confused Kitchen Subject: HKS with no funding Thanks for your input y'all (as they say down here in TX). I'm older than the typical MPP student--I'll be 33 in August. I graduated from the Naval Academy in '98 and spent a decade as a Navy helicopter pilot. Out of the service now, and hoping that my military experience will translate into a career in international security policy. My HOPE is that the massive check in the "work experience" box I have will mean better (and more gainful) employment right after graduation than the typical grad in their mid-twenties. So, do I take the risk and go for Harvard? The flip is that I have two kids (3 and 1) who need a college fund too... Columbia with funding, or Harvard without? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11339834) |
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Date: April 5th, 2009 6:05 PM Author: Soul-stirring Abusive Reading Party If the funding at Columbia is generous, go that route. Imagine. Say you graduate from HKS and hit up private sector defense shops (the only ones that will pay you above the 60's – the federal government certainly won’t save for the DIA). You might get lucky and get something at Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, Raytheon or whatever for 70-90 K, but then again, you may not. Even if you did hit 90 K, 120 K is a hell of a lot to pay down with kids, especially given that you are not early in your career.
Also, have you tried getting a loan for that amount? The federal government is not going to give you the full cost, and the private sector loan market without a *very* creditworthy borrower (who cannot be your spouse) is dead.
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Date: April 10th, 2009 9:18 AM Author: Lemon concupiscible set codepig Subject: agreed I went to one of these schools, and work in the field. You have good experience so I'd expect you can find a federal job to also pay you in the 70-90 range, moving to the 90-110 range in about 3 years. I dont think the contracting scum pays much better in the long run. They tend to throw you an extra 15K than the gov at the beginning, and then increase your salary marginally, whereas with the gov you move up quicker. Also, if you go to any one of the policy schools, you'll get a "look"/interview from the same employers. Whether you get the job or not depends on you and your quals. So it does make sense to choose the cheaper school. And secondly, SIPA tends to give money in greater amounts to second year students, which gives you the potential of getting more $ in year 2. FYI-you've already got the best alumni network in DC: USNA |
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Date: April 10th, 2009 10:51 AM Author: costumed galvanic national volcanic crater why contracting scum? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11388367) |
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Date: August 29th, 2009 9:06 AM Author: irate theater Although I think it's a nice and noble thing you're contemplating, I did just fine without a "college fund" from my parents. If anything, I've seen that people whose parents pay the cost of their college have a greater tendency to be the ones who dick around and get drunk all the time. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#12621899) |
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Date: April 9th, 2009 4:10 PM Author: Multi-colored Dragon Subject: Similar Boat In at HKS no funding...in at SIPA with $20K renewable... Advice?? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#11380334) |
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Date: June 3rd, 2009 9:02 PM Author: Bateful bat shit crazy parlor chad My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to visit this board just to see what people applying to grad schools are chatting about in this very competitive year. Most of the people here giving advice really don't have much of a clue. HKS grads are entering the federal government at the GS-12 and up level whereas most MPP/MPAs come in as GS-9s. That is about a 25k difference. I graduated a couple years ago from HKS (it will always be KSG to me)and lucked into a GS-13, and I am hardly impressive and had only a couple of years experience prior to grad school. Since then I have been promoted up a grade on the dot yearly.
I agonized over the debt issue myself when deciding whether or not to go (no one gets funded) but the Harvard name opened doors that I never even knew existed. |
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Date: June 18th, 2009 1:52 PM Author: lake partner indirect expression Not so subtle HKS trolling...
MPAs and MPPs are a waste of time and money. Go for experaince instead and save yourself the debt.
I’m a GS13 with nothing more than a BA degree. It is easy to climb the ladder in the fed, just takes time (the same amount of time you’d spend on that 120k degree.)
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Date: August 14th, 2009 4:57 PM Author: apoplectic embarrassed to the bone cuckoldry what do you do? how much do you make at that level? approximations welcome! |
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Date: August 13th, 2009 10:05 PM Author: Topaz meetinghouse nowag So you're already a GS 15? I call bullshit on that (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#12498122) |
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Date: June 18th, 2009 12:30 PM Author: Confused Kitchen That is what I wanted to hear! Finally made the call to go for KSG! Luckily, I'll be using the GI Bill and an external scholarship to ease the debt burden a bit. Can't wait! (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#12026031) |
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Date: August 17th, 2009 9:59 PM Author: Disrespectful school newt How much does the GI Bill cover? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=968181&forum_id=3#12527829) |