TheCrow

There are research-oriented (thesis-based) master's and coursework (non-thesis) master's in the US. In terms of an MPP/MPA, as a professional degree, they're more expensive and have little funding. The MPA at NC State is twice as much as the econ master's, for example, even though both are two-year programs. Professional degrees tend to be more prestige-relevant, so I don't want to get an MPA at NC State hoping to get into a PhD program, only to enter the workforce instead (when I could have entered the workforce and gone to a far higher-ranked MPA/MPP program two or three years down the road).

I'm definitely looking to stay inside the U.S.

I'm looking at thesis-based master's degrees in economics, particularly the MS at NC State, as preparation for policy-related graduate study in a field other than economics. Am I aiming too high? Top 20 Undergrad, US Citizen 3.2 Overall GPA Major: Economics/Mathematics (joint major) Econ Classes: Principles of Micro: B-, Principles of Macro: A, Public Choice: B-, Intermediate Micro: A-, Intermediate Macro: B, Econ Stats: A-, Econometrics: A- Math Classes: Calculus I: A, Calculus II: C, Multivariable Calculus: C, Linear Algebra: B, Proof-writing Seminar: D+, Mathematical Economics (Taking Semester of Application) Other: Intro to Computer Science I: A; Graduate Seminar in Biostatistics: S