From Portland to Pittsburgh

The verdict is in -- and it's CMU.

That's Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. And it's where Simone has decided to spend the next two years in pursuit of a masters degree in CMU's highly regarded Heinz College School of Public Policy and Management.

A generous scholarship offer, along with assurances of lots of individual attention in a cohort of about 80 students and a sense of adventure (not to mention a more affordable cost of living), combined to give CMU the nod over other prestigious schools including NYU and Columbia.

Simone signed her enrollment papers on Monday and today received an internship offer with the Pittsburgh Public Schools that will start in August. She'll begin classes July 12. Not a bad way to get started.

So, what is public policy? And what's so good about Carnegie Mellon that our daughter would choose it over those New York schools?

According to Wikipedia:

Most public policy programs combine elements of political science, economics, statistics, law, international relations, international development, public finance, ethics, sociology and public administration. Some schools also apply quantitative analysis, management information systems, organizational behavior, project management and operations research to the public sector.

Why CMU? Again, according to Wikipedia:

In the most recent US News and World Report Graduate School rankings, Heinz College's School of Public Policy & Management was ranked 10th overall among schools of public policy. The Heinz College has ranked in the top 10 since US News and World Report began ranking schools of public affairs in 1995. Of the 253 schools of public affairs across the nation that were surveyed, Heinz College ranked:

• 1st in Information and Technology Management;
• 4th in Public Policy Analysis;
• 10th in Environmental Policy and Management;
• 10th in Health Policy and Management.

Now, if your idea of Pittsburgh is smokestacks and Rust Belt, think again. Although the city has lost population in recent years (it's currently at about 312,000), the seven-county metro area has 2.4 million people, compared to metro Portland's 2.1 million residents, including about 550,000 in the city.

While Pittsburgh historically relied on steel, today the city's economy is largely based on health care, education, technology, robotics and financial services. Housing prices have remained fairly stable -- and considerably more affordable -- and the city has actually gained jobs during the recession.

Most telling, the city ranks high in annual quality-of-life surveys, even being named "America's Most Livable City" by Places Rated Almanac in 2007.

Most young people would have jumped at the chance to go to school in New York City. But Simone's already had the New York experience as an undergraduate, having attended Vassar College about 75 miles north of the city. I admire her willingness to go against the grain, banking on a lower student-to-faculty ratio and the proven quality of a top ten school in her field.

We're very proud and look forward to visiting once she and Kyndall (and their mischievous little dog, Quimby) get settled.

Photo montage (including CMU at upper right): Wikipedia