keondraismyrealname

hi venitia! if financing isn't a factor, i would definitely recommend columbia's program. since we were the first, the other mdp programs look at our coursework and programming as a proxy for their planning and development. i can't say much about how we compare to others in rigor but the CU brand itself means so much. also, we're the only mdp program that falls under the MPA degree (at least this was the case when i applied last year) which will give you a broader range of career options. what career path are you interested in pursuing? how integral is a masters degree in that pursuit? i think knowing what value the degree will bring you will help you answer your question more easily. i'm always pushing for columbia. though! keondra.

i think it depends on what you want to do after grad school. it seems like it would be a better idea to attend wagner and do the international track. i personally don't think that an MS makes sense for the field of foreign affairs. from the point of view of a new yorker (putting my professional hat aside), SCPS is definitely seen as a less rigorous, money-making division of NYU for people who value the NYU brand but may not be competitive enough for their larger more reputable programs. in the end, no one will really know you went to SCPS. your resume will read NYU which i believe is enough to get you through.

hi all! i'm currently attending the program at columbia. we were the pilot school for the program so we now have a class of first and second years. so information on employment isn't really available yet. like someone mentioned earlier, it's really much more about the access to events and development practitioners that has set the program apart - at least until more people become aware of what we do. columbia's program is unique in that it is built into the MPA structure which means that even if we decided to do domestic work, people would still be clear on our base of knowledge given that we got a standard degree for the field. the other schools are just straight masters which may require a little more explaining to employers as to what that all means. as with any new program, we're still working out the kinks. if you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a message. keondra.

thanks for the encouragement, everyone! i appreciate it. keondra.

just received notification via email that i'm a finalist. super excited! anyone else hear today? keondra.

dream school! you want to feel excited about every part of the process. and who knows, you may be able to get more funding for the second year after getting into the mix a bit and building relationships there. i'm a firm believer in going where the heart directs (with occasional tempering by reason). and that amount of debt is really minimal. good luck! keondra.

hey! we have a conversation started here: but basically, we don't expect to hear until mid-april about interviews. good luck! keondra.

i applied and yeah, i'm not expecting to hear until mid-april based on last year's timeline. here are my stats: Program for Fall '10: Columbia :: SIPA :: MPA in Development Practice Undergrad: Fordham University (Bronx), BS in Marketing 3.4 overall, 3.7 major (+ a bunch of distinctions/activities/service) GRE: Quant 730 (78%ile) Verbal 620 (89%ile) Professional Experience: 2 years in market research, 2 years in peace corps (enviro/business volunteer), plus several internships in the private sector LORs: One was from my int'l business professor in undergrad and the other was from a current national urban fellow. Demographics: i'm a Black female from a very poor background, first in family to get a college degree, single parent household, EFC of $0 Languages: Decent Hindi (which is a DOS critical needs language), beginning Urdu, novice French Other: I have an extensive background in domestic and international service which i think bodes well for the public diplomacy track. i'm hoping to at least get to the interview stage. columbia is very expensive! in my application, i mentioned my interest in the role of diplomacy in environmental protection and conservation. i'm particularly interested in the role of the DOS's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in sustainable development and fostering strong bilateral relationships. good luck to all! keondra.

Program Applied To: MPA in Development Practice (it's my dream school/program. there was no consolation so i only applied there) Schools Applied To: Columbia SIPA Schools Admitted To: Columbia SIPA Schools Rejected From: N/A Still Waiting: N/A Undergraduate institution: Fordham University (Bronx, NY) Undergraduate GPA: 3.417 (Major 3.7) Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): not sure. probably 3.6 ish. Undergraduate Major: Marketing GRE Quantitative Score: 730 (78%) GRE Verbal Score: 620 (89%) GRE AW Score: 4.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): nearly 4 Years of Work Experience: 2 in market research, 2 in US Peace Corps (Fiji) Describe Relevant Work Experience: My peace corps program is interdisciplinary so i work on environment, business, health and institutional infrastructure development with a fijian NGO. I worked for almost two years as a research analyst for a large magazine corporation. Not directly related but I feel it proved my quantitative ability. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think they were very strong. Mostly leaning on my peace corps experience and extensive domestic and international community service background. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Not sure. All favorable but no big names. One writer was a National Urban Fellow. Other: Academically, I had several distinctions. I had tons of long and short-term community service. I did HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach in south afrika, was a live-in residential assistant in a women's shelter for hurricane katrina survivors and was heavily involved with tertiary education preparation for inner-city and "at-risk" populations. I am committed to development and empowering people to improve their qualities of life as they see fit. I think that shone through in every aspect of my application.

i got my acceptance this morning around 10:30 am EST to the MPA in Development Practice program. no funding but SUPER happy to have been accepted. it was the only program i applied to. high risk for high reward.

you can fill out the FAFSA as an estimate and submit the SAR that comes with it. you can update your report once you receive your W2s. this is what i did for pickering which is almost identical to rangel.

just wondering how many of us are on the boards and are applying for Fall 2010 programs. after being on here for a few weeks, i see very few people mention that they were/are in the peace corps though i hear we're far from an anomaly in graduate programs of this sort. keondra. PCV, Fiji 2008-2010 Integrated Environmental Resource Management Program

thanks cosmike10. the program at Denver actually emailed me using the GRE search service. their program seems great too (and MUCH more affordable!). in the end, i chose not to apply due to the location and the fact that SIPA offers it under the MPA umbrella which gives me a little more flexibility if i want to shift gears later. i'm curious...where are you applying? keondra.

hello all. i'm probably in the minority here but i'm only applying to ONE school - Columbia SIPA. i am in love with what i know about their MPA-DP program. i just feel like applying to any other program would be settling since very few take such an interdisciplinary, skills-based approach. too much theory involved with the other programs i considered. anyway, i'm excited to be in good company here. i look forward to the coming months! keondra.