MS Stats vs MPP/MPA

[adoorawin]

I'm currently a 4th year undergrad studying Math and Econ, with a minor in Urban Planning. I'm interested in working in the public sector or a think tank doing research and evaluation of public policy.

 

My current dilemma is that I'd like to get into a MS Stats program to become a statistician to work in those fields. However, my academic record for math classes is relatively poor. In addition, I feel confident that I can get a strong LOR from one professor, who taught some of my Urban Planning classes, but I haven't developed any strong relationships with faculty members in my math/econ classes. My math grades are:

 

Cal I: A

Calc 2: A+ (dropped once though)

Calc3: C

Differential Equations: C

Linear Algebra: B+

Mathematical Reasoning: C

Real Analysis I: C 

Econometrics (if it counts): A, B+, B+ 

 

Overall GPA: 3.6 (I have As/Bs in all my other classes)

 

I'm currently planning to take Calc 3 again in the fall to get a better grade. However, I know that this doesn't negate my performance in my upper division math courses. I'm also planning on taking a couple more upper division math classes over the summer, hopefully getting good grades to balance out my previous grades. 

 

Getting into a MS Statistics program is my first choice, but I'm feeling iffy about my chances based on my math performance and lack of (strong) LOR. A MPP/MPA degree seems much less rigorous and analytical than I would like, but I feel like my chances of getting into those programs are significantly higher than getting into Stats. However, a MPP/MPA degree does directly relate to what I would like to do. 

 

The stats programs I'm considering are UC Davis (first choice), SJSU, UC Santa Cruz, and CSU East Bay (back up school). 

 

Should I keep on pursuing my goal of getting into a MS Stats program? Or switch gears and look into something like a MPP/MPA program instead? What are job prospects if I go to a low tier school in stats?