I have one question for SIPA, SAIS, CIPA, and HKS Alumni!

[Mr123]

Should I even bother applying?

 

Undergrad: Second Tier Ivy (Cornell, Brown, Upenn). Graduation date: 2013

BA: Political Science (International Politics focus); GPA: 3.67, Cumulative GPA: 3.60

GRE: V:157, Q: 158, W: 4.0

Econ/Math: Just Principles of Econ in undergrad, and three "political economy" like classes (3As, 1 B. I was actually a quant guy before undergrad, so I am currently refreshing my math with the hope of taking Micro,Macro, and Multivariable Calc before I apply in November. Is the Calc necessary?

Work Experience: excluding undergrad internships: 1.75 at public sector consulting (doing a great deal of international disarmament/pandemic relief work; (think Deloitte, Accenture, Booz Allen).

Leadership: coach to youth development program, pro-bono nonprofit consultant.

Recommendations: 1 professor, 2 supervisors/bosses

Language: Proficient in Spanish, Beginner in French

[alloy]

Yes, but improving GRE would be helpful.

[leon32]

You would get into at least one, probably two with those stats is my guess.

[ResearchUnit]

Yes, but improving GRE would be helpful.

 

As long as you pass the threshold I don't think GRE really matters for professional program. 

 

I have lots of friends with lower GRE scores now attending SIPA's MIA program (some of them even have funding!)

 

One of the assistant deans of SIPA said that what really matters to them is a candidate's overall profile, especially his/her experience, and that GRE is more like an admin procedure and a very rough screening tool.

Edited July 3, 2015 by ResearchUnit