Hi there. I would really appreciate it if you helped me with your opinion on my application. Thank you so much,
Programs: MPA SIPA, MPP HKS, MPP Chicago Harris, MPP Berkeley, MPA LSE, IPS Stanford, MIB Tufts, MPA NYU Undergraduate Institution: Top 3 university in my country (in South America) Undergraduate Degree: Industrial Engineering, concentration in Information Technologies
Undergraduate GPA: 3.6
GRE: 158V, 165Q, 4 AW
Toefl: 112
Years out of Undergrad: I graduated on december 2012, so 1 year and 8 months
Years of Work Experience: 1,5 years full-time, + 1 year part time while I finished my undergrad
Relevant Work Experience:
1 year internship while I was finishing my undergrad, I worked at a technology multinational company as a sales consultant. Two of the projects I worked on where with the government of my country.
1,5 years working on the core business of a major airline as a commercial analyst, private sector again
5 years (and counting) volunteering on a nursing home in my country + 1 month volunteering for a nursing home in India
Languages: English (advanced), Spanish (native), portuguese (basic for business) Quantitative: Advanced calculus and algebra, basic economy. SOP:
Focus on how volunteering made me take the decision of leave the private business and turn to public sector.
Contrast my current job (which is very rewarding) with what I want to do after my MPP (program evaluation/policy design on my country's government)
Special mention of the work I did with my country's government while I was on my internship
Special mention to a scholarship I had during undergrad that is very service-oriented. LORs: Letters from two of my bosses in my current job, one letter from my scholarship advisor during my college undergrad. Questions:
1. I am worried that my work experience is not "public" enough, that the fact that I only have professional experience in private sector will make my application poor
2. I'm worried I have very little work experience, just 1,5 years (to date) of full-time professional experience
3. I am worried I'm aiming to high on my school preferences
4. I don't have a LOR from a professor because I didn't get to know deeply any one during my undergrad (100+ students per class), I really regret that