Program: MDP, MGPS, MIA
Interests: International development policy, specifically aid effectiveness in fragile states.
Schools Applying To: Humphrey MDP, LBJ MGPS, Jackson.
Undergrad Institution: Oxbridge
Undergraduate GPA: 3.7 Undergraduate Major: History
I also have a British Masters degree in Security Studies, with a GPA of 3.6.
GRE: Haven't taken it yet. Hoping for over 160 on the verbal, and between 150-155 on the quant.
Quant: Absolutely none. An A in Maths GCSE at the age of 16.
Years of Work Experience: 4.5
Languages: Intermediate Persian (Kabuli dialect), basic Arabic (Egyptian Colloquial).
Work Experience: 1.5 years in the Middle East working for an NGO and a newspaper in two countries; a year in the UK working for a British NGO on child rights in conflict supporting their Middle East/Asia programmes; a year in SE Asia followed by a year in Afghanistan doing reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and project development for a large British NGO that does humanitarian aid.
LORs: Employee LORs should be good, but it's a while since I was in contact with any professors from university. I'm sure they will write nice letters, but there's a limit to how good they can be since I graduated in 2009 (and in 2011 from my Masters).
Concerns:
1. I have no quant background because in the UK we don't take a range of classes during undergrad- we just pick a subject and stick with it. I'm happy to take micro, macro, and stats before applying but I have absolutely nothing quant on my transcript. Correspondingly, my GRE quant score is likely to be awful. If I get above 150, I'll be happy. I'm studying as much as I can and plan to take the GRE at the end of November.
3. My previous Masters degree was completely academic and theoretical. I'm planning on explaining in my SOPs that I want to get an MDP/MIA/MGPS to acquire practical skills (including quant ones) that I need to move on in my career. However, I wonder if the fact I already hold a masters degree with grades that are OK rather than stellar will be a problem in my application.
I think my work experience is the strongest part of my application, and that my SOP should be compelling- I have a clear purpose for going back to school and a clear idea of what I want to do with the degree afterwards. I've chosen LBJ, Humphrey, and Yale because the courses offered fit my interests really well; I think I'm competitive to get in at Humphrey, that LBJ will be more of a reach, and that Yale is extremely unlikely. But even if I get in at any of the three, I am worried my lack of quant and (probable) poor GRE score will mean I am not competitive for funding.