Previous Schools: Large public / state university, Midwest
Previous Degrees and GPAs: Journalism, 3.7
GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 160, 162, 5.5
Previous Work Experience: <1 Year (international baseball, sport & fitness policy), but plenty of extracurricular involvement and leadership relevant to my career goals.
Math/Econ Background: basic Micro/Macro Econ, basic Stats, Calc 1
Foreign Language Background: N/A
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Master in Public Administration; domestic poverty alleviation and youth homelessness
Long Term Professional Goals: Policy work within state/federal anti-homelessness organization (USICH, etc.)
Schools Applied to & Results: Syracuse Maxwell ($$), Duke Sanford ($$), GWU Trachtenberg ($$$), Wisconsin La Follette ($Tuition), Michigan Ford ($), Cal-Berkeley Goldman (Rejected)
Ultimate Decision & Why: GWU Trachtenberg. The flexibility that the school offers in terms of curriculum and part-time / full-time status was a huge draw for me, as this means that I'll be able to keep my job within DC while earning the degree at the same time. Avoiding debt is a huge plus, too.
Advice for Future Applicants: If you know what you want to do, and you can pinpoint how a specific degree would allow you to achieve your career goals, then don't let youth or a lack of work experience dissuade you from applying and dreaming big. The math background, undergraduate degree and work experience aren't necessarily pre-reqs to getting into a good school. Be specific in your statement of purpose, connect your life experiences to your career goals, then click submit and cross your fingers for a few months.