justsomeguy75

Hi guys, I am preparing my application for the MPP as well. I am quite young, 22 years old - but it seems that the youngest admitted this year was 21. I graduated last year with straight 4.0 (or the equivalent) with a Bachelor in Economics and I was ranked at the top %1 in the class. My undergraduate institution is one of the most renowned French University (Sorbonne). I might not have as much work experience as other applicants though but I interned 3 months at the European Parliament working for a European Deputy, 3 months at the French Parliament (Lower House) as an assistant for a deputy from my native region, 3 months at the Turkish Parliament, and just finished my internship at the United Nations working for the European Union's delegation as an ''adviser'' in Political Affairs at the Security Council. I also worked for two different NGOs, One in Rome which focused on Inter-religious dialogue and one in Paris, which focused on Inter-cultural dialogue and integration. I am of Turkish background so I speak French, English and Turkish. I did not take the GRE yet ... quite stressing out about it. For the LoRs I am opting for the European Deputy I worked for, the President of the NGO I worked in Rome and most probably a teacher. The thing is, on the Harvard blog they said that the only case to avoid would be to have 3 LoR from teachers - what would be Ideal for me is to send 3 LoR coming from internship supervisors instead. But I recently graduated so I assume that it might not be very wise? I received several scholarships through academia, the last one being attributed by the French Ministry of Education for outstanding academic result for students in need (son of blue-collar worker). Extra: I managed to get from a bad Middle School to one of France's best High School back in the days.. (PS: If someone could chance me I would be very grateful)

Schools I'm interested in so far: Mainly Harvard MPP Undergraduate institution: University of Paris 1 - Sorbonne (ranked best University of France in my field according to QS and 40th in the world in Economics). Undergraduate GPA: Not so good the first two years 3.3 or so but 4.0 the last year ranked (not sure but I assume) 2nd or 1st out of 634 students Undergraduate Majors: Economics major and Law Minor GRE Score: Not taken yet Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 Years of Work Experience: 1 Describe Relevant Work Experience: - Interned at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations in New York as a political adviser in political affairs and the Security Council - 3/4 months. - Interned at the Turkish Parliament - joint with the Turkish Ministry of Justice at the European Affairs - 3 months - Interned at the French Parliament - Lower house - as an assistant of French deputy - 3 months. - Interned at the European Parliament - as an assistant of European deputy 3 months. - Very briefly worked for the Turkish Ministry of Youth at a European workshop on the Integration of the Turkish diaspora in Europe. Languages: fluent in English, French and Turkish. Activities: - 1 Year of intercultural dialogue at an NGO in Paris - 1 year of Inter religious dialogue at an NGO in Rome Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): European MEP, Ambassador of EU to UN, French MP, Turkish Secretary General of the Turkish Parliament ... ARE people I could have letters from but didn't really focus on that yet. Other: - From a very modest background - a non-european european (I am from a minority obviously) - - Graduated from one of France's best High School after graduating from a ghetto Middle School - Won a European Scholarship for X reasons - Won the Scholarship on Merit from the French Ministry of Education for outstanding results. -> Just if you could briefly tell me if HKS is realistic? :-) Thanks!

This topic is like a rhetorical question

Hello everyone, So I am a French foreign student and I need some guidance as applying to Harvard demands serious commitment and preparation. My profile: - From a very very modest background (none of my parents finished middle school - son of immigrants - but does it matter for the committee?) - Graduated from France's top High School (was somewhere in the top 5 nationwide). - Majoring Economics at the University of Paris - Sorbonne (1st and 2nd year my GPA was average but this year - the last year of my degree - I am most probably graduating with the equivalent of a straight 4.0GPA - worst case scenario is at least magna cum laude). - A year as an exchange abroad in Rome - Interned at the European Parliament (Assistant French European Deputy - involved in parliamentary diplomacy human rights and foreign relations - she was member of different committees and co-chaired mixed-parliamentary delegations with a parliament bellow) 3 months - Interned at the French Parliament (Lower house - Assistant French Deputy part time of my studies - involved in the elections, in policy making, public relations ...) 3 months - Interned at the Turkish Parliament (Internship - worked at the departement of foreign relations and protocol - was involved in parliamentary diplomacy) and Ministry of Justice in European Affairs (The Directorate is responsible for the new legislation within the scope of Turkey's adhesion to the EU) - 3 months - Interned at an NGO in Paris dealing with Intercultural dialogue - 1 year - Interning at an NGO in Rome dealing with Inter-religious dialogue - 1 year (Rome = Vatican). - I speak Turkish, French, English, some Italian Might (If accepted) intern for the European Union's Delegation to the United Nation's in New York from May to August full time. I took the IELTS last month and had a final score of 8 out of 9. I was planning to apply to LSE (IPE) and then Harvard MPP but I am thinking whether or not I should make a gap year (for internships and prepare the GRE) or start a Master degree just for the 1st year (as I have automatic acceptance to Sorbonne's masters). I am hesitating on applying to LSE this year as I won't be able to prove that 4.0GPA on time and I doubt I am that competitive ... Some people say I should try Harvard directly, any opinion on that? I see they would rather see someone with 2-3 years experience. I am 21 right now, and I will be freshly 23 if they accept me by September 2014. (with more or less 1.5 year of accumulated experience) Also, I see they have International and Global Affairs (IGA) and International Trade and Finance (ITF) among their concentration fields (could that be a good substitute to LSE's International Political Economics?). Also, I can have LoR's from important people in the institutions I worked previously (Secretary General of the Turkish Parliament, French deputy, European Deputy, Judges etc.) but none in the academia, is it ok for Harvard? (as I focused on the extra-curricular during my studies - all the part time I did didn't leave me the time to sympathize with my professors - and that's a problem from LSE). Last question, what would be considered as ''sufficient'' as a result at the GRE for the MPP? Merci du fond du coeur everyone :-)