Previous Schools: UCLA
Previous Degrees and GPAs: B.A. in International Development Studies - Environmental Systems Minor (3.37 overall, 3.78 major)
GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing):165 / 159 / 5.0
Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): ~2 years in separate AmeriCorps (VISTA and National/State) positions (internships scattered thru college and work)
Math/Econ Background: Statistics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Development Economics courses, Environmental Economics
Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Intermediate Spanish
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPA/MPP
Long Term Professional Goals: International Development / Food Policy / Disaster Response (Federal, NGO, Private, whatever position best fits)
Schools Applied to & Results: Syracuse Maxwell (Accepted, $$$), GWU Trachtenberg (Accepted), American SPA (Accepted, $$), Georgetown GPPI (Accepted, $), Maryland SPP (Accepted), NYU Wagner (Accepted, $), Princeton (Rejected)
Ultimate Decision & Why: The Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Top ranked program for MPA (even if rankings are dubious), best financial aid package (with an admin/research position for another resume boost), intensive year-long program, faculty has professional experience best suited to my interests. Essentially I'm getting a master's degree from low tier-1, or high tier-2 (depending on your view of Maxwell) for free in a year's time, seems like the best ROI. All interactions with the faculty and administration have been wonderful so far. I already have the UCLA brand attached to myself, so although Georgetown or NYU would have been great (my runners-up), I didn't feel the need to take out a bunch more debt just for the (perhaps) better prestige. Also, I've been a SoCal public school kid my whole life so I'm interested to see whether the eastern private school experience is markedly different.
Advice for Future Applicants: Start early; I knew in the last few months of my second AmeriCorps stint I needed more training if I wanted to get into the career tracks I was aiming for. This allowed me to plan to take some time off to boost my academic resume with some economics classes at the local community college, and gave my recommenders plenty of time to write my letters without feeling pressured. Also, external funding has some very early due dates as well, most fellowships are due right alongside the actual applications. Don't wait until after you've been accepted and have received an aid offer to start looking for more funding. You don't want to get accepted to your "dream" school, only to find out that you can't afford it. Don't feel intimidated by the student bios at the schools your looking at, or even any of those on this website (especially not me! I'm certainly humbled by the offered made from the schools I was accepted to).