MPAallday

This.

I concur. Your GRE's are ever-so-slightly low for some of those prestigious schools, but your GPA, experience, etc. more than make up for it. I think you will get into a good number of those schools (probably UT Austin as well, seeing as how your credentials are even better than mine ). Good luck!

I wouldn't worry too much about it. A stellar academic background with three economics courses that are all A's will outshine a standardized test score. Admissions officers are very aware of the fact that GRE performance can be misleading -- some people just have bad test days. On the other hand, your verbal and analytical writing are phenomenal. I'm quite certain you will be fine.

I considered this option for quite sometime. I eventually decided that public affairs was more of my "calling", but many MPA/MPP students do indeed opt for a dual degree in social work.

I spent a similar amount (got a couple of fee waivers). Congrats on your CIPA acceptance, Jufarius87!

Interesting. Quite a few public affairs schools conduct interviews these days -- I know Texas A&M just reached out to me about this just today. I honestly don't think it would make a significant difference. UNC understands that asking people to fly down to a small town in North Carolina for a short interview is not practical for many working professionals and full-time students. They want quality students, not necessarily the ones who have the most flexible schedules. I do believe they cover flight expenses for you if you select that option (I think it explains it somewhere on their website). Good luck!

Wow that's impressive! I'd say that's a great sign that you might be admitted!

Another Econ. course couldn't hurt. Your quantitative score seems good as-is, but could be improved if you want to be an exemplary applicant. I'm doing the same thing for my German. Brush up on your foreign languages, just in case you need to demonstrate your command of them in an interview (although this seems unlikely). That being said, don't say you're "fluent" or "conversational" in a language unless you can express yourself naturally or hold a decent conversation with a native speaker. Use terms such as "intermediate" -- which are more vague -- if you need to. As for your age concern, that's nonsense. Schools love older twenties-ish applicants. You've seen a lot of things in the world and experienced quite a bit; that's something to play on. Many schools have programs that cater to mid-career professionals.

I had a similar dilemma with my application to LBJ a few days ago (on the 5th). Of course, I naturally freaked out -- since those admissions sites make their deadline seem firmly set-in-stone. I emailed them and asked if it was okay to turn in an LOR a few days late, to which they said yes. Point being: Most public affairs schools probably allow for late materials. If anything, a late LOR looks better than a late application, GRE, or transcript (since it's the only part of the application you don't directly control). Email the admissions director as soon as possible; you won't know for sure until you hear from them.

I would apply to more than a singular program if you can. It's hard to predict stats that a mixture of good and bad. Overall, you look like a competitive candidate.

I don't know much about UBalt (it looks to be a decent program) but have you considered UMD? It's closer to DC and it's worth a shot. What're your stats?

I know the reason I decided to apply to UMD was its location. Plus, it's a pretty good program -- not the best, but still leagues above the lower tiers. Being close to DC (literally it's about 20 minutes away) I figured I could apply for internships in the area to boost my experience while studying for the MPP. Oh, and the campus looks beautiful!

Thanks for the info! That make sense.

I've been working on my application to UT Austin as of late, and I was curious as to which would afford me a greater chance of admittance: a 2-year program or a 3-year program. UT gives you the opportunity to apply to 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 year programs. I'm also wondering whether or not applying to a dual-degree program (MSW/MPA) would enhance my opportunity for admission. One of my friends told me that a lot of schools see dual degree programs as cash cows, raking in almost double the money from students -- hence, they're more likely to accept dual degree applicants. I'm not sure how valid that is but that's what I've heard. Any input is well appreciated! Thanks!

It seems like it's always a shot in the dark when you get that high up into the public policy school hierarchy. I feel like justsomeguy75 has a chance tho.

So, I'm getting the feeling (from a lot of admissions data, posts on the forums, and even statements by the schools themselves) that many of these programs are predominantly full of older students. Heck, the Kennedy School requires at least 3 years of full-time work experience to even be considered for their MPA program. Now, I have absolutely nothing against older students. Many of my best friends in undergrad were older than me and I loved the insight they provided me with. That being said, I'm interested in a school that will not discriminate against me based on the fact that I'm young or don't have a career behind me already. I'm going to be applying to MPA programs straight out of undergrad, and I won't have all-the-work-experience-in-the-world under my belt. What schools tend to have younger students, especially those straight out of undergrad? I'm especially looking at LBJ. Any others?