Gov2School

For what it's worth: I know several people who work for USAID who are IU grads and speak very highly of it as a program. It seems well respected as a place to build strong, practical skills. Harvard has more name cache, of course, but that's not necessarily a reason to discount a program that you think fits you well.

I just got one of these today from the Associate Director as well. I guess they're going out as they work their way down the applications.

I don't know if this is true for graduate schools, but undergrad programs will sometimes reject a student with high stats on the assumption that the student will not accept a place at the lower ranked school even if it's offered, because they'll be offered slots at many higher ranking institutions. It's one of the reasons schools ask you to list where else you're applying on your applications. Some schools would rather take a student who will definitely attend that school, even if their stats are a little lower, than take a higher ranking student who will go someplace else. If they take the higher ranking student, they have to put other students on the wait list, and potentially lose both the wait-listed students and the high ranking student to other schools. Also, every school is looking to round out their program, so it can sometimes be a simple factor of intangible statistics. They only want so many students in a particular discipline, from a particular geographic area, with a particular background, etc. So in some cases, the lower ranked program may not be looking for your specific attributes, even if you have good grades.

All they say on the website is that you should think seriously about which fellowship is best for you, but that you're not prohibited from applying to multiple fellowships. If you think you can make a good case for both Gleitsman and Dubin, then it sounds like you could apply for both (I could see how it would be possible, though not very common, to be both and activist and someone who overcame adversity and is committed to transformational change). No idea on the competitive nature of the fellowships, probably the only people who could tell you that work for the CPL. It did seem from the website that certain fellowships like the Presidential Fellowship (which is not through CPL) are more competitive than others, if only because they specifically said this is Harvard's highest award. But you have to assume the answer to how competitive is "very". Most applicants will, I think, be applying for fellowships (though not everyone for the same fellowship), and your chances of getting a fellowship are probably lower than your chances of getting in to Harvard. But it costs nothing to apply for them (other than time), so why not go for it?

Hmm, seems like there are cheaper ways to get a federal job if that's your sole aim. I already work for the government, and while I've had a lot of cool/interesting jobs that I'm grateful for, I'm finding it hard to transition out of jobs with "assistant" in the title and into the more substantive roles that I want. As I started looking to advance, I found more and more that the jobs I was being considered for were too similar to what I had already done, and the jobs that I wanted, I wasn't being considered for, in part because I didn't have a master's degree. So for me, grad school is an opportunity to hit the reset button, and I hope to come back to DC in a few years better equipped to compete for mid- and, eventually, senior-level positions. Law school or business school could have been options for me as well, but I knew I didn't want to be a lawyer and business school didn't really interest me. Though I am focusing on MPA programs at schools with strong business schools, in the hope that I can cross register in a few management courses. It's also a great chance to build knowledge in skill areas that I've discovered, over the course of my career, I'm not as strong as I'd like to be. You can compensate for this somewhat by learning on the job, but in a fast-paced work environment, it's hard to drill down on anything. I'm excited to get back to the classroom and have a chance to really think and learn about things that I'm interested in, but up until now have had to put in the "set aside until time permits" pile. Amazing how big that pile becomes. And I want to expand my professional network by learning from my fellow students. It's really important to me for that reason to go to a school where a large percentage of the incoming class have several years of work experience under their belts.

I would talk to Mercyhurst (if possible Mercyhurst students) about their career services and also do a LinkedIn search to see what kind of jobs graduates from that program currently hold. That can at least give you an idea of where Mercyhurst students end up, and maybe there's an alum in your area who would be willing to give you the benefit of their opinion. I live and work in DC, and what I can say from my experience, is that it's not so much the namebrand of your school that helps launch your career as it is your professional network. So in that sense, DC graduate schools have an advantage for those who want to ultimately work in DC because you can build or further develop that network while you're getting your degree. You can get internships during term time, when intern programs are less crowded (and less competitive), so you can build relationships with coworkers and bosses. You get a sense of the lay of the land in DC, how different organizations relate to each other, what different kinds of jobs are out there. It's easier for schools to bring recent alums in to speak, as well as to attract DC luminaries to teach or do presentations. And yes, usually people are more willing to do informational interviews with students who are from their own alumni network, so in that sense it can help to go to a school with large graduating classes who stay in DC, like SAIS, GW, or Georgetown. But then again, as anyone who works in DC will tell you, there's no silver bullet combo of perfect degree/perfect school to land the perfect job. A lot of it is still luck, timing, and more luck. But that's not to say that an outside of DC school can't introduce you to a good network. And Mercyhurst is, as far as I know, the only school you listed with a specific intelligence degree, so they may have special intel community ties that the other schools can't boast. Also, if you've already spent a lot of time in DC, or you already feel you have a strong basic network of professional contacts, you may not need the "DC Experience" that you would get at GW or Georgetown or SAIS. And schools outside of DC sometimes have generous support for students who want to do internships, so that could help alleviate some of the pain of moving to DC in the summer to intern (or moving abroad). You just have to gauge what the trade offs are for you personally. And you have to think about where you really want to spend your time and money. If you go to a big name school, but hate the curriculum or end up really in debt and just waste two years, that's not to my mind a better bargain than going to a smaller name or cheaper school. And it wont' automatically lead to a better job.

Also waiting. No communication, but WWS Admissions has been helpful to me throughout this process. I changed jobs after applying and they allowed me to submit an update resume (HKS did not). They also were helpful in submitting my mid-year grades. Fingers crossed for everyone! Based on past year threads, it seems like acceptances go out early in the week, and rejections a few days after, so the whole week of March 10 is going to be stressful!

Well I would take that as a good sign. I didn't get anything from them as far as I know (unless it's been getting caught in my junk filter).

No. Like I said, it depends on the program and what it is looking for. Schools aren't all looking for the same thing, so they don't all judge all applicants the same way.

In my previous job we frequently had interns from MSFS who would intern during term time, and they would either not work every day or come in late/leave early on the days when they had class, so it sees like it is doable to have a full courseload around a job. But the difference is that their internship, while it didn't pay, was giving them something valuable in terms of resume building and networking. It doesn't sound like this other job would be the same. On the other hand, most people can't afford to leave good money on the table. So you'll have to judge for yourself what you'd be giving up in order to work. It's not just classes that you might have otherwise taken, but internship opportunities and even extracurricular activities that would let you bond with your classmates who one day (hopefully) will be your professional peers. Especially if you want to work in a large international organization, building a professional network while you're still in school will be really important to your future career. But it's also one of those things that you have to judge for yourself, as everyone is different. You may find that you can balance the demands, or your boss may find he doesn't like having a teleworker as much as he thinks. If he's really accommodating and flexible, it may be worth it, and you may not really know until you try it.

That post specifically refers to Harvard's MPA/ID program (MPA in International Development), not their MPP program. They tell you right up front on the MPA/ID web page that that particular program is the most quantitatively challenging program they offer, so it makes sense that they would mostly take people in the 80th percentile and up on GRE. I'm sure they have some MPA/ID admits who don't make that cut off, but are strong in other areas (or have a strong quant background from undergrad), but I find it easy to believe that most score 80 percent and above for that particular program. It's supposed to attract people who are already really mathematically strong. Now for the MPP program, which is more the "flagship" program, the quantitative requirements are not as black and white because the curriculum is not as quant heavy. So just make sure you're applying to the program with the curriculum that most fits your skills or is most realistic for you.

I'm a domestic student, but I got an email today reminding me to complete my financial aid application.

While i agree that turning an internship into a job is not as common in the public affairs/nonprofit space as I think most people assume (it's very common in consulting), themitten has it right that most jobs in this space come from networking. And Grad School can be one way to build or tap into a network, no matter what kind of school you apply to. Do you need to do it? I guess it depends on the individual, if you're uncomfortable networking on your own or just don't feel you have the contacts to break in to what you want, then maybe it would be worth it. Also, if you want to work in DC, but haven't spent much time there, going to school in DC can be a way to sort of "learn the scene" before you jump into the job market. The best thing to do would probably be to figure out what kind of network is already available to you and start reaching out. Family, friends, and former military colleagues who have transitioned can be a great place to start. If you have a supportive higher up, maybe you could ask them about contacts they have in DC or in the field you're most interested in. You could also try leveraging online networks like LinkedIn to find other vets working in the field you want to go into and just get in touch with them to ask about their path. That's one easy way to start networking before you even put in an application, and you may already be doing it. Informational interviews can be very helpful when you're trying to make decisions like this.

I think this is great advice. You might also want to see if you or your colleagues have contacts currently working as civilians in the government who you could talk to (especially people who have prior military service). They may be able to give you a better idea of the kind of jobs you could realistically expect coming out of grad school/what paths are available to you from there. That might help give you a better idea of whether or not you want to try the Army route.

I think the key question to ask yourself is: Do I have a really specific idea of how this degree would help me, and is there nothing else on my resume that could stand in for this degree? If you don't know the answers to those questions, you might want to wait to go back to school until you do. With your background, already a vet and holding a master's degree, you're competitive for a lot of different kinds of jobs, especially in the security studies field. You would get veterans preference in hiring if you wanted to apply to federal government jobs at State, Defense, or elsewhere for example. You might also think about applying for a government fellowship for Master's Degree holders, particularly if it's something that allows you to rotate at several different kinds of jobs (the Presidential Management Fellowship springs to mind). If you're interested in security issues you could pursue jobs at security oriented think tanks as well. Nonprofits, consulting companies, congressional staffs are all areas where you frequently find vets working. If you take a little time to work in the non-military world, it may give you a better sense of what you specifically want (or don't want) and whether you really need another Master's degree to achieve that. Since it seems like you're considering a wide range of job options (consulting to non-profits is a super wide range), maybe you should consider working first, and then going back to school once you've figured out if you really need it/want it.

I think it depends on the school. For example, SIPA's application asks you to specifically list how many months of post-graduate work experience and then separately asks you to list how many months of internship/volunteer experience you've had. And also keep in mind that when they say "average" that means "most", it doesn't mean "all".

No. And it's also not crucial to getting a DC internship. The only way I think it significantly advantages you is that you can do internships in DC during term time (less competition and sometimes better experiences than summer internships) and if you already have an apartment in DC you won't have to worry about finding temporary housing if you do stay for a summer internship. If you go to school in DC, you do have the resources of DC at your finger tips. You can hear cabinet secretaries and senior officials give talks, you can go to great conferences, you can can be a part of the DC scene. But it's not critical to working in DC. Having some work experience, preferably but not exclusively in DC will help a lot, but that doesn't mean you must attend a DC school. Going to a prestigious school helps, doing internships and doing well at them helps, getting a higher degree helps. Beyond that, it's about timing, hard work, and honestly a little bit of luck.

Have you considered joining the Peace Corps? Peace Corps alums get preferential hiring for government jobs, similar to what veterans get. If you really want to get hired by the government, and you don't plan on coming in through another channel (i.e. joining the Foreign Service, doing a fellowship like Pickering/Rangel/PMF etc), then getting the added boost from preferential hiring can really make a difference, especially if your resume is otherwise unusual. Also keep in mind that you don't need an MA in International Affairs to work in international affairs. People with business, economics, communications, education, engineering, all kinds of backgrounds are valued in government. If you're worried about taking out loans for an IR degree, what about for a business or law degree? Maybe that's something you can pursue without moving away/immediately giving up your job. Also keep in mind that not all international affairs are in Washington. There may be groups or organizations in your home town or state that work on international issues that are of interest to you. Or perhaps you could start one?

Ha ha, I wish I had a real answer, but the honest truth is that I just got really lucky. I'm really grateful for the opportunities that came my way, and looking forward to grad school and the next big adventure.

Thanks for your comments!

Everything this person says is very true. I would add that if you don't want to work your way up on the Hill, another option would be to sign on to a congressional campaign of someone you believe in. You have to start early, probably as a volunteer, work really hard, hope to get hired as staff, then work really really hard and hope your person wins AND hope they take you with them to DC. It's not easy, and I wouldn't recommend it just to get a job but more so because you want the campaign experience and you believe in the candidate.

Hi! I'd love to get some thoughts from people on this forum, though I know that these things are always a little subjective. I'm in the category where I have great work experience, good undergrad GPA, strong verbal score, but slightly lower than average quant score and very light on quantitative classes in college (as in, I took the Macro/Micro intro sequence, A in Macro, Micro was pass/fail and I passed, but no other courses related to Math. They weren't required at my college, and of course, as an undergrad, I was dumb and didn't think ahead to grad school applications!). I'm planning to take an intro statistics course this summer at Graduate School USA in DC, which is an accredited course, and I may try to take another course in the fall. Schools I'm interested in: Princeton Woodrow Wilson, Syracuse Maxwell, SIPA, SAIS, Georgetown SFS, Indiana School of Public Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, Tufts Fletcher School Program: MPA or equivalent program Undergraduate institution: Smith College Undergraduate GPA: 3.8 (cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) Undergraduate Majors: B.A. in Government, with a focus on IR and Middle East studies GRE Quantitative Score: 153 GRE Verbal Score: 169 GRE AW Score: I just took the GRE's, so no score on this yet, but I expect it to be in 90th percentile area Years Out of Undergrad: 4 Years of Work Experience: 4 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I think this is the strongest part of my application. Since graduating from undergrad I've been working at the State Department, first on Middle East Peace issues and now on Political-Military Affairs. I've been a staff assistant and a special assistant, working directly for the top people in each issue area (though not on the Secretary or Deputy Secretary's staffs). It's been great experience, I have a wide range of responsibilities and I've gotten to travel with my bosses, sit in on all their meetings, and a learn a lot about real world diplomacy. I'm currently looking for one more job in government before grad school, either at State or at one of the other agencies. Languages: English, Basic French, I studied Arabic in undergrad and would like to take it up again in grad school, but I don't currently speak or study it. Activities: Volunteer with Streetwise Partners, a mentorship/job skills program for unemployed people in DC (I serve as a mentor to one of the program's participants) In Undergrad I was: Opinions editor for the college paper, Vice President of the Smith Democrats, internships at Center for American Progress and US Embassy in Tunisia. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): The ones from people I've worked with will be strong. My previous bosses (Assistant Secretary-level people) have already offered whatever help they can give in this category. For a profesor, I was going to ask one of my college professors, and I'm sure they will be fine. Goal: I'd like to continue to work in government and in the foreign policy arena. I'm very interested in national security issues, but I also have been developing a greater interest in trade and commerce and how economic ties impact relations between nations. Ideally I think I'd like to try for a post-grad career combining those two interests, for example through trade advocacy. Main concerns: No math classes in undergrad! Seriously, the last legitimate math class I took was Pre-Calculus in my junior year of high school. And a slightly lower than average GRE quant score (Woodrow Wilson average for this year's class was 155). But rather than spend the money to up my GRE scores, I want to invest that in getting some math classes on the books. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.