eastcoastdude123

riz 1, Thanks for the compliments, and I will definitely look into those schools. I really appreciate it!

Just an update... I talked to a person from the SPPD admissions office today. She told me that the average GPA for the MPP was roughly 3.1. The middle 50% of the admitted GPAs for the MPA program was from 3.1 to 3.57. I apologize for forgetting the average GRE scores. Have a good day!

Hello all, I'll be applying to MPP/MPA programs for Fall 2010 admissions. I graduated from a large, top-tier state school in the ACC in 2009. My overall undergrad GPA is a 3.86, and my in-major GPAs for political science and history were a 3.81 and a 3.97, respectively. I was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa and served in my school's SGA for two years as well as serving as an officer in some clubs. I also have a solid internship with the GAO, and I'd really like to get back to federal work. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I have been studying for it. When I get to school I'll have a year's work experience under my belt. Applying to: USC, Gtown, GWU, Pitt's MPIA program, American, UNC, George Mason, Maryland, Texas, William & Mary, UWashington, UCLA, and Virginia Tech.

What really interests me about SPPD is its Homeland Security Center (officially called The National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events- CREATE). The really neat thing about it is that its funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Two questions: One is pretty dumb, and I apologize. The other is a pretty common question. 1.)Is SPPD better known for its MPA or its MPP? I've heard that employment prospects for both are pretty much the same. For example, one of my bosses at my internship had an MPA, and someone else in another section had an MPP, and they both did the same job. 2.) I have Googled this so many times, but I just couldn't find anything, so here it goes: Does anyone have the average admitted GPA/GRE for USC's MPA or MPP? Thanks in advance!

George Mason University has a pretty good Public Policy program, and I believe they offer focuses in both IR and National Security. Both their MPP and PhD programs are solid, and if you want a job in the DC area, they're a good choice. Plus the price is right, even for out-of-staters.

Hello, I recently graduated summa cum laude from a top tier public school in Virginia (not UVa) with a double major in political science and history. My overall GPA was a 3.86, and my in-major GPA's were a 3.81 and a 3.97, respectively. I am also Phi Beta Kappa, and I was a member of my university's SGA for two years. From the time I was a junior in high school I knew I wanted to be a lawyer (or so I thought). I was convinced of this as I was sending out applications to various law schools. Then I came home for Christmas and I started talking with old high school friends who were also going to law school or were already there, and they started talking about things such as signing bonuses, tort class, and moot court. Too make a long story short, I've realized over the last 6 months that I never wanted to be a lawyer, I just wanted to say that I had the degree. All along I had wanted to work for the federal government in some capacity involving homeland security or international policy. When I got back to school I brought this up to my adviser and he recommended that, given my interests, I should look into getting an MPA or an MPP. I've spent the last six months researching various programs around the country, and I'm very interested in the following programs: USC's MPA, UPitt's MPIA, George Mason's MPP, GWU's MPA, UNC's MPA, LBJ's MPAff., William & Mary's MPP, Duke's MPP, and Virginia Tech's MPA. Here is my dilemma: After I figured out law school wasn't the right path for me it was too late to get merit based aid at many of these schools, so after taking advice from several of my professors, I decided not to apply to those programs for Fall 2009 and enter the workforce until I went back to school in 2010. Let's just say things fell through, and I didn't get the job I thought I was going to get, so I'm stuck without a job worthy of being put on an application to a top tier school. I know that I can count on three very solid LOR's and I think I'll do well enough on my GRE's. I've also worked various jobs since high school, and I spent last summer interning with the GAO in D.C. So, after that narrative (sorry about that by the way ), my question to anyone reading this post is this: Will my lack of "REAL" work experience screw me over on my applications? PS: USC's SPPD is my top choice- its an internship goldmine and it has an excellent reputation all over the U.S. Plus, I really appreciate the fact that their instruction seems to be more practical than theoretical.