Swedishcoffee

I had a VSFS internship back in 2011. It was a good experience. I don't remember a lot of the specifics of the application experience, but I got the gig, and my role was to run social media for one of the embassies. I also facilitated a contest they were hosting and did some minor research stuff. The FSO with whom I worked was quick in communication with me, but not being there in the embassy with them meant that I didn't form good relationships with anyone outside of the FSO to whom I reported. Also, having never met her in person and coordinating almost solely via email meant that even my relationship with her was not half as close as the relationships I formed at other in-person internships. That being said, I still think it was a good experience. I learned a lot more about how embassies and how the State Dept worked, I learned more about the country's culture, I further honed my communication and PR skills, etc. I also think "U.S. State Department" looks good on my resume. I honestly don't remember much about the application process, but of the experience itself, I would say that an in-person State Dept internship would be better for building your network. If that's not possible, though, for time/money constraints (as was the case with me), the VSFS is still worth your time.

I was in a similar position when applying, MPP2015. I knew my manager and group at work would be unhappy to see me leave, as they value the work I do, and the shift in career path I'm seeking pretty much guarantees I won't be back. Instead, I had someone else at work write a recommendation for me who is outside of my reporting structure and doesn't interact with my group often. I had worked with him on a project before, so he knew my capabilities, though I didn't work with him on a regular basis. I'd recommend Gov2School's advice of getting the professional recommendation, but looking for someone outside of your immediate manager. It worked well for me!

bump

Also, on your original question, applications generally become available in September. If I recall correctly, the Harvard Kennedy School was the first one on my list that made its application available, and that one for Fall 2014 came out on September 12, 2013 last year (and was due December 5). The other applications came out shortly thereafter. In addition to securing letters of rec in advance, you can also start working on a personal statement, or at least an outline for one. All the schools (or at least the ones to which I applied) require a general personal statement of anywhere between 400 words (Columbia, I think) and 700 words (Georgetown, if I recall correctly). I had a pretty good outline ready in June-ish, so when apps came out in September, I was ready to quickly flesh out my outline. It made things a lot less stressful on me. Good luck!

Thank you!!

I'll start: Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Big US state school Previous Degrees and GPAs: Three majors and 4.0 GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 165/163/5.0 Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): 2 years full time in pretty cool private sector job that gives me a lot of travel and responsibility, but unrelated to public service. Internships with State Dept, human rights org, and UN Math/Econ Background: A few econ classes, but no math since high school Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Highly proficient in one non-native language, basic skills in two others Intended field of study: Masters Long Term Professional Goals: Use my private sector skills in the public service. Particularly interested in human rights Schools Applied to & Results: Harvard Kennedy (accepted), Tufts Fletcher (accepted), Columbia SIPA (accepted), Johns Hopkins SAIS (accepted), and Georgetown SFS (accepted) Ultimate Decision & Why: Leaning toward Harvard Kennedy if all funding is basically equal, but I could still be swayed. HKS is my dream school, and I'm truly honored to have been accepted. Advice for Future Applicants: I wrote my essays within a week or two of the applications coming out. That left three or four months for fine-tuning my narrative. I really recommend that. I also recommend working hard to get a good GRE score. Studying pays off (I personally am a fan of Manhattan prep), and high GREs is a quick way to improve your application. You can't change your undergrad GPA or get three extra years of work experience by the time you apply in the fall, but you can improve your GRE score with a few months of focus.

Now that most people have received the majority of their decisions, I think it's time to start a wrap-up thread for those who are ready to contribute. I know in my decision-making process these past threads were enormously helpful to me (in fact, perhaps one of the most helpful resources during the application process). The past threads helped me determine exactly where to aim my applications based on previous applicants' experience, and I did really well in my application cycle because of it. So now for our turn. Be as specific or vague as you want, but whatever of the following information you are willing to give is immensely helpful to others. For the future students! Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Previous Degrees and GPAs: GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): Math/Econ Background: Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Long Term Professional Goals: Schools Applied to & Results: Ultimate Decision & Why: Advice for Future Applicants:

I'm in for MPP as well! So, so, so happy!!!

For your first question, you ask what experience would be good for your goals, but it all depends on what your goals are. What will help you most is what will help you craft a convincing, coherent statement of purpose. If your long-term goals are in international finance, trade, or economics, the Ministry of Finance would be best. If your long-term goal is to work at a multilateral org, shoot for the EU or UN jobs. Choose whatever will boost your case for what you will write that your long-term goals are in your statement of purpose. I imagine most schools are well aware of the European system requiring the masters degree, but I would have your recommenders mention it just to back you up. These schools have plenty of European applicants every year, so I would be surprised if the applications committees are not familiar with the situation. For GREs, shoot for 160s to be in a good range for the top schools. Upper 150s are acceptable, but the rest of your application needs to be especially great. You'll probably get some leeway on the verbal section because you're a non-native speaker, but I'd still try to shoot for upper 150s or 160s on verbal if I were you. Danes probably will be held to a higher standard than, say, a guy from rural Bangladesh. I think your application will be good, though. Hope this helps!

Did any domestic students get a 'dedicated financial adviser,' or does this seem to be something exclusively for international students?

I wish! No, I haven't. Did you apply for MALD?

If you will be in the top 5-10% of your class, you should be fine for some of the top public policy programs. Most of those applying to these programs from U.S. schools are also in the top 5% or 10% of their classes in the U.S., so you're fine there. What will be important for you is getting a GRE score in a good range. Somewhere in the 160s are normally great for these programs. Upper 150s are good if the rest of your application is strong. Lower 150s and below are where you start to really need to have a stellar application to make up for the scores if you want to get into a top five or top ten program. Take your GRE and see where you fall, because that will be another big determinant for you. Schools also tend to like postgraduate work experience. If you're able, try to work a year or two after graduation. As it is now, though, you have an awesome amount of internships, which I think could help make up for you not having full-time postgrad work experience.

$600 or $700. I applied to five schools that each had an application fee of between $85 and $100. On top of that, I paid the $25 fee to get my GRE scores sent to the schools that required them and the $8 fee it took to have my transcript sent from my school.

Yeah, I think I had heard before that Peterson's wasn't accurate. I guess I'm wondering if someone has a more accurate idea about admissions statistics. If there's some fount of admissions information out there I'm unaware of. Or at least if someone has an idea whether Peterson's is somewhat or very above or below actual figures.

Anyone have an idea of how many applications they typically get for the MPP program? Cursory Google searches haven't given me much.

From everything I've read and everyone with whom I've spoken, those who make it to the very top schools (which you're definitely looking at) straight from undergrad are rare. Those who do make it have pristine stats (near-perfect GRE, near-perfect GPA, and did something truly noteworthy for their age). I think you're competitive for mid-tier schools, but I think it will definitely be a stretch for the top of the top. Your experience and quant scores are low compared to most applicants to, say, WWS. I've talked to an admissions consultant named Kaneisha Grayson a bit, and the advice she always gives her clients is that those who are applying the second time around have a more difficult time getting in than those applying the first time. It's tougher for reapplicants. I think it comes down to this: if you are set on grad school NOW, then, by all means, apply! See what happens. Maybe apply to another mid-tier school as a backup. If, instead, you're more concerned with getting into a top school in particular, then wait. Work in a field you're passionate about, do great things, get your GRE for both quant and verbal into the mid 160s, and then it will no longer be a reach, but it will be quite within your range.

I only say CV because that's the language a few schools are using (whether it's apt or not). I had a conversation about my "resume" with someone from one of my top-choice schools' admissions teams, and he corrected me that they wanted "more of a CV, not a resume" (even though the average student there only has has a few years of experience). Maybe it's their way of getting more granularity of one's experience, maybe their intent is to cater to international students from places where CVs are more standard, who knows. Thanks! Sounds like education at the top it is.

I currently have my work experience at the top of my CV, as I've worked full time for two years now. Recently, however, I spoke with someone at my undergraduate institution who suggested that when applying to grad school, candidates should put education at the top. He said to especially do so because I received a 4.0, Phi Beta Kappa, etc. That's the first time I've heard that advice, though, and I'm curious how applicants for HKS, SIPA, SAIS, SFS, etc. typically structure their CVs. What do you all think? Undergrad at the top or "Relevant Work Experience" at the top? Do you think time out of undergrad and things like grades should affect whether one puts their education at the top? Thanks!

Hi EliZhang, It sounds like you have an good, interesting background. Admissions is a crapshoot, and from what I've seen in this forum, there are both candidates straight out of undergrad getting into top schools and candidates with seemingly great, extensive resumes getting rejection letters. It's hard to say either way, however I think you should pay attention to the requirements that schools explicitly state. For instance, Johns Hopkins states on their website, "All incoming M.A. students must complete introductory microeconomics and introductory macroeconomics courses (receiving a grade of B- or higher) prior to enrolling at SAIS." Not having economics coursework may hurt you, so when you apply, I would suggest mentioning you plan to take economics coursework prior to enrollment to satisfy their requirement. Luckily your quant GRE score is high enough to demonstrate your abilities. Hope this helps!

I noticed that. Another of my apps - Columbia SIPA, I believe - requires the same. It's interesting. I wonder how that factors into their decision making.

From everything I've read, this is the ranking that's regarded as the ranking for public policy programs (published in Foreign Policy) among those in the international affairs sector and the schools themselves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_the_Ivory_Tower International relations faculty at every four-year university in the United States were surveyed and asked what they regarded as the top five schools. The percentage figure next to the names of the schools indicates what percentage of the professors said that the school was in the top five. Top five for 2012 were: Georgetown SFS, Johns Hopkins SAIS, Princeton WWS, Harvard KSG and Tufts Fletcher. Closely following were Columbia SIPA, George Washington Elliot, and American SIS.

Another confusing question I've run into on an app asks, "Indicate total number of years of relevant work experience (including full-time, part-time, and internships)." In my situation (and I'm sure many others on this forum), there have been several points in my life at which my work experience is doubled up. For instance, right now I have a full-time job, but I also spend 20 hours a week interning with a nonprofit nights and weekends. On one hand, I don't want to discount the extra work I've put into those second, equally-demanding jobs that have doubled my relevant professional experience during that time. On the other hand, it seems deceiving to include both. All my work (including the jobs when I've worked two at once) totals to about five years. Without including the doubled-up jobs, it's more like three years. What do you guys think? Anyone else come across this conundrum?

I've begun a few applications for the fall 2014 term, and I have a curiosity about work experience to which a few people on this forum may know the answer. When schools say, for instance, "The average student at our school has four years of work experience," do they mean four years of strictly postgrad work experience, or do they regard the summer and semester internships during undergrad as work experience? Judging by the experience of others I've known getting into such programs, it seems to be the latter, but my sample size is not large enough that I can say for sure. Any help would be appreciated!

I'm with s1lent - does anyone have any knowledge about how much it hurts to come from a lower-tier public undergrad institution? My undergraduate school, perhaps like s1lent's, is a massive Division 1 institution that offers a stellar academic experience and honors program to those who seek it out, however it's also the type of giant state school that accepts pretty much anyone in the state that made it through high school. How much does that hurt?