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pavlik

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Everything posted by pavlik

  1. Most of the big firms (Deloitte, EY, Accenture, PwC, Booz-Allen) have practices that work in environmental or energy sectors, and probably most if not all of them have Austin offices. I'm sure there are smaller firms in Texas as well, I know Navigant Consulting (mid-sized) has a big energy consulting branch there, albeit in Houston--not sure about Austin. The easiest way to get into that is to intern over the summer at one of the firms. Generally their summer associate programs are pipelines into full-time employment, plus they pay (pretty well) over the summer. Seek out students/alumni in your program who have experience either with consulting in general or specifically the areas that interest you--career services can help you find them if you don't know where to start. They won't be able to give you a job, but they'll be able to explain what the work is like, how they got into it, what kind of skills/background are useful, and so on. Being in Austin may give you the opportunity to intern/work part-time at one of the firms over the school year, which will be a tremendous asset since there's likely less competition for the job. And don't be too discouraged if the Deloitte/other big firm's Austin office doesn't have a huge focus on the sector you're interested in. Companies like that tend to be flexible in where someone's placed, so as long as you're willing to travel and telework often, you could stay in Austin and work closely with their San Antonio/Houston/Dallas office. I work for one of the aforementioned companies and in our health policy team, most are in D.C., but there are a few team members scattered across the country--Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania.
  2. Not really anything specific, as the only few people I know involved with that did so through their school. My advice would be to start with what you can at a local level, and see where that goes. Some relevant experience always counts for a lot.
  3. None of those options may be relevant for a non-American citizen, which it sounds like OP is. If OP is an American citizen, then living abroad wouldn't disqualify him/her from Peace Corps. If you have a college degree and are fluent in English, you can probably get a job teaching abroad, either TEFL or another subject if you have other expertise. There are also opportunities with NGOs for things like disaster relief, election monitoring, etc.
  4. Seconding this. If a bedroom in a 2BD apartment is $500-700, it’s one or more of these: a) not a 2BD, b ) not in DC but a far-flung suburb like Rockville, c) not anywhere near a metro station, d) not in what could be described as a “safe” part of town, and most assuredly e) not near downtown or GWU. In fact, you’re not going to find anything for $500 here. Unless you share a bedroom or live in Baltimore. Case in point: my first rental in DC was a month-to-month room in an older 2BD1BA for $750/month (utilities included). It met conditions c) and e) of the above—the closest metro was a 15-minute bus or bike ride away and was about 20-30 minutes from downtown/Foggy Bottom, while still being in DC. That was over 2 years ago, and it was a wonderful deal, despite the tiny kitchen and decrepit window A/C unit. Looking back, I regret moving closer into town for a slightly pricier and even more decrepit 2BD in Adams Morgan. Turned out the Adams Morgan apartment was next to a Spanish discoteca (not the best place to get sleep Thu-Sat nights), had rats, and a shitty roommate (who stole from me and left drugs all over the place). A more realistic budget to live in a 2BD near Foggy Bottom or a metro station would be $900 (on the low end) to $1300. Higher prices probably preclude roommates like the 2nd one I had.
  5. It was actually somewhat difficult tracking down the first time I did for a prospective student, but here you go: http://courses.georgetown.edu/index.cfm?Action=List&ProgramID=68&AcademicYear=2014&AcademicTerm=FallSpring#_ga=1.19267071.637415023.1417460599
  6. Здравствуй! I don't know much about Syracuse and not that much about the MPM program here, but I understand that the summer courses are not that quantitative-intensive. I think your legal background and lack of math/econ/stats won't be that important. The 4 core courses for the summer are Ethics, Public Management Innovations, Decision Making in Public Policy, and Public Policy Process. I've taken 2 similar courses, and neither are demanding in mathematical terms. I didn't have much of a math background coming into the program, and I've done so far. The professors are excellent here, and there are many opportunities to get extra help if you need. If you want to talk more, send me a private message here (click on my name and you should see an option to send message).
  7. Try reaching out to Derricka McDaniel, who I know has been coordinating some prospective students' visits. Her email is dbm46 [at] georgetown.edu
  8. This is exactly the correct attitude about this. As long as you're prepared for the sacrifices and work it entails, you're in good shape. The key is, I think, being able to make the sacrifices to get the job/career you want, and that you know you want this.
  9. Like MPP 2016 said, McCourt runs a (mandatory, I think) econ and math boot camp after orientation in August. Those are not transferable for credit, but there is a waiver exam. Not sure on the details since I didn't bother, but email someone in admin at MSPP if you're interested. I also had to take microecon prior to enrolling. You don't need to go anywhere prestigious, but they did suggest somewhere with an in-person instructor, i.e. not online. A community college was perfectly fine. Since I was already in D.C., I took the class at USA Graduate School (formerly the USDA's professional development school). It was cheap ($400), flexible with the hours (it met Wednesday evenings after work), and I feel that they adequately prepared me for the classes here. If you're in D.C. or moving here soon, that's definitely an option for you (my class ran from April to June of last year). Otherwise, look into a community college if that's available. And some others have asked, but the funding offers are renewable in your second year so long as you maintain good standing and full-time enrollment.
  10. Also not sure what you mean by Columbian school, but someone at McCourt would be your best contact. Email is 100% fine, especially if you're not in the U.S. at the moment.
  11. This is all a personal decision, and only you will know what's best for you in the end. But there are a few things I want to point out (that others have raised as well). 1) Assuming that you'll get a job with the federal government for the loan forgiveness program is a dicey proposition at best. Unless you're a veteran or have special preference for noncompetitive eligibility such as being a former Peace Corps Volunteer, it can be very difficult to land a job through the public application process, especially if you don't have 2 years of work experience. A large number of jobs on USAJobs.gov are there as a legal formality; an agency often knows who they'll hire before the job is even posted, but they legally have to post it anyway. Pro tip: anything with oddly specific skills/experience listed is probably one of these, i.e. "Minimum 5 years of experience with research into Belarussian bilateral trade agreement policy." So, don't assume that getting a federal job will be easy as pie with a master's. 2) Similarly, assuming that the job market will be much easier to navigate once you have a master's is a very optimistic hope, to say the least. Real-world experience is worth much more to most employers than more academia. And it's a false dichotomy to assume you have to jump into the job market and settle for whatever you find if you don't stay in school. There are loads of opportunities out there--Fulbright, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America (and the various state/city spinoffs), teaching English in Korea, etc.--that will do nothing but bolster your resume, and many will give you the opportunity to save. 3) In D.C., master's degrees are like college degrees in other cities. They don't really distinguish you that much. My girlfriend formerly worked for a prestigious foreign policy think tank here. They would get literally hundreds of applications for entry-level positions in the communications department (not even one of the policy programs) paying $35,000/year from master's candidates, people with experience in the field or in other settings, etc. I interviewed for a part-time paid internship/research assistant position last fall, but took myself out of the process after I accepted another offer. The person who took that part-time, $13/hour job has a master's from one of the popular schools on this forum, according to LinkedIn. I'm not trying to scare anyone (OK, maybe a little), but just know that a master's degree isn't a guaranteed ticket to your dream job. That being said--no one knows you like you. If you know you won't ever be better prepared than now, then go for it. But think of applications to schools like a job offer. What do you have to bring to the program? Obviously, the main things they're looking for are intelligence, academic inclination, and work ethic (mostly assessed on GPA and GRE), but having demonstrated work experience in this or a related field makes you a more attractive candidate for both admission and funding.
  12. Gov2School is right, basically everyone wants to live in Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan (and to a lesser extent, Cleveland Park). I'd start with where your classes are--i.e. if GWU, then Foggy Bottom, SAIS is in Dupont, Georgetown, AU is in Tenleytown, etc.--and look around the immediate area there and areas well-connected to that by rail or bus. Biking is also an excellent way to get around--usually faster than any other means of transport (even driving) for distances under 2-3 miles--although some of the hills in NW DC can be killer (the rest of the city is pretty flat). Also, it will save you occasional frustration to live where you don't need to transfer buses/metro lines to get to campus--i.e. live on the blue, orange, or silver lines if you go to GWU, red line (which, as noted, is a hot mess 50% of the time) if SAIS. Here are some general neighborhoods you and other students coming to DC may want to look in: Brookland: It's in NE DC, but on the red line and manages the rare combination of being cheap, reasonably safe, and connected. Catholic University is nearby, so there are a lot of students in the area. I think they got a new grocery store lately. Mt. Pleasant: quiet corner of NW DC between Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. Not super close to a metro but has bus lines and is a 10-15 minute walk from metro stations. Bikeable to/from downtown, although it's on a hill. Tenleytown: further away, but still in DC and on the metro line. Good grocery stores, safe, fairly car-friendly if you're bringing one. Near AU, bus access to Georgetown also. (red line) Glover Park: Not near a metro, but fairly cheap, safe, and neighborhood-feeling area north of Georgetown. Walkable to both Georgetown and AU, decent bus access to Foggy Bottom and Dupont. Lots of grad/med students from AU/Georgetown/GWU here. Rosslyn: in Arlington just across the river. Not the most character, but very close to Foggy Bottom (one station) and Georgetown (across the bridge and free shuttle). Fairly cheap. Lots of GU/GWU students. (blue/orange/silver line) Shaw: Just east of Logan Circle (which is just east of Dupont). Rapidly gentrifying and hip area. Close to (parts of) downtown. Metro station and all that (green and yellow line) Petworth:Similar to Shaw, but north of Columbia Heights instead. Further away from downtown and up a hill, but it's a fairly popular neighborhood (also green/yellow line) Cathedral Heights:kind of the no-man's-land between Glover Park and Tenleytown, but has a brand-new grocery store that's super nice and is connected by bus to Georgetown, Tenleytown, and Foggy Bottom (a pretty long ride for FB though). Apartments are cheap here, and it's very safe, but pretty boring and not near a metro. Best views in town, though. And a good pizzeria (called 2Amy's). On what I think is the tallest hill in town (hence the views), so biking should be fun. That's a short and biased assessment of some neighborhoods. I think the most important thing is to 1) figure out what your budget is then 2) figure out what your values in living are--short commute, fun vs. quiet neighborhood, safety and 3) find a neighborhood and apartment that suits your needs. It's difficult to do remotely and too far in advance (most landlords don't bother advertising until a month or so before the apartment becomes vacant), but it's manageable once you're here.
  13. "Prestige" is a pretty subjective concept, and varies from person to person and place to place. It sometimes matters and never does at once. Will coming from a better-known program help you get an internship or interview more readily? That's probably the case. Will it get you the position? Not if you don't interview well and seem like a good fit for the organization. It's a very regional thing, as well. SAIS is probably likely to count for more on the East Coast of the U.S. or in Western Europe, while places like Berkeley would count for more in California. As you and beefmaster noted, experience counts for a lot more. "Prestige" is useful insofar as it helps you get experience. It may give you a slight leg up in an application for an internship or entry-level position, but that's probably about it. More important is probably the size and helpfulness of the alumni network, career services support, and connections of the faculty. Which correlate with prestige, but aren't necessarily exclusive to the "top" schools.
  14. If you live alone, be prepared to pay for it. Probably the cheapest you can find is $1200 or $1300 per month for a shitty studio/1BD, and that would be a very good find. Probably more likely to find studios for $1400+ and 1BDs for $1500+. If you live with roommates, you can lower that cost to less than $1000, as low as $700 or so potentially (depending on the neighborhood). So it's a good way to save in an expensive city. It won't be hard to team up with incoming classmates or other students in DC, there are thousands coming here every summer. And almost everyone I know here lived with roommates off Craigslist for at least some time, so it's completely normal here. You could stick to looking at houses/apartments only with other graduate students if you want to be sure everyone will be on the same page when it comes to studying, schedules, etc. If cost isn't a concern, then by all means go for your own place. But otherwise, living with other students (even if they're from another school/program) should be a fine experience, plus an easy way to meet people early on.
  15. That's actually pretty disappointing to hear. I'd hold out hope that this means they're putting together lots of funding offers. At least "the end of March" is only 10 days away or so.
  16. I'd try to avoid repeating things on the resume itself. Can you bring in the experiences to your personal statement/cover letter? I think that's a better way to expound on whatever the experience was than trying to add it into a resume. I'd keep those under work experience, while noting the location, and any language skills in the skills section. If you have a "Key highlights" or "objective" statement, reference your int'l experiences there or something (i.e. experienced international development professional seeking blah blah)
  17. Debt can make or break a career and your life. If your total debt is equal to or less than your anticipated starting salary, then it's manageable. That doesn't mean that it will be easy to live. If you're considering $100,000 or more in total loans, then that equates to $1,200 per month in loan payments. That's untenable on the salaries for most jobs an MPP/MPA/MIA leads to. With that load, you're going to have trouble saving any money, taking vacation, buying a house (good luck getting approved for any sort of loan), and so on. Suppose you took out $100,000 in loans for your master's, then take a GS-9 job in DC with the federal government after graduation (just as an example): That doesn't mean that you should go to wherever is cheapest, but just keep in mind what debt means. It's easy to discount it now, 2 years away from when you'll have to start paying it, but taking out these loans can really affect the rest of your life. You could be stuck at a job you hate for the paycheck, stuck in a town you hate for the job, unable to take that trip to wherever you've wanted to, and so on.
  18. They're worth going to if possible, especially if you're on the fence about the school in question. A good/bad impression can make/break your decision to attend there. But if you're already wrapped up and decided on a school, I wouldn't fly across the country for one. It can give you a good feel for the intangibles like student life, resources, etc. that you can't glean from seeing where alumni are placed. Usually they offer a model lesson or a chance to sit in on a real class, which is one of the more salient parts of that. I ended up only going to Georgetown's open house last year because I already lived in DC. At the time, I was still undecided between Georgetown, Texas, and Michigan but leaning toward Georgetown, and the positive impression at the open house made me comfortable enough to decide. It's probably only worth going to one if you're really on the fence about which to attend. That being said, the free beer and wine these open houses generally offer is nothing to sneeze at. The Southern state university I attended as an undergrad had a puritanical attitude toward underage drinking, so events at a Catholic school are pretty nice.
  19. I didn't apply to any IR programs, so it may be more relevant for that, and of course you should answer it if it's specifically asked. Like you said, it matters how you spent the time abroad. Volunteering, studying, or working > tourism, backpacking, and so on. But 99% of the time outside of your application to an graduate IR program (jobs, internships, etc.) don't waste resume space on this.
  20. A few people mentioned putting a "travel experience" or similar section on a resume. No one cares if you stopped in Jamaica on a cruise or went to Italy with your family when you were 12. There's experience and there's travel. If you backpacked for 3 months through Europe and it changed your life, then mention it in a personal statement or cover letter. Putting a blurb about where you've been to doesn't add that much to a resume. If I were on an admission committee and saw a fresh-out-of-undergraduate applicant touting all the weekend trips he/she took on his study abroad trip on his resume, I would snort derisively. It seems like it's kind of covering space on a resume for a lack of "real world" experience. This is just, like, my opinion, man. But I've been to 20+ countries and have no desire to brag about that on a resume.
  21. I don't think I actually ever told them what I had from other schools, but they asked (and I gave them) what sort of scholarship from them would make them competitive against the other schools I was considering (it was LBJ and Ford, LBJ didn't give anything but was cheap, Ford gave a sizable but not super generous scholarship). I told them that I was seeking to minimize total borrowing and planned on working my way through school, so I wanted to keep total tuition expenses below a certain amount. They matched that amount. Depending on the school and how you initiate the conversation though, they may want to know what other offers you have. I tried negotiating with the other schools with more limited success. Even with the money, I still would have picked LBJ or Ford (probably LBJ) over Georgetown had I not had a very positive experience at the open house for admitted students I went to in April. So I wouldn't bother negotiating with a school you're not 100% serious about attending. Hope that helps!
  22. Can't speak too much for the MA in Gov't program, but you should know that you won't get any need-based aid that's not a loan from FAFSA. Scholarships, fellowships, and all that are all "merit-based" (whatever that means according to the school/funders). But sometimes they ask for a FAFSA, so fill that out.
  23. I don't know, to be honest, but I wouldn't rule being accepted out until around March 15. As long as you got everything in for your application, every school should let you know one way or another.
  24. A 1000x yes, negotiate or ask if that's the final offer. I doubled an offer from a school by simply telling them that I couldn't consider them financially, even with the generous offer they had extended. Most schools have some sort of fellowship or scholarship that gives a full ride, or at least close to it. There are several students in my program (McCourt) that are fresh out of undergrad. There are five (I think) "McCourt Fellows" who have a full ride plus a stipend. None of the McCourt fellows are also immediately from undergrad. So keep that in mind. I'm a big advocate of working for a bit anyway, even if it's not 100% relevant to what you think you want to do long-term, because a year out of the classroom, whether it's volunteering, traveling, interning, or working is incredibly valuable. You may decide that grad school isn't something you want to do, or that you want to do a separate program, or something else entirely. But ultimately, the decision is yours.
  25. Both. I'll admit that I am a very debt-averse person, but I don't think any graduate program in public policy (maybe Harvard) is really worth more than $50,000, which is what a 50% scholarship would translate to here. My work and elective experience are aligning to give me a lot of background in health policy. There's no requirement to specialize, which I prefer, because a) that doesn't seem that valuable from a career standpoint (is Employer A really going to hire you just because your school gave you a certificate or whatever in development policy? Maybe over an equally qualified candidate, but work/internship experience is 1000X more important) and I have a few interests I'd like to pursue aside from health and plan on taking a class in those fields next year. I've enjoyed all my classes, but some certainly more than others. I took Health Policy & Politics last year, which was great--the professor (Judy Feder) has been involved in the field for decades, including in the Clinton White House as one of Hillarycare's architects. That's probably been my favorite so far. I'm also enjoying my economics class this year, Market Failure & Public Economy. There are quite a few opportunities to get TA/RA positions, but I'm not sure how much tuition they actually cover. I think a lot of them pay an hourly wage ($13-18/hr, depending on what exactly you do). I know several students that have worked in these positions since the first semester. In addition, there's plenty of opportunity to get part-time paid work on the side, whether an internship or just a PT job at a restaurant/shop/bar if you need money for living expenses. While the school officially discourages students in their first semester from working, I worked last semester, as did several others, and I'm still here. It was manageable, and while it was more stressful (and I probably could have gotten slightly better grades in at least one class had I put more time into it), I'll take graduating with no student loan debt and more work experience over a 4.0. These are all my personal opinions, of course, and your preferences may vary wildly. I'm happy to answer any further questions, you can message me or post here.
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