mpp_applicant
-
Posts
21 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by mpp_applicant
-
-
Current SAIS student here. Congrats to everyone who got admitted. I like SAIS enough that I'm willing to answer any questions you might have about the program. Swamped with work this week so I can't guarantee I'll answer every question or write that much but fire away any pressing questions!
Cheers,
SAISer
Thanks for the offer Current SAIS student. The biggest question for me right now is the price tag. I was admitted to the IDEV program, DC campus. I have no doubt it's the best program I've been admitted to, but I received no grants, only federal loans. Do SAIS students worry about their debt after graduation, or do they seem confident their job placement will be strong enough to justify the cost? Any thoughts on the matter are greatly appreciated!
-
Ra>Rd aside.
What is the intrinsic value of learning?
Is this the kind of thing SAIS students say?
-
Ouch! Just got my financial aid information, and no money for me! Just $20K in loans. This hurts.
Same here - 20k in loans. I thought I'd received a scholarship and got all excited until I clicked on the other tab. Oh well. So let's rehash the debate: Is SAIS worth the 60k a year? What does everyone think?
-
lucky you! I only got 10k per year. Sort of feels like a drop in the bucket! Hopefully GSPP pulls through...
10k for me too. It definitely feels like a drop in the bucket, considering total cost for one year is 60k (including room and board, fees, books, etc.) That's a total 100k for an MPP. Does anyone think it's worth it?
-
Hello all,
I remember something about Princeton WWS's notification date being something like March 15th, but since that long-ago application deadline the date has mysteriously vanished from their site. Anybody have any privileged information on when we're to find out?
The results page shows last year's notifications were right around then.
-
"The first scholarship committee meeting is this coming Thursday, February 18. Please send your statement by 5:00 p.m., tomorrow, February 17 ... You will receive an e-mail update concerning your scholarship status by Friday, February 26."
A little more notice would have been nice. What if I hadn't checked my email? Also, some of us have jobs.
-
How does the state salary scale differ from the federal one?
And what do you think of Georgia Tech in terms of the policy analysis concentration? That is the one I would be going for.
Sorry, I don't the answer to either of these. Just don't know much about the Tech program.
-
From what I'm reading between the lines, I think you'd be better off with an MPP from a quality institution (with a quality career center) like those you mentioned earlier.
Yes, you will likely ultimately need a PhD to reach the highest levels of government and think tanks. But here's the rub: an MPP from a top program will get you on the fast track to said position, and at a certain point your employer will basically send you to get your PhD if you show promise and proven ability. At that point, you'll be going to whatever PhD program you want, and "getting in" anywhere won't be an issue.
If you go with a no-name PhD though, you may not be able to get onto the kind of career track with the organization/agency you want. Not saying that WILL be the case, just that it very well may depending on that university's career center and alumni connections.
Good luck with your decision and hearing back from your other applications!
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm interested in what you say about employers paying for Public Policy PhDs. I have not heard of that before. Does the federal government do this? Think tanks? At Sanford, are there many MPP students who go on to Public Policy PhDs, and if so, which schools do they seem to be going to? Sorry for all the questions!
-
What do you think of programs such as University of Georgia MPA (public finance), Georgia State MPP, Georgia Tech MPP, University of Florida MPA, George Mason MPP? They are all 2nd tier programs, but do you think good jobs can be found coming out of them? (I know finding a good job has to do with other factors too, but in general, how do you think these programs stack up? Worth going to?)
Georgia MPA seems to be very good if you are shooting for state or local government or a handful of federal agencies. I think they place a number of people in GAO every year and some in the Presidential Management Fellows program. I think it can also a good program if you want to go on to a PhD in public administration. And it's affordable. If you want to study public POLICY though, I talked to a student there who said the public policy concentration should in no way be mistaken for or compared to an MPP degree.
I know less about the other programs. Look carefully at Tech's course offerings. I think they have strengths only in a few policy areas - environment, technology and economic development (regional/urban, not international).
-
Also, this is the tougher job to quantify, find out if phd's are preferred in your intended job area. It seems sometimes that phd's have a better ability to rise to the top of their institutions, but no always, and it depends on many factors.
This is something I've had mixed results with. I found think tanks fairly easy to research just by reading people's profiles on the web and calling them up. I've concluded that a PhD is a must if you want to climb the ladder in a think tank.
But what about government, NGO's and the UN? Any suggestions on how to find out which degrees are preferred by employers? Any tips on getting a hold of the right people and how to ask these questions?
-
I agree that one or two years of work experience is unlikely to have a direct relationship to the skills you'll gain in an MPP. I do think that almost all programs value work experience in applicants. A couple years of work, even if it's not in your policy interest area, will boost your application. It can show your commitment to public service and prove to adcoms you have greater certainty about your reasons for pursuing the degree. I took two years to teach high school and half a year for volunteering abroad. It has definitely benefited me personally, financially, and as an applicant.
-
I think almost all my schools will notify by email as soon as anything changes on my application page, so I'm trying to stop clicking the application status link. Probably bookmarking it was a bad idea.
The standard notification date for MPPs seems to be March 15, give or take. HKS and SAIS seem like they push past that date regularly (SAIS has said early April is possible). Others seem to get decisions out sooner (I think GPPI said late February?). Unfortunately, the dates seem less consistent than undergrad applications, from what I remember.
-
i have to agree, it depends on what you want with your career. If academia, then you may want to reconsider. But then again, do you want to teach in the top schools? Or closer to home etc? Probably need to ask yourself these things before you decide....
Thanks for your thoughts. I don't want to be a career academic. I want to pursue policy jobs in government, NGO/IOs or think tanks. But I find very appealing the option of teaching as an adjunct or taking an academic job here and there as a change of pace. I have no ambition of teaching at top schools, but I would want respectable compensation of course.
I think my biggest question is: How do employers in government and other policy institutions view Public Policy PhDs? Would you have an advantage over KSG or WWS master's holders, even if the PhD is from a lesser known program at a top public school?
-
I just found out I was admitted to a public policy PhD program (at a large, respected state university). It's the only PhD program I applied for because it's the only one I could find that seemed interested in applicants without a masters or research experience (I'm in my third year teaching high school since undergrad). The other programs I applied to are mostly MPPs: KSG MPP, WWS MPA, SAIS MA, Duke MPP, GPPI MPP, UMaryland MPP, American Econ MA.
I still have a couple months until I get my other decisions, but I want to start evaluating this PhD option. It seems pretty good for the following reasons:
- It will probably be funded and carry a stipend.
- My would-be adviser is awesome. Basically I'd be studying social policy (focusing on education) in developing countries.
- The curriculum looks good, there are small classes, and there are no masters students in this department.
- Profiles of current and past students seem pretty impressive. Several have masters degrees from WWS and other similar programs.
- The degree would give me a leg up in gov't / NGO / IO / think tank jobs, plus the option of academia.
I have my doubts because:
- Public Policy PhDs seem somewhat limiting in that you will always be equaled or trumped by Poli Sci or Econ PhDs, especially in academia.
- I cannot get a feel for the reputation of this program. It's not in the US News rankings (maybe because there's no master's program?).
- I have some doubts about placements after the program. Some have gone to World Bank, good academic jobs and various interesting research jobs, but others have nothing listed since their graduation. On this I can try to find out more from the school though.
What do you think? Should this PhD trump all masters options? How can I find out more about the reputation of the program? Thanks!
-
Thanks all for your posts and well wishes. It's good to hear the varying opinions out there. And Tarski, thanks a lot for the link.
TerriM, no need to apologize for your opinion, although I think you misunderstood my question. I'm not hoping for my department to ask my fiance's department to accelerate their decision. I don't care when she hears back; I just want her to get in. I only mentioned that her app hasn't been reviewed yet to indicate the decision is yet to be made. I just want to know whether or not it's common - and whether or not it's frowned upon - for an admit to inform his department that he has a fiance applying to another department and that her admission will be a major factor in his decision.
Beatnik, I'm having trouble finding the thread you mentioned. I found one on significant others in general but none on this particular dilemma. Can you suggest some search terms?
-
I was just admitted to a PhD program at a state university. My fiance (we get married in April) has applied to a master's program in another department at the same university (also in the College of Arts and Sciences). We know that her application has not been reviewed yet. Whether or not she gets in will be a major factor in my decision. Could I ask my department to say something to her department? If they were to do so, would this reflect poorly on her? What do you think? Thanks.
-
I sure hope the number of applicants comes down. Although when it comes to HKS, I do see it as a big lottery of sorts. Does anyone know the acceptance to applicants ratio for HKS ?
2010, that makes sense. I sure hope you're right. As far as admit rates, I think I remember seeing HKS around 20-25%. WWS I think is lower around 12-13%.
-
'06: Mar 14
'07: Mar 9
'08: Mar 14
'09: Mar 26
The above were the notification dates for MPP/MPA (there's sometimes a day's difference between the two) in the past few years. This year HKS' webpage says it's going to be April. I just wonder if it's been saying 'April' for all these years (but then notified earlier) or if this is a new thing this year. Anyone have an idea?
Last year the economic situation was the worst and the number of applications skyrocketed, hence the delay until the 26th, as far as I understand. This year should be better though, so why April?
This is concerning. Would we only have until April 15 to make decisions? I was hoping to visit week of my school's spring break Mar. 15-19 (I'm a teacher) if I get in. Is it possible to ask for my decision early if it's not out by Mar. 15?
Also, what makes you think applications will be down this year? Unemployment is still increasing.
-
My focus would be international development. Thanks for the tip on the recs.
-
I am new to the MPP application process. I'm wondering where I fall among other MPP applicants. I have a mediocre GPA from Rice, with good GRE and two years teaching since graduation. (See stats below). I expect great employer recs but am less confident about profs. Would I be competitive for the top schools like HKS and WWS? How about GPPI or Duke? Where would I be competitive for a scholarship? (I can't do 55k/year out of pocket).
Undergraduate Work
3.45 from Rice University
History major with coursework in poli sci (8 classes) and econ (5 classes). Editor-in-chief of university student newspaper.
GRE
AW: 5
Quant: 800
Verbal: 700
Total: 1500
Since College
-Two years teaching high school social studies in a TFA-like setting (though not a corps member) in Houston
-Half a year volunteer teaching in Kenya
College Internships
-State Department Refugee Bureau
-International Visitor Program, Georgia office (2 years)
Ph.D. vs. SAIS vs. Duke MPP vs. Maryland MPP
in Government Affairs Forum
Posted
I want to study development and go to work at UN/USAID/think tank/NGOs, etc. I would enjoy academia and teaching, but it is not my career goal. Here are my options:
1. Ph.D. in Public Policy in small dept at large, respected state U. Would-be adviser a well-published development economist with work for UNICEF and NGOs. Fully funded with stipend for all five years. Of his recent advisees: one dropout, one at USAID, one at think tank. Total est cost: Free
2. SAIS M.A. in int'l development program (DC campus). No grants, only federal loans. Total est cost: 90-120K (depending on second year scholarships)
3. Duke Sanford M.P.P. 25K given in grants. Total est cost: 50-60K
4. U. of Maryland M.P.P. Half grad assistantship. Total est cost: 40-50K