What a great idea! I wish I had seen these threads when I was applying ...
Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): top-5 for undergrad, large state school for grad
Previous Degrees and GPAs: interdisciplinary Bachelor's with heavy computer science/psychology slant, ~3.4; Master's in elementary education, ~3.8
GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 164/168/5.5; submitted GMAT, too, since the total score was higher
Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): almost 2 years as a teacher at a Title I school via Teach For America; previous internships in product management and software engineering at tech companies of all sizes, including a year as the product lead at an ed-tech start-up I co-founded
Math/Econ Background: lots of computer science and applied math/statistics courses in that field, some linear algebra and multivariable calculus, introductory micro/macro
Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): basically fluent in one non-native language, elementary in two more
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP/MBA
Long Term Professional Goals: domestic social policy, particularly with regards to education and labor policy
Schools Applied to & Results: HKS (funding pending), GSPP (tuition + stipend), Harris (half), Ford ($20k); somehow got lucky and got in everywhere I applied
Ultimate Decision & Why: The choice is coming down to HKS and GSPP, and it will depend somewhat on funding. But regardless of funding outcomes, I'm leaning toward HKS for the diversity of its network and an opportunity to be somewhere new. (I've been a West Coast kid my whole life!) The decision is far from solidified, however. I'll be using the upcoming admit days to help nudge me one way or the other.
Advice for Future Applicants: Start writing those SOPs early! I started in the summer, and even then, I found my mission statement wavering up until pretty much the last available moment. Also, be careful in choosing your recommendation providers. I won't get into the details, but let's just say that I lost out on an MBA program I really liked because one of my providers didn't deliver until considerably after the deadline despite a bunch of reminders ...