[UC Berkeley Goldman MPP 2015]

I got accepted last friday (by email) and there is still no change in the application status. Good luck!

[Boston University M.A. International Relations Fall 2012]

Hi all, I am part of the dept of IR at BU, writing in order to urge any readers interested in the IRRN program to drop a line to the department directly with questions or concerns. About internships  or advising, or anything. We try our best to guide our students into and through the program successfully, and would love to do the same for you. The IRRN program is now under new leadership, poached from Stanford, and we are excited about the future of a program that addresses some of world's most pressing policy dilemas. So please be in touch!

HI Gadogado,

 

If you don't mind me asking, I would like to know what are the differences between the MAIA, GDP, etc masters, besides the obvious. I am interested in a more econ/quant-focused master, which one would you say is better suited? Do you have statistics of the class profile/rankings/opinions on the different masters?? Any info would help

 

thank you so much in advance,

[The 'Am I competitive' thread - READ ME BEFORE POSTING]

Hi there. I would really appreciate it if you helped me with your opinion on my application. Thank you so much,

 

Programs: MPA SIPA, MPP HKS, MPP Chicago Harris, MPP Berkeley, MPA LSE, IPS Stanford, MIB Tufts, MPA NYU

Undergraduate Institution: Top 3 university in my country (in South America)
Undergraduate Degree: Industrial Engineering, concentration in Information Technologies

Undergraduate GPA: 3.6 

GRE: 158V, 165Q, 4 AW

Toefl: 112

 

Years out of Undergrad: I graduated on december 2012, so 1 year and 8 months

Years of Work Experience: 1,5 years full-time, + 1 year part time while I finished my undergrad

Relevant Work Experience: 

1 year internship while I was finishing my undergrad, I worked at a technology multinational company as a sales consultant. Two of the projects I worked on where with the government of my country.

1,5 years working on the core business of a major airline as a commercial analyst, private sector again

5 years (and counting) volunteering on a nursing home in my country + 1 month volunteering for a nursing home in India

Languages: English (advanced), Spanish (native), portuguese (basic for business)
Quantitative: Advanced calculus and algebra, basic economy. 

SOP: 

Focus on how volunteering made me take the decision of leave the private business and turn to public sector.

Contrast my current job (which is very rewarding) with what I want to do after my MPP (program evaluation/policy design on my country's government)

Special mention of the work I did with my country's government while I was on my internship

Special mention to a scholarship I had during undergrad that is very service-oriented.

LORs: Letters from two of my bosses in my current job, one letter from my scholarship advisor during my college undergrad.

Questions: 

1. I am worried that my work experience is not "public" enough, that the fact that I only have professional experience in private sector will make my application poor

2. I'm worried I have very little work experience, just 1,5 years (to date) of full-time professional experience

3. I am worried I'm aiming to high on my school preferences

4. I don't have a LOR from a professor because I didn't get to know deeply any one during my undergrad (100+ students per class), I really regret that

[Chances of MPP/MPA with NO public work experience]

Thanks for the reply!

[Chances of MPP/MPA with NO public work experience]

Hi! I am an international prospective student, I would like to apply to an MPP/MPA but I feel that if you don't have a public service background it is virtually impossible to get into a good college. I have a good enough GRE (Q 165, V 158) but my work experience is 1 year full time in a private sector company and 1 year part-time internship in another private sector company. I have volunteered for years in a non-profit organization, but I don't know if my work experience is good enough. 

 

I majored in engineering and in the future would like to work in an NGO, but when I got out of college I felt that if I started to work with non-profit right away my career would be diminished, that's why I preferred to work in for-profit first. Sory for my english.

 

Please help! Thanks!