[Current Yale Jackson Student - AMA]

Is there room in Jackson for student interests in domestic economic and social policy, rather than "global affairs"? Or is everyone there really IR oriented?

[USA Student Visa with conditional admission]

The usual order of things is:

1. You apply for schools during your last year of undergrad (2015-2016).

2. You get an admission offer around Feb-April of 2016. The offers do not usually explicitly say that you must complete your undergrad degree. Instead, it is implied that everything you say in your application is true (i.e. your expected degree date).

3. You make a decision on what school you want to go to.

4. After you make a decision, you begin the paperwork for the school to issue you your I-20 or DS-2019. This usually happens in April/May.

5. You receive your I-20 or DS-2019 and begin the F-1 or J-1 visa application process in your home country at a US embassy/consulate. By now, you will likely have received your degree.

6. You get your F-1 or J-1 visa approved. During the summer, your new school will begin asking you for registration deposit (if necessary), and proof of degree completion when you have it. Sometimes the degree is not conferred until after the new school's school year begins---talk to your school to determine the deadline.

7. Finally, you enter the US no more than 30 days before your new program starts (your visa does not allow you to enter earlier).

It's hard to predict what your visa officer will use to determine eligibility. Your letter of admission from the school will usually not say "conditional acceptance". But by the time you have your appointment, you will likely have finished your undergrad degree requirements (it would be a good idea to get a letter from your current school saying so, if it is not already reflected on your transcript). And by the time you actually enter the US, having the actual degree in hand would be a very good idea (or again, transcript or letter if you don't have the physical degree yet).

Of course, once you are on step 4, stay in contact with your new school's international office to get better advice too!

Thanks for this very informative response!

The problem is that I am supposed to receive my degree only by September. I might be able to receive my degree earlier, by August, but probably not before my visa appointment.

Do you think that's solvable? 

[USA Student Visa with conditional admission]

Hi everyone,

I'm not familiar with US visa regulations. My question is: since I'm still in undergrad, my admission for grad school will most likely be conditional upon completing my undergraduate degree. Will I still be able to apply for a US student visa, or is unconditional admission obligatory?

Thanks!

[Straight out of undergrad- date of graduation a problem?]

Hi,

I'm applying for MPP programs this year, most of which begin late August - early September. By that time I will have finished my B.A. However, universities where I come from take a few week to, what they call here, "close the degree", and grant you a diploma. So I'll only receive my official degree transcripts in late September.

Do you think this might pose a problem, or will schools be tolerant as I'll have completed my undergraduate duties?

[Top programs for economic / social domestic policy?]

Hi,

I know this is a VERY broad (and somewhat superficial) question, but what programs would you consider to be the top US MPP/MPA/etc. programs for domestic economic policy and for domestic social policy?

Thanks!

[WWS & HKS concentrations]

Thank you PeterQuince. This is extremely helpful

[WWS & HKS concentrations]

Hi,

I’m trying to gather information about WWS MPP and HKS concentrations. More specifically, I’d like to know:

1. Will I be able to switch concentrations at some point after admission?

2. How important is the compatibility between my concentration choice and my SoP’s, essay, policy memo, etc? for example, if I have some experience in a given area (let’s say, domestic policy) but would like my gradschool degree to lean more towards, let’s say, IR, is that not a reasonable aspiration? If I present and explain this change in direction on my application materials, will it smoothen the “transition”? Or is it expected to nonetheless hurt my chances of getting admitted?

3. Can anyone elaborate further about WWS and HKS concentrations? I don’t have specific questions, I’d like to hear any additional information and thoughts you might have.

Thanks!

[IDF military service as work experience]

Thank you all!

I am pleased to read your answers and I hope that schools to which I intend to apply will see things like you do. If someone has a different opinion I’ll be happy to hear it as well.

Thanks again

[IDF military service as work experience]

Hey everyone,

 

I’m an Israeli citizen currently considering applying to some top MPP / MIR programs in the US. During my undergraduate studies, I worked about a year and a half in Israeli government, in part time student positions. However, It seems to me as if most top schools require some more relevant work experience than that.

And this is where my military service enters the picture. I served for about 3.5 years in the IDF. I have definitely gained valuable experience in security affairs. But I am still concerned that my military service won’t do. First, it might count as experience in “security”, but I’m much more interested in economic policy (and that’s consistent with my government experience + BA degree, all relating to economics). Secondly, military service in Israel is obligatory (a minimum of 3 years for men). Any Israeli citizen could basically say he has 3 years of relevant work experience, and I’m concerned about schools filtering this kind of obligatory military service out of the equation.

 

So, what do you say? Do you think I have enough relevant work experience to be a competitive applicant? Will they count my military service as relevant work experience?

 

Thanks!