tammy-san

Hello there, I've been accepted in the joint program as well, and funding will definitely be a factor as to whether I will end up going there or not. I know that Syracuse is highly regarded in terms of the MPA, but I am less familiar with the IR program. Anybody out there who can share some thoughts?

Yes. UNC's horrible season this year --> hehehehe! I graduated Trinity '06, and then spent 2 years in the Peace Corps in West Africa. I've done my fair share of traveling both internationally and domestically. The fact that Duke is in the South doesn't bother me at all, since I grew up in North Carolina. I'm more concerned about the curriculum, and whether it would seem repetitive; I was a poli sci/econ major, and I am familiar with some of the professors that teach in the public policy department. Actually, it would be nice to talk to someone who went to Duke before too. Did she go straight into Sanford from undergrad? Thanks for the help!

I've noticed under other disciplines, it's generally frowned upon as "academic incest". I wonder if the same applies to professional programs like public policy? I went to Duke for undergrad, and I got into Sanford. I loved my undergraduate experience, but I'm not sure if I should go back...thoughts?

I got my acceptance today and I was in the Peace Corps for 2 years, and am working for a non-profit right now.

Program Applied To: MPP/MPA Schools Applied To: Duke, Indiana-Bloomington, Syracuse, George Washington Schools Admitted To: George Washington Schools Rejected From: None-yet... Still Waiting: Duke, Indiana, Syracuse Undergraduate institution: Duke Undergraduate GPA: 3.6 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): n/a Undergraduate Major: Political Science GRE Quantitative Score: 770 GRE Verbal Score: 660 GRE AW Score: 5.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3 Years of Work Experience: 3 Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years in the Peace Corps; currently working for a Fair Trade non-profit Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Rather subjective, don't you think? Obviously wrote about Peace Corps, undergraduate research work, internships, and how this fits into my graduate/career goals and objectives for international development policy, blah, blah blah Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): two undergrad professors and my APCD from Peace Corps...both professors really liked me and took the time to talk to me about grad school, even though it had been 2 years + since I last spoke with them. And am assuming APCD wrote a good letter for me. Other: All other years, I would be confident; but this year, since EVERYONE is applying to grad school, am feeling nervous about the strength of the applicant pool. Don't know if I really want to go back to Duke for grad school (Don't get me wrong; LOVED Duke as an undergrad) Just, not sure if it would be repetitive since I've already taking some similar classes as an undergrad...applied to Duke b/c they have a Peace Corps Fellowship.