fadeindreams

I wouldn't reference it in your SOP. If the school is organized at all then they should know that you previously applied and that the outcome was that you were on the waitlist. Instead, focus on what you perceive to be the reasons for being waitlisted and not fully admitted (weak SOP or GRE, etc). I don't see why you should address it directly.

Not a bad recommendation at all. I would add University of Kansas and University of Washington to the list of nationally recognized schools that have good programs for city/local/state management.

Why not both? Retake the GRE and try to break the 75th percentile mark in all of your scores AND get a job that is relevant to the field. Your verbal score is outstanding compared to most international students. Certainly in the upper quartile. Your quant score could be raised, and really English being your second language is no excuse. How's your TOEFL? I'm assuming with your GRE V score that it is at or above 100 iBT.

I think the two posts above are right in saying that you should take the GRE again but somewhat wrong about the reason why. You should take the GRE again mainly to improve your QUANT score. For any well-regarded science or engineering program 700 is not acceptable. Most, if not all, schools will be lenient on you regarding your verbal and AW scores. All the same, raising those two scores can only help you in the long run when it comes to distancing yourself from all of the other international students applying. Your verbal and AW scores are slightly below average for competitive international students. I work in international admissions at a major public that is a peer institution to many of those that you listed, though not listed and I think you are overlooking my school , and the CS department would not even consider a student with a sub 1100 composite GRE score. Regarding the TOEFL, all you need to do is meet the MINIMUM TOEFL for your institution. I am frankly surprised at your low GRE verbal and AW when viewed alongside your respectable iBT. In short, take the GRE again and make sure you hit at least 85th percentile or above in quant and raise your verbal and AW above the 50th percentile if possible.

No, not at any schools that I am aware of. The accepted way of computing GPA is to only count classes taken before the first conferred degree. However, that doesn't mean that the classes that you take after you have a conferred bachelor's will not bolster your application. If you have any self-perceived deficiencies in your academic record, such as a lack of quantitative rigor, then you may consider addressing those through taking extra classes.

You may consider taking the GRE instead of the GMAT so that you can apply to other schools as well. While I believe that the four schools you have listed will accept the GMAT in lieu of the GRE, many others will not. Unless you are considering applying for a dual program MBA/MPP then I'm not really sure of the benefit of taking the GMAT, though it may be rational and I may just be missing the point. I had the same school aims as you prior to researching programs in depth. I mean, truly, the same four schools. I ended up only applying to one out of those four, to which I was denied admission (SIPA), while applying to three other programs that through research really stood out as a better fit for my interests and career goals. I am beyond excited about going to Michigan, a school I didn't even consider fully until the eleventh hour and one that I very nearly did not apply to! I have given up judging people based on stats and a snapshot of their profile. Admissions logic for policy programs is hard to pin down. Good luck!

I'll answer the only question I am qualified to answer. GRE tests are good for five years. TOEFL tests, however, are only good for two years.

You are joking, right? You would turn down a full funding offer to an outstanding institution in order to reapply next year to a handful of HIGHLY selective programs, Harris included? You're joking, right? That's nothing short of mad. You would do this without a job lined up. Seriously? Actually, never mind, maybe you should turn down that wonderful offer. That way someone with a stronger desire to attend the program might get the award. No sense in you taking up the offer at Harris due to pity or whatever. Next year, when you reapply and likely get very similar offers of admission, but perhaps not funding, don't think for a second that you don't deserve it.

Fleeing the Fourth Estate? Good post, by the way Jae B.

There's no such thing as starting college from scratch from an admissions committee perspective. Adcoms and graduate school requirements are only concerned with the GPA you receive prior to your first degree being conferred. Any classes you take after your first degree has conferred, whether they be non-degree or degree seeking, will not be tabulated into your GPA. This includes the last 60 GPA that most schools use. They only care about the GPA of your first degree. You might consider taking some classes in order to prove that you are more focused and better prepared in the foundations of whatever discipline you choose. I did this in order to be considered for Public Policy studies by taking Economics and Statistics courses. I had a 2.97 overall GPA and I was accepted into the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy. While I don't think that rankings are everything, they are ranked 7th in the nation by US News and World Report. In some ways, I consider this a coup. Since the disciplines you've listed are quite disparate I would recommend that you get work or volunteer experience in similar fields and then define your career goals as much as possible. Only then will you be able to choose a program that is the right fit for you. You can also endeavor to distinguish yourself through stellar standardized test scores (whether that's general or subject based GRE), an excellent and well-focused SOP and outstanding references. I personally consider the GRE a test that you can practice and conquer with effort and time. It's not an IQ test but whether a test of your preparation. I didn't really come to this conclusion until after I took the test. Luckily I still achieved scores >75th percentile in all sections. What is your last 60 GPA? You will need to make sure that you at least meet the minimum requirements of any school to which you apply. If you do not, then most graduate schools will outright deny you without even being considered by the program.

I have a BA in History that is very light on the quantitative side. Luckily I have worked for a large public research university for the past year. In that time, I took three classes in order to improve my qualifications for graduate programs in public policy: intro macro, intro micro and statistics. I received an 'A' in all 9 hours. All three were freshmen or sophomore classes so in that regard I would say that the classes you've taken are likely more difficult. At any rate, I did this not only due to having a quantless (sic) degree but because my cumulative GPA for undergrad was just under 3.0 (2.97 *sigh*). My personal feeling is that mastering those three foundational courses is one of the single most important steps I took to bolster my applications. Without those courses, I doubt I would have been accepted into all three of my top choices outright. Now, I understand your concern is a 'B' in a course. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Admissions committees will likely look favorably on your pursuit of further education while working full-time. When writing your SOP it's up to you whether or not you want to address it directly. I personally would not display any negative feelings about a 'B' received in a non-degree graduate course. Instead, let them know that you are proud to have continually pursued coursework relevant to the field to which you are applying while working full-time. You might also consider taking another class in Fall 2010 in order to have another 'A' sitting there on the end of your transcript (assuming you will be applying for Fall 2011). I'm sure you know this already, however it's worth mentioning, that most graduate schools will not tabulate classes taken after your first degree was conferred into your cumulative or last 60 GPA. All you're doing now is trying to distinguish yourself as someone who is prepared to take on a difficult program.

Agreed. I had a whole semester of W's. Didn't really impact much, I don't think. Well, maybe that's why SIPA denied me... Anyway, good luck!

You count backwards and if you end up in the middle of a term you count the whole term. You may very well end up with last 70. Not a big deal. Also, you only count credits backwards from the date your degree was conferred. You do not tabulate the last 60 GPA using grades received after your first conferred degree. It's not too difficult, really.

Sorry about your luck. I know it might be a bit bruising to your ego and I don't know the discipline you are pursuing but I think you might want to consider applying to universities with rolling admissions. Many major, quality institutions have rolling admissions. You may be able to put that fellowship to use and it might be a good idea to pursue an MS now at one of those institutions.

What was the application process like for you? (i.e. how long did it take you? what kind of road-bumps did you run into?) The applications themselves took me the better part of two days for the four schools I applied to. I probably could have written a better SOP had I dedicated more time to it. I'm not complaining, however, as I got into 3 out of 4 schools that I applied to. The only difficulty I had was getting a reference from a former supervisor in from Japan and that wasn't really difficult at all. All the same, I would recommend spending significant time refining your SOP. I am convinced now more than ever that the number one thing you must demonstrate in your SOP is fit for the specific program and institution. Knowing about the faculty, research centers, students and history of a program would help you in so many ways. While researching for your SOP you may even find, as I did, that a school you were only marginally interested in at first becomes your top choice. Don't be shy about getting input from friends, family and professors. An excellent SOP could be part of your ticket to funding. It's your chance to distinguish yourself. Was there anything that surprised you about the process? Not really, no. Anything would have done differently? I would have spent more time studying for the GRE. I would have taken it early enough to have enough time to take it a second time if necessary (my verbal score at 560 isn't what I expected/desired and my quant score at 710 could be better). My GRE scores are adequate but not stellar. The test is as much a test of preparation as it is knowledge. I should have spent more time on my SOP. I think in the end I wasted too many words in my SOP talking about my past. I needed to focus more on articulating my goals and why I would be able to achieve them by attending a given program. I would have used more specific examples about the program itself to impress upon the adcom that I had done my homework and that I was seriously interested in attending their program. What advice can you give regarding SOPs, GREs, gaining work experience, etc? Study for the GRE and take the practice tests provided when you register. If you take the two practice tests seriously you will have a pretty good indication of what your final score range will be. Strive for a 750+ quant and 600+ verbal at minimum. While I don't know what your GPA is, it is likely that many other students have a similar, indistinguishable, profile to yours when it comes to GPA, work/volunteer/intern experience. The SOP and GRE are two places you can easily distinguish yourself if you put in the time and effort. Finally, be open to MPA programs as well. There are often very nuanced differences between the two names, MPP and MPA. Define your interest as domestic or international as many programs divide themselves at that point. Further refine your career goals so you can look at the university as a whole to see other programs (Social Work, Education, Environmental Sciences, Business, Law, etc) that would be of interest to you for electives or dual degrees. US News and World Report isn't perfect but it's a good starting point to discover peer institutions to those that you are already considering.

1) If you're on standard, yes, you'll pay it off in 10 years. You need to be on Income Based Repayment (IBR) or Income Contingent Repayment. 2) I think that Community College teaching qualifies for PSLF. Still, you should try to confirm it. 3) Here's the official webpage of all things PSLF - http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp 4) You'd have to be making a paltry income in order to have an IBR that is low enough to have any remaining debt after 10 years starting at 40k. 5) You don't have to work 10 years consecutively you just have to have 120 months in a qualifying job on a qualifying payment plan. You could switch jobs and all of that.

...And this is why most programs should have a wait-list for applicants that they would like to accept but do not have the funding for! That way, if one of them comes back to you and says "Hey, I have lots of monies" you can fully accept them and save face. You don't have to tell them they are wait-listed due to money. In fact, you can be rather ambiguous and distant. Out right rejections should be saved for people who are completely unqualified to enter your program.

Harris. Don't fall into the debt trap. You have two schools that are peers of each other. Accept the offer that makes most sense financially. Both programs have good outcomes career wise.

It's a tough choice, for sure. I wish you the best in making your decision, really I do. I feel that the lack of a real developed international concentration at Ford is easily made up for through the availability of quality electives. I chose Ford due to the flexibility and quality of the program and the university as a whole. Money, however, is nothing to scoff at. My understanding of Heinz, and unfortunately I didn't learn about the program until after all applications were due and I started hanging out at this forum, is that it's a well regarded program with strong career opportunities coming out of the degree. Having less debt certainly allows you more flexibility when finding and choosing a job. How's Heinz's career center? Ford's career center seems really strong. I came away from Preview Day very impressed with them. Best of luck. Maybe I'll see you in Ann Arbor in September.

Why not just follow the rules? The reason for the rules is to make sure that all applicants have the same opportunity to explain their background/fit/et al to the adcom. By not following the rules, are you not more or less saying that you believe that you're more important than all other applicants?

Zero problem. Your visa adjudicator will only be looking for funding for first year as noted on your I-20. If your school has issued you an I-20 showing your personal funding need to be zero, as in all costs met by funding, then you will have no problem on the funding side for your visa appointment.

The IR degree would seem to be more flexible. I think, however, that you could make a language degree work in much the same way that you could an IR degree. Of course, it still depends on how the school you are going to is regarded (not just in program, but overall) and whether or not you can obtain professional experience while pursuing the degree (via internship over the summer, etc). I think you could make it work if you are motivated enough and certainly full funding is nothing to scoff at. If Yale would put you in such debt that you would feel like an indentured servant for the better part of a decade it probably isn't worth it!

@mppnw - I was unable to attend the Open House at Evans. Truth be told, we were really put off by the lack of attention from Evans admissions staff when it came to answering our questions. When it came to deciding on which admit days to attend, we decided to attend Ford's with the idea that we were their students to lose. Even now we find it hard to speak with Evans staff via email or phone. It's disheartening because we went into this process with Evans as our absolute number 1 choice. We started the process almost two years ago and since that time Evans has really been the school we were aiming for. No longer. Grammar fail - In my first post above I used "our" incorrectly when referring to those that are my intellectual equals. Fail. At least I admit my really stupid looking mistakes...Too bad I can't edit it anymore.

The second day was only comprised of two main sessions: Career Services and Student Activities. The Student Activities presentation isn't really worth talking about. Fairly standard and not too exciting. I am interested in a lot of the associations and groups but the presentation wasn't too helpful one way or another. The Career Services presentation was great. They had a student panel who answered questions and expanded upon the information provided by the staff. The students seemed to genuinely appreciate all of the hard work that Career Services does for them. The staff were candid and sincerely interested in helping the students pursue opportunities. They seem to provide a considerable amount of services aimed at helping students become more complete and competitive candidates. They even started talking to my wife and I about possible internships already. They showed a real interest in helping us succeed once we got there. They are certainly a big plus for Ford. Michigan/Ford would be a wonderful place to study for the following reasons: Ann Arbor - love the city!The big campus community and the even bigger alumni network.The ability to take almost any other course on campus as an elective or to pursue a dual degree in a number of other highly regarded programs (Public Health, Business, etc).Weill Hall is outstanding. One of the better campus facilities that I've ever been in. I could really enjoy taking classes there for two years.The other students - I feel that the other students share a lot of my interests and our my intellectual peers.The faculty, staff and the dean were all welcoming and invested in student success. They already were willing to provide us with a lot of individualized attention. I really appreciated their willingness to answer our questions.Internship opportunities, whether it be a Ford School partnership or otherwise, seemed outstanding.Career prospects seem strong and the students I spoke with all feel like they were in a great position graduating from Ford. I couldn't get a single major negative out of any of the current students. I kept trying and no one gave anything particularly grievous. I think we are very likely to choose to attend Ford. Still tying up loose ends, so I hesitate to say 100% but it's looking like a near perfect match.

I am currently at Ford's Preview Day. The program seems excellent for my interests. I'd ellaborate more but I'm typing this out on my phone. If you have any questions you're dying to have answered I'd be willing to ask for you tomorrow morning. PM (personal message) me if you'd like. I'd be happy to go into mote detail Monday.