Jump to content

SDtoMPP

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    58

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by SDtoMPP

  1. SDtoMPP
    You can do it! Honestly second semester first year is much harder, and I am thankful I did a 50% first semester and a lower position second. I took 17 units fall and was a 50% GSI for a very involved class and thought it was manageable, though there are some very busy weeks.
  2. SDtoMPP
    Yep! That's my understanding of the pay scale.
  3. SDtoMPP
    I have had a position every semester. My first semester I was a GSI, then got hired by the same professor as a GSR for this semester. Unfortunately, my current position doesn't include fee remission, but it's $25/hour so it works out to be feasible for me.
  4. SDtoMPP
    I was in a similar boat last year- ed policy and in at many of the same places with similar scholarships. I chose Berkeley for the quantitative rigor, the location, the opportunities to work (no scholarship, moderate savings, leaving debt-free), the super hospitable alumni network, and the connection I had on admitted students day. Let me know if you have any questions!
  5. SDtoMPP
    I'm starting at the Goldman School of Public Policy, but I actually am currently a teacher and hopefully gonna take a few classes in the GSE too!
  6. SDtoMPP
    When should we expect to hear on the next steps (dates, enrollment info, emails from the school, facebook groups, etc)?
  7. SDtoMPP
    Sure! Goldman I wasn't offered anything, but I'm in-state and they have a really awesome TA/RA job system so that apparently anyone who really wants one will get a position. Plus TA/RA has partial fee remission and wages so that's great. Duke offered me $18K fellowship for the first year with the likelihood of it being renewed and a $4K assistantship. McCourt offered me $10K per semester for both years.
  8. SDtoMPP
    1. Start looking at some public schools too- Michigan, Berkeley. They are significantly cheaper usually, even if you're out of state. I would also look at Duke Sanford because they are known for giving out hefty fellowships and assistantships to nearly everyone they admit. My experience with Chicago was that they give out almost no funding so that one might be tough too. 2. I would try to reach out to some of your old professors even though you don't still stay in touch. They are likely used to that sort of situation. Most places will want at least 1 academic, although this is likely less important in MPP/MPAs than in MAs since it's professional vs academic programs. 3. They probably won't care about a few bad classes here and there especially if they aren't related to the field of study. I had a C in a psych class on my transcript and was fine. 4. Depends on if you are interested in IR or not really. It's nice to have some low proficiency in another language no matter what (you could definitely take online classes to fulfill this), but IR focused applicants typically are at least somewhat proficient in a language relevant to the area they want to work in.
  9. SDtoMPP
    It's also worth noting this is for public affairs, not public policy/policy analysis programs. Much of this forum is interested in MPPs, not MPAs so the popularity of schools follows the US News rankings for policy more closely. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/public-policy-analysis-rankings?int=a95909&int=a06908
  10. SDtoMPP
    I turned in my SIR to GSPP today!
  11. SDtoMPP
    Hello! I'm also interested in social/education policy and am headed to an MPP program in the fall. Overall you sound like a competitive applicant, but obviously not quite ready to apply yet. I think there are some big missing pieces to the puzzle right now. First would be the GRE, obviously. It's not the entirety of the application, but it does help place what schools you would be competitive at. For example, right now I would say you are very competitive at both UCLA and Evans, but if you're scoring low 140s on the GRE then that may not be the case. Have you taken any practice tests? I would suggest aiming for a high 150s or 160+ score on both sections to really put you at the top of the game for these schools. The second thing really is work experience. I graduated in 2014 and spent the 2 years since as a teacher for Teach for America, which really tied together the narrative for my education policy focused application. If I were you I would be looking at public service corps (Justice Corps and Americorps are both good options, even if what you do isn't directly relevant to education!), or salaried jobs with NGOs, nonprofits, etc. They are going to want to see full time work experience, probably not more post-grad internships! This of course isn't a rule, but will likely be helpful. If you don't get a job directly related to education, I'd suggest picking up some education related volunteering-- most libraries have volunteer tutoring and many non-profits do, as well. Doesn't have to be a lot- maybe 3-6 hours a month! You are definitely on your way to being competitive (at schools like HKS, Berkeley, Ford too!), but just need to round it all out in the next year or two!
  12. SDtoMPP
    Anyone received their official notification or their financial aid/loan information (not fellowships)?
  13. SDtoMPP
    I'm 98% sure I'm going to turn down their offer. Hope the money goes back in the pot for you all!
  14. SDtoMPP
    So I cannot attend the admit day for one of the schools in looking at. However, I am visiting tomorrow and meeting with Admissions. I'm sort of drawing a blank on what kinds of questions I should be asking to get a good understanding of the program. Any suggestions?
  15. SDtoMPP
    Berkeley, UCLA, and Georgetown. Rejected from Berkeley, haven't heard back yet from UCLA, admitted to Georgetown.
  16. SDtoMPP
    I researched dozens and picked about 10 I really liked. Then I narrowed it down to 8, and with some guidance from previous applicants/friends, narrowed it again to 6. (I applied to 3 business programs as well). I guess I sort of categorized them as 2 safety, 2 match, and 2 reach schools, although it has a little different meaning than undergrad since no program is guaranteed and I would recommend only applying to programs that excite you. I just happened to pick 2 where I was at the top end of their stats, 2 I matched, and 2 I was at the low end. I honestly think even applying to 6 is a little much because I got into 5/6 and there are a couple schools I got into that I realized I had only applied to because I was nervous about the others. Now it just seems like wasted time/money because I'm going to turn those ones down without a second glance (although they are good for leveraging funding). I would really research what you want in a program/classes/cohorts/faculty BEFORE you apply. It will make the process easier and your application stronger.
  17. SDtoMPP
    I have not yet received that.
  18. SDtoMPP
    Program Applied To: MPP Schools Applied To: GSPP, HKS, Chicago Harris, Georgetown McCourt, UCLA Luskin, Duke Sanford Schools Admitted To: GSPP, Chicago Harris, Georgetown McCourt, UCLA Luskin, Duke Sanford Schools Rejected From: HKS Still Waiting: N/A Undergraduate institution: Top Public School Undergraduate GPA: 3.49 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.61 Undergraduate Major: Double in Political Science and Urban Planning GRE Quantitative Score: 162 GRE Verbal Score: 163 GRE AW Score: 4.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2 Years of Work Experience: 2 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Two years teaching at a Title I school through Teach for America Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): They were very strong. I talked about my experience as a teacher in a low income school and how that led to my interest in education policy. They were read by probably a dozen people and were really polished. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think they were good, but of course I was not involved in this process. One was the executive director of my region of Teach for America, another was a mentor from college, and the third was a professor that I actually had during my teaching credential program (a risky choice since it was away from the field, but I felt they knew me best) Other: I honestly thought I had no shot of getting into these schools just based on their big name reputations but I think the biggest positive to my application was the way in which I told my story.
  19. SDtoMPP
    Finally heard back, as well. Accepted with $10,000 per semester.
  20. SDtoMPP
    So I've been accepted into some really great programs that I'm really excited about. I have gotten some funding, but no matter what I will need to take out loans. I don't have any debt from undergrad anymore and have a pretty significant amount of money saved (50,000+). I'm hoping to attend Berkeley and work as a GSI so I only have to take out loans for cost of living. But I know that taking out loans is a risky move and I'm trying to figure out exactly how much (or how little) debt I should be willing to take on. Any insight would be helpful!
  21. SDtoMPP
    Honestly, there's no formula for what matters more. Every school is different and even then every applicant at each school is considered different based on their whole profile. what would be really effective for you is to submit an optional essay to the schools you apply to explaining the circumstances of the low gpa. Don't make excuses that don't really exist or try to blame it on things, but maybe just talk about what changed about YOU when you changed majors and schools. Describe that journey of transformation. It's clear that with a 3.7 GPA you are capable of top programs, but they need to understand how you got to that point.
  22. SDtoMPP
    I still haven't even heard if I've been admitted. Giving them a crazy side-eye glare right now, especially because I submitted more than 10 weeks ago.
  23. SDtoMPP
    Depends on the program though. If you are looking at an MPP, it is new. I believe this will be their first class incoming.
  24. SDtoMPP
    They seem to have resources for teaching a discussion section on their website, so I would guess that at least some of the GSI jobs involve leading a discussion section, although never an entire course. Kind of excited about that prospect as I am a teacher currently!
  25. SDtoMPP
    Hey all, I went to undergrad at UCSD so I can offer some perspective there. The political science/international relations department is incredible and that does translate over to GPS. However, GPS and many of its programs are fairly new and fairly small. This could be a good thing or a bad thing -- not as established, but also a ton more one on one support than huge schools. Plus they are really making the effort to establish themselves as a top school so a lot of times that means going the extra mile. I have some friends who have been in their programs and have echoed the quant heavy focus of it. It is really hard to beat the location, though.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept