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Hi folks, I'm currently finishing up a Master in Public Policy and have been considering pursuing a MLIS either this fall or in the next few years. My goal with Public Policy was to pursue work at local or state governments or in social science research (think tanks, etc), but I've been feeling a bit disillusioned and burnt out with this line of work, and am considering pivoting to librarianship. I have about 2 years experience in library reference and I've found this position really opened my eyes to librarianship. The following is a little bit about my education/work experience: BA in Human Development (mixed social science) - ~3.8/Phi Beta Kappa Master in Public Policy (MPP), by this June - ~3.7 Coursework in stats, research methods Original research for thesis on youth-based civic engagement programs 6 years of work in community-based youth organization 1 year middle school after school program front-line staff 2 years database management and auditing program documents 3 years office management, reception, data management and analysis, strategic planning, grant writing 2 years academic library reference service (UCLA) Further: TA-ing undergrads Tutoring HS senior for AP/IB exams ~1 year policy/community building work Does it seem like this pivot makes sense, given my experience? I would want to aim for public, community college, or state college (CSU) librarianship. Some of my favorite experiences throughout my career have simply been talking and working one-on-one with folks - teaching, sharing resources, as well as working on analyzing information, streamlining data collection processes, etc. I am hoping my MPP can complement my librarianship, given my experience with government data and analysis, statistical analysis, and conducting original research. I can't afford to take another 2 years not working full-time, so I am considering the San Jose State online degree. I'm also working on volunteering at a local public library for public library experience. Does this pivot make sense? Is there anything else I can do to prepare for an MLIS or career in libraries? I'd appreciate any and all feedback! :)

Planning on going to both!

Just received my follow up email from the Grad Division this morning!

Me too! Glad it’s not just me. My Evans acceptance came with instructions on how to convey your decision so I’m wondering when UCLA will send further instructions. Hopefully soon.

This forum has been so useful to me throughout my application process, so I hope this is useful to others! Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.) MPA, MPP Schools Applied To: Evans, UCLA Schools Admitted To: Evans (no $$), UCLA (unsure re: funding just yet) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Undergraduate institution: Cal State Long Beach Undergraduate GPA: 3.8, Phi Beta Kappa Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Undergraduate Major: Human Development GRE Quantitative Score: 148 GRE Verbal Score: 158 GRE AW Score: 4.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2.5 Years of Work Experience: 6 total, 2 full-time Describe Relevant Work Experience: 6 years in local branch of national after-school program nonprofit, from working as after-school program staff, to administrative assistant auditing program documents, to office manager, to grant-writer and member of staff satisfaction committee analyzing surveys and implementing policies and trainings. 1 year as private French tutor. Random volunteering here and there and 1 year of volunteering at another branch of same national nonprofit. 1 semester as research assistant compiling literature review for a project regarding how schools manage students' mental health and aggressive behavior. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I gave it a lot of thought and wrote notes about my "angle" for about a year before I started writing. I started with an anecdote from work regarding how in demand our free after-school programs are, then transitioned into my involvement in committee policy projects and grant-writing at work, and despite the successes, how threats to 21st Century funding and AmeriCorps threaten our organization. Similarly, I talked about how funding for CA ASES programs has not been increased to match cost of living and rising minimum wage in California. Then I talked about my career goals and why specifically Luskin/Evans would be a good fit for me, and what I would bring to Luskin/Evans. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I was only able to read the one my current boss wrote me, which I felt was good. I also had a former professor at CSULB write one - she was the professor I worked on with my research assistant gig. She had told me I was one of her best students, so I felt confident about it. The last was a professor I had at my community college, who I took Microecon with post-bac to meet admission requirements. He had given me great and encouraging feedback in class so I felt good about it as well. I gave all of my recommenders copies of all of my relevant docs and a copy of my best undergrad essay. I had spoken to my boss and my research prof about my goals for grad school. Other: I was nervous about my GRE quant score, but I really did not want to go through the testing process again so I decided to let it be. I also was nervous about my quant coursework, as I only had Stats (C) and Algebra (C) during undergrad and Accounting (A), Stats (A), and Microecon (A) post-bac. I wanted to throw in a calc class for UCLA but it didn't work out with my schedule. Honestly I was not sure about applying to this tier of schools a few years ago, but my research gig professor had really encouraged me. Impostor syndrome is so real! Someone had mentioned this book on this forum and it was such a useful tool for writing my SOP, and was useful overall with the app process: https://www.amazon.com/Graduate-Admissions-Essays-Fourth-School/dp/1607743213 Lastly, I had originally picked 6 schools to apply to just to have a wide range, but I honestly was not enthusiastic about all of them. In the end, I scrapped 3 of them, and was going to go through with a local state school app before I had heard back from Luskin. I kind of wish I didn't waste my or my recommenders' time.

Thanks for easing my anxiety! Haha.

Got my acceptance email yesterday night. Still in shock! It did state that I was recommended for admission, and more or less will hear officially from Graduate Studies. Is this pretty typical? Did anyone else have that wording in their email/letter? Feeling a little neurotic this morning. ?

As a side note I just heard that Luskin will be hosting 2020 Democratic presidential candidates for a forum on their policies regarding LGBT citizens. I wonder if they’ve been pretty focused on working on this. It’s pretty cool! But it’s making want to hear back from them even more. ?

I was considering it, at the very least to ask when we can expect to hear back. I checked out the same link too - I got the same message when I entered my info

I haven’t yet. It’s a bit frustrating - I’m hoping they send out emails this week.

Anyone else hear back? I feel like I’m going nuts waiting. ?

In the same boat! Their website says mid-February but it seems like no one on the forum has heard back yet.

Congrats, all! I’m considering attending despite the lack of funding, perhaps very foolishly. Still holding out hope for UCLA as I would be in state and not too far from the school. I would be focusing on analysis and evaluation, and likely would also throw in some social policy and nonprofit management coursework. I’m most likely attending the admitted student days. Not sure I have an opinion on how Evans compares to the above schools as I applied only to schools on the West Coast, but despite being a local I think I’m more partial to Evans than UCLA - they just seem so so supportive of their students and seem to have a robust student services department.

Anybody hear back yet? I’m anxiously crossing my fingers!

Got an admission offer yesterday, though with no funding. Would be attending from out of state if I accept (from CA). Anyone else claiming an admission offer? Where are you coming from and what is your area of focus for your studies?

Sigaba, I apologize for the late response. Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it! I think I will definitely need to reflect on it while I'm going through the application process.

My supervisor has been very supportive in giving me assignments based on my work and academic interests and career goals. I suppose I should be more confident that it probably will be fine so long as I have a good approach! Thank you for your response, and thank you for sharing your experiences.

Thanks so much for your response. Re: #1: Should I ask her via email if she would be willing to write me a reference and go from there? Re: #2: Yes, it does seem a bit touchy. I think I will give it some thought to figure out what the response may likely be.

Hi everyone, I am planning on applying to MPA/MPP programs for Fall 2019 and am trying to sort out my LORs. I have one professor who let me know when I graduated in 2016 that she would write me a strong letter. I have somewhat kept in touch with her by email, and recently she reminded me to let her know when I would be applying for grad school so she could write me a LOR. For my second letter I am planning on asking another professor who I chatted with often about my work-related goals. She was supportive of me but I never officially asked for a letter. I haven't done my part to keep in touch. What would be the best way to do so? I am considering emailing her to let her know what I am up to and to ask if I can visit her to chat. Is this generally done or would this be a waste of her time due to professors' workload? Also, she gave me some contacts at UCLA and CUNY to chat with about research and shamefully I never followed up. I feel like obviously I should do that before I get in touch with her. I am not certain either how to reach out to these contacts. Would I just say hello, let them know who I was referred by, and ask them about their research? I am really green on these types of interactions so I would appreciate any advice. My last letter will be from my current employer. I am concerned because I likely cannot keep this job when I start grad school, so asking for this letter will be like telling them I am quitting. This letter should be from a supervisor, and thankfully (in a sense) my current supervisor is going to change so I could ask her once she is no longer my current boss. She already knows I am interested in grad school and UCLA, which she knows is about a 1.5 hour commute from my home. How do I approach asking this without possibly blowing my relationship with my employer? What happens if they write me a letter knowing this means I want to leave but I don't get in? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi all! I have posted to this thread before, but I am reposting with some updated information in hopes of some (updated) advice. Age: 25 Program: MPA/MPP - focusing on education and social policy School Applying to: UCLA (dream school), Evans School at Washington U (interested in social policy concentration), others Undergrad Institution: a popular CSU campus Undergrad GPA: Magna cum Laude (~3.8); member of Phi Beta Kappa upon graduation Degree: BA in Human Development, French & Francophone Studies minor GRE: not yet taken! (still!) Languages: English & 8 years of French education; took 1 semester of Spanish this past semester - trying to use it more at work Quant Experience: retook Stats for an A (undergrad received a C); A in intro accounting (if that counts); will take micro and calculus this year Work Experience: about 4 years now at my afterschool program/social service nonprofit: -1 year as afterschool program staff - part time -1 year auditing documents - part time -1 year auditing documents/doing database administration/compiling reports - part time -1 year administrative work (office management and catch-all administrative assistance) - full time elsewhere: -1 year research assistance doing lit reviews for projects involving child welfare and education system; used French language skills -1 year one-on-one French tutoring -1 year volunteering at afterschool program -other minor volunteering (work assistance nonprofit, Special Olympics) and sporadic tutoring during my time at main nonprofit (assisting our tutoring department) other: -I have just started doing social work (healthcare) visits and waiting to see how I like it! Not 100% applicable to field but I have an in with a family friend. LORs: -Professor I did research with has expressed she will write me a strong letter and has said I have been one of her strongest students. -Considering one other professor -Considering former bosses and current boss at current job - awkward to think about as I will have to quit ! Personal Statement: I've been thinking a lot lately about my personal narrative as it can apply to my applications. Education has been a big theme in my family background, as my family did not have access to free public secondary education in their youth in fascist Portugal and were economically disadvantaged. My mother was fortunate enough to receive scholarship from her aunt who lived in the United States and so was able to attend high school. This greatly affected her life in a positive way by way of personal development and economic opportunity. Subsequently she has greatly pushed the importance of education with my sister and I. I have been very passionate about social services, education, social inequity and honestly would not be satisfied with my life if I did not pursue a career that in some way would have a positive impact on society. I believe it would benefit me to further develop these thoughts and weave them into my personal statement. Notes: 1) Once I take Calc, should I go for broke and take regular Calc or will Calc for Bio/Business/Social Science work? - these two are offered at my community college. 2) Any weaknesses in my list? Aside from no GRE and no Econ/Calc. 3) Do you think a GRE class is a waste of time/money? I'm mostly concerned with the types of math. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to comment!

Has anyone applied or been through this program before? In particular, has anyone applied/been through the Executive Fellowship program? If so, I would love to chat about it! I am looking to apply once the applications become open in October.

Thank you so much for your feedback! I have not begun studying for the GRE at all just yet, but I will be starting this summer. Also, I appreciate the advice about seeking out work experience versus more internships - I was really shooting for the intern experience! Thanks again & best of luck in the fall!

Hi all! I am aiming for an MPP in a few years, am finishing up my last undergrad semester now. If anyone would be willing to give me feedback on where I stand right now, I would really appreciate it! Age: 24 Program: MPA/MPP - focusing on education and social policy School Applying to: considering UCLA, Evans School at Washington U (interested in social policy concentration) Undergrad Institution: a popular CSU campus Undergrad GPA: currently 3.812, aiming to graduate magna cum laude Degree: BA in Human Development, French & Francophone Studies minor GRE: not yet taken! Languages: English & 8 years of French education Quant Experience: not so good! C in stats, going to retake at a community for a higher grade along with an economics course (never took one in undergrad) Work Experience: 3 years experience at a Nonprofit helping families/children in multiple positions (not full time). Currently I do database administration, generate reports, and audit documents. In the past within the same org I have worked directly with elementary and middle schoolers as a tutor and an after school program staff. I've also been working this year with a professor on two research projects relating to child welfare, mental health, and the educational system. Mostly I have been doing lit reviews, but I may work on a pilot study later this semester. I have used my French language skills while working on both these projects. I have also provided private one-on-one tutoring for a year to help a HS senior pass her IB French exam. I have done some minor volunteering, all at Nonprofits (Special Olympics, economic/ job development org) LORs: Professor I am doing research with currently has expressed she will write me a strong letter and has said I have been one of her strongest students. currently looking into building relationships with other faculty, have a few in mind considering asking my current boss at my nonprofit to be a rec Background: I've been thinking a lot lately about my personal narrative as it can apply to my applications. Education has been a big theme in my family background, as my family did not have access to free public secondary education in their youth in fascist Portugal and were economically disadvantaged. My mother was fortunate enough to receive scholarship from her aunt who lived in the United States and so was able to attend high school. This greatly affected her life in a positive way by way of personal development and economic opportunity. Subsequently she has greatly pushed the importance of education with my sister and I. I have been very passionate about social services, education, social inequity and honestly would not be satisfied with my life if I did not pursue a career that in some way would have a positive impact on society. I believe it would benefit me to further develop these thoughts and weave them into my personal statement. Notes: I'm considering looking into Americorps programs for leadership experience. I'm currently applying for an internship with a local representative (who also is passionate about education/social inequity). I'm also looking into a research internship with a county government. I'm also looking into JusticeCorps, an Americorps program that helps client with legal paperwork - not sure if relevant ? Also looking into the Executive Fellowship program in Sacramento All in all, I believe I should look for other opportunities to further round out my resume focusing on social services, education, research, and policy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thoughts? Weaknesses? Any advice on programs to look into for education/social policy? I appreciate any and all input!

Thanks StyLeD! I apologize for the late reply !

Hi all, I'm a little late to the game of getting undergrad research under my belt (just getting started in my last year). For some background info, (I finally pin-pointed!) I want to study social/education policy in grad school and also have ~4 years cumulative experience in nonprofit after school programs at the administrative and direct-service level. This semester I've assisted an Anthro professor in conducting a lit review (in French) to add references to an article of hers she's revising in order to get published (basically her readers asked for very specific areas of research that were next to impossible to find - also her research topic is related to family and child welfare). Next semester I'm helping her to get a research project off the ground. She's trying to get a grant from the NSF to conduct research in public schools in the area. I'm going to be doing more lit reviews and potentially helping to organize a mini quasi-experiment to gather data on the topic for the grant proposal. It's not exactly 100% data analysis or fieldwork, but would it "count" as significant research experience? My thought was that although I'm probably not going to be actually conducting research next semester it would be a good experience in learning what it takes to earn a grant to conduct research, and especially worth it because it's related to educational institutions. As for my experience this semester, it's related to family/child welfare overseas, so I would be able to frame it as being insightful in terms of cross-cultural insight into the specific topic. I'd appreciate any and all feedback!