chipanda

I think someone moved my post, so thank you. Even to get a good foundation and show I can handle grad school? Sigh...admissions questions are hard to ask and answer as well. Basically, a good amount of work. I'm not sure. While I absolutely enjoy where I am, I can't help but think if learning how to budget, manage finances, fundraise, be able to effectively administrate/manage, will enable me to jump up to where I want to be. I also want to be a lot more involved in my local area educational policy, and I kind of want to do research into such policy, hence why I'm interested in a MPP vs. a MPA. I've always felt that it's hard to break into the policy/political world without either being in it for many years or having the necessary "accreditation" to be qualified to speak about it. While I can (and do) help out in general campaigns, I want to get more involved in educational policy and institutions which I think is more specialized than general politics and would require me to gain knowledge to be able to understand, and effectively change such policy.

I'm really interested in pursuing a MPA or MPP, and have a few questions regarding this. My undergrad GPA is terrible 2.6. I have a BS in CS. I took a few Poli Sci classes in undergrad, and did really well on those I paid attention to, and did terrible to those I just took to fill out credit hours. Basically, I fucked up undergrad, and have a non-related major. I'm very interested in local/state politics, specifically in education policy, and am interested in educational non-profits. I currently work IT for an educational non-profit, and I really want to bring my non-profit more success and greater exposure. I'm also REALLY interested in analyzing educational reform, and help implement education reform. Part of me also really just wants to be a teacher...but I'm putting that goal aside for a little while. My current end goal is a MPA from IU-Bloomington or MPP from U of Chicago. I don't know if it's worth lowering my expectations, but I can't move out of Chicago for the next several years, hence my choices. So questions: I've seen the differences between a MPP and MPA, but I've equally interested in policy research as I am in policy implementation. Is there any point in pursuing both? Would it be worth it to pursue a MA in Poli Sci to get a better foundation, and prove to myself and admissions I can handle grad school, and THEN pursue a MPA or MPP? How can I become a more competitive applicant for these programs?