oxana

Same here... $10,000... Just got the email today. It will be $100,000 for the next 2 years. I dont think it's worth being a slave to the bank for the next 20 years.

I had no full-time work experience. 1 year of internships/coops, 1-2 years of part-time research and academic oriented jobs. All of which were not related to government, law, or public policy.

If resources are not an issue, definitely go to graduate school, whichever one is more convenient, HKS, Georgetown, or GW. Check their programs out and see what fits your interests best. Of course, go for HKS if it suits your specific interests. Experience will get you places, but there is nothing like knowledge. Knowledge from experience is outstanding, but knowledge from education, if truly taken seriously, will force you to understand concepts that at workplace you may have never been exposed to. Higher education will allow you to think differently, or learn to look at your professional experience in a different light. If you want to be just like every other politician out there, just make those contacts and you will be one of them. You will have the job, the money, the power, and whatever else you wish. *But* if you want to make a difference, create something new, progress the country to a different level, and offer a different perspective, education can sometimes play that role. It can give you the perspective necessary to see things beyond the everyday direct work experience. Basically, experience and education, both are great, but one should not exist without the other.

Definitely not for this one probably, unless you just did not need to submit the essay because you clearly indicated why you want to go to GPPI. (That's what the essay asked for, and some of you have already probably answered that in your personal statement. I, however, did not.) Don't put your hopes low though, because they probably have many opportunities. There is no way that they can decide on how much money they give out at end of February! Plus, they probably did not even look at all the applicants yet. It's just not possible. They probably have several rounds, so don't worry about it. You will be considered for funding in the next round, or one after.

Anyone hear anything? We are supposed to find out today?

Hi! Welcome! How seriously are you considering GPPI? Also, I see you applied for HKS, would you let us know if you ever hear from them? Thank you. I wish they didn't make us wait for so long! Till April! Nuts! I need to plan my life accordingly... Oxana.

Agreed!

I got an information packet from them after taking GREs. On the pamphlet, on the back cover, they had President George W. Bush Sr.'s quote (it may have been Jr. -- hard to recall considering the pamphlet went straight to trash as soon as I saw the quote)... The quote which had something to do with history (+), was surprisingly very stupid, grammatically incorrect, with a false logical process. It may have been a too quick of dismissal on my part, but I instantly felt negative about the school. They could have found a gramatically and logically correct quote to represent their school! Ok, he is Bush and he donated to the school, but then there are actually very influential thinkers in the world, who actually have something of value to say (who may not be rich). I just can't believe they chose that quote. Plus, public policy at a school paid for by the Bush family's oil money? Ridiculously contradictory. I wish I could find the quote for you... Did you read the article about how some philanthropists and very rich people actually get richer by donating because the government pays them back from our taxes at a 1:1 rate. Yup, they donate, and we, the people, pay them back an equal amount. It's just more advertising for them, so don't be fooled.

From the bottom of my heart I tell you this -- relax. It is not a big deal, and here is why. He recommended you, that's all that matters. Plus, the main mandatory questions cover EVERYTHING that the admissions committee truly wants to know about you in the first place. Which is why they made the question mandatory, and the letter optional. They most likely make the letter optional for people who do not have time (as in for those professors who change the person's names in the letter.) Since he said he took the time to answer the questions, and it was the letter that he did not have time for, he probably put in good effort in those questions. Perhaps, he thought the questions were very in depth and the letter would not make a difference (just like the school said themselves.) Don't blame the recommender, he was doing something nice for you, and he submitted it. (At one point for a scholarship, my recommender completely dissappeared, with no warning, and did not submit the letter, even with all my reminders. I had 1 day to find a new recommender.) Just hope that he answered the questions well and in-depth, which he most likely did considering he told you that's what he spent his time doing, and that's what matters. I hope this helps.

Student- oriented for sure

Yeah I got the same message, it was a little hectic because I had 3 other scholarship applications due the next day, and I waited till the last night to do it. So when I got that email at 5pm, I was like oh no!! I did finish them all, but this definitely added some stress. In the email they said they will let us know Feb. 26, do you think they will give the amount then or tell you whether we were selected or not? I am not sure. They are very quick.

Sure! I got accepted too for MPP to GU and GWU, and I love that they did this pretty quickly. GU requested and I had to send in an essay for scholarship consideration too last week. They said I will find out Feb 26 regarding their decision, but they only notified me within 24 hours of the deadline! I wasn't too happy about that since I had 3 other scholarship applications due the next day also! My stats: 1. Mech. Engineering major, gpa 3.95, GRE: Math 730, 600, 4.0. I want to study Public Policy for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, also leaning toward international. I'm a citizen but I lived in Russia, and South Korea (each a third of my life). I have coop/internship experience of 1 year in engineering fields (3 different companies/institutions), had a part time job in solar cell research in college. I am just graduating which is supposedly not something they prefer, and I also was afraid that maybe they won't like engineering to policy direct switch since I took almost no classes in public policy nor did I have any experience. It was a very clean cut total change of direction for me. I am pretty happy to do something totally different since I learned I love learning engineering but not actually doing it - don't want a career working at a factory, but I definitely have much respect for that community. I hope this helps. If anyone has similar interests or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions.

Hi~! If that is you, where else did you apply? Did you get accepted in other programs? When are you thinking of visiting? Will you be joining the school? What do you like about the school and the program?