[Second tier International Affairs Salary?]

It really varies greatly depending on where you work (even within the US) and what organization you work for.

Generally, MPA/MPPs end up mostly in the public or nonprofit sector. For US salaries of employees in these sectors, you can see this and this (chart below).

But if you work for an organization such as USAID, for example, you can expect to be paid roughly $10K-25K more than any employer in the US. This is because you'll typically be employed abroad. Any of USAID's major contractors such as IRD, TetraTech, DAI, Counterpart, etc. also pay very well. If you live overseas, you also generally get housing, security, meals, transportation and fully- or pratially-paid R&R.

If you are lucky enough to end up in the UN and work overseas, you get similar royal treatment. The UN also pays you thousands of dollars in "hazard pay" on top of your salary if you work in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, CAR, South Sudan, etc. (or anywhere else that the UN considers "hazard" deployment). Some UN employees get two-week R&Rs for each six weeks worked.

Additional degree in computer science is a plus, but in my experience not a major plus factor in the industry I described above. In this field, you need program management, paper chasing, multicultural experience, etc.

Hope this helps.

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Chart below from MPADegree .org

Chart below from 

 

[Practice GRE scores vs. real GRE scores]

Thanks for sharing all of your scores, folks. I'm taking the test mid-September and have been reading your posts. Very helpful to know the sore ranges and discrepancies.

Two questions:

1. What worked and what didn't for you? As you share your scores, please also share your "lessons learned"
2. Why do you think people tend to score higher on the actual GRE than on practice tests?

Many thanks!

[Should I send my scores on the day of the test?]

17 hours ago, hsrnl said:

I can't decide if I should send my scores when I write the GRE tomorrow. It would save me $140 (I'm Canadian), but I'm not very confident that I'll get a decent writing score. I would love to save the money but I'm terrified that I'll send my scores and then find out that I bombed the writing section. 

Do you think it's worth it to take the risk? What did you do?

I would send my scores because even if you end up taking the GRE for a better score, it won't hurt your chances at grad programs.

Some grad schools look at all of your multiple GREs and rank you positively for any score improvements (e.g., Michigan). Other schools look at all your scores and consider the best section scores from different sittings (e.g., Yale).

So, on net, send your scores tomorrow. If you do well, that's great; if not, you can retake the test and resend your scores without adverse impact on your application.

My source for the above is this PowerScore blog on multiple GRE scores.

[GRE registration name problem]

I would email ETS about it. If it's going to be a problem, they'll change your name on the admission ticket. If not, you'll have a written confirmation that you can take with you to the test center.

I've been refused entrance at the test center because of the name-difference problem back in 2007 while taking the SAT. That hurt very, very badly because I was traveling to a second country to take the test.

[Good sources to prep for the Reading comprehension section of the GRE]

I'd read The Atlantic Monthly, they always have high-quality content because it started as a publication "for the thinking person."

Also good is the NY Times Book Review and The New Yorker.