brittanyandrea

Update: got into UConn (waiting on funding) and Suffolk ($20,000 fellowship) Northeastern upped my funding to 50% Brown upped to $10,000 Still haven't heard from Syracuse on funding

I'm definitely more interested in impressing prospective employers than friends family. I'm hoping to one day be the head of a state agency, such as the department of education.

I need help Without question of funding(I haven't heard from Syracuse on funding yet), which would be more likely to produce the best job. I was accepted into Brown and Syracuse's MPA programs. I'm wondering what to weigh more in my decision, the ivy league name (Brown) or the #1 MPA program in the country(Syracuse) Any advice would be great! -Brittany

Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.) MPA Schools Applied To: UConn, Syracuse, Brandeis, Northeastern, Brown, Suffolk Schools Admitted To: Syracuse(waiting on funding), Brandeis(45% tuition funding), Northeastern(33% tuition funding), Brown($3000 scholarship) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Suffolk, UConn Undergraduate institution: Local state college Undergraduate GPA: 3.72, Community college 3.54 gpa Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.72 (I transferred from a CC, all I have is 60 hours from my undergrad.) Undergraduate Major: Dual Major: Public Administration, Political Science GRE Quantitative Score: 150 GRE Verbal Score: 155 GRE AW Score: 4.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): n/a Years of Work Experience: Formerly worked in banking, left to pursue education. Describe Relevant Work Experience: Internships in city planning, with a Congressman and with an unemployment insurance office. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I went through numerous edits with the help of many people including professors. I took about 2 months of going back and forth editing it. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): 3 professors, 1 is the chair of the department, the others are very well respected in their fields and are frequently published. Other:

I was accepted into Brown's MPA program and I was ecstatic. My lifelong dream has been to go to Brown and getting that acceptance letter was probably the best moment of my life. Then the money reality kicked in. I was offered $3000 in aid from Brown. I asked them to reevaluate this because I've received substantially larger offers from other schools (Brandeis, Northeastern) and I'm waiting for funding information from Syracuse which will come late March. I haven't heard from UConn yet, they will notify me if I've been accepted on March 9th and if I've received any funding. Brown advised me that if I send them my offer letters once I received them all I could forward the letters to them and they would submit them to the admissions team. They certainly didn't guarantee anything, but they said they would try. Which brings me to my question. Should I wait until I hear from UConn and Syracuse in regards to acceptance/funding prior to sending my letters to Brown? I was thinking by late March when I have all of these results, they would know more of who was accepting their offers or declining them so they may have more funding available. But then I also started thinking that other people may be doing the same thing and I should try and get them the letters I have ASAP to be reviewed first. Short version: UConn notifying of decision/funding March 9th. Syracuse notifying of funding end of March. Received 33% funding from Northeastern. Received 45% funding from Brandeis. Should I hold off on sending these offers over to Brown until I get Syracuse and UConn's(if I get in) funding?

The dollar amount for both schools includes everything, from my car payment to rent to utilities. The reason why there is such a little difference is because I live with my parents currently. I'm still waiting to hear back for funding from Syracuse. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is which school will produce the best results, regardless of costs because there isn't too much of a difference in costs as of now since I don't know if Syracuse will be giving me any funding.

Yes, I have. The costs in the list include all living expenses. The only way it would be a reasonable difference is if Syracuse offers at least $10,000 in funding, which based on much GRE is doubtful.

So Syracuse moved up so quickly because I had it so low assuming it wasn't a possibility. It was my original dream school before I learned of Browns program. I also visited my top 2 and 3 picks and I really wasn't a fan. When I went to browns open house, someone asked about the effects of the program being so new. They said that they make up for that because they still have the alumni from the previous program (which was an MPP) My gut is telling me Brown, because of what goes along with graduating from an Ivy League school. I cried (happy tears) when I got into Brown. I was somewhat upset when I got into Syracuse because it meant I had a major decision to make.

I've gotten into my two top choice programs. I honestly never thought this would happen because my GRE scores were not great. So now I've run into this problem, I love both schools for different reasons, so I need your advice to see which one will monetarily produce the best results because that is what is holding me back right now. Here are my pros and cons, maybe you guys can see something I cant. The costs in this list including the present offers I've received. Brown offered me $3000 in scholarships, but I've asked for more and they said they would reevaluate and Syracuse doesn't complete aid packages until late March. Brown Pros Cons Ivy League/Name Recognition Cost ($86424) Would not have to move Fear of not fitting in 1 year program New Program Would not have to leave family for a year Strong Networking Small class sizes, more one on one experience Syracuse Pros Cons #1 MPA Program in the Country Would have to leave family for a year 1 year program Would have to move 77% in public sector of 2015 Graduates Not knowing anyone Less Expensive ($79454)

I got in on Tuesday and I was notified of $3000 as a financial aid package. This is my dream school, so I'd do anything to go but I'm not sure if it's going to be feasible (or smart.)

Just got my acceptance email shortly before 4pm. I now have a problem I never thought I'd have, choosing where I want to go.

I'm nervous because I submitted mine a few hours before the deadline too, but my professor waited until the 10th(!!!) to submit my letter. I asked him back in December. I hope they're understanding of this. Do you mind sharing your GPA, GRE and experience? Maybe (hopefully) it will make me feel better.

I keep telling myself that. but then I look at their academic calendar and they're open! ...no I don't have a life.

Thank you so much! I am losing my mind obsessively refreshing screens and email

For those who have been accepted into Maxwell, how did they notify you? Was it through the portal?

Now I have what could be the final edition of my purpose statement and I'm wondering if you guys will work your magic for me. Here it is! While my decision to apply to a Master of Public Administration program was made partially because it is the logical next step in my academic career, it is far more than just logic that drove my decision. As a child, I was exposed to contaminants on a playground and the negative effects have continued to impact my life since. Migraines were a daily occurrence, often preventing me from being able to go to school. My school district was not equipped to handle educating someone with the health problems I was facing and I eventually withdrew from school and obtained a high school equivalency diploma. Although I am fortunate enough now to say that my health problems are under control, that is not the end of this fight for me. The events of my childhood generated a drive inside of me to pursue a career in public administration. My dream is to ensure that no child ever has to choose between their health and pursuing an education. The current emphasis on testing in education diminishes the concern with the students with the strongest and weakest capabilities. Schools are compelled to have strong median and mean scores, leading them to ignore other students. I have decided to pursue an education in public administration rather than education administration because schools are often too vested in these practices and change would have to occur at an oversight level. In 2013, I took the first step towards making my dream a reality by enrolling in night classes at the local community college. I spent two years studying to earn my associate’s degree, all the while working at a local bank to fund my education. I exceeded countless expectations by not only graduating but by receiving high honors. As I walked across the stage, I vowed to continue my education and to fight to promote universal access to education. In the Fall of 2015, I enrolled at -undergrad school- majoring in Political Science. I am graduating this May with a dual major in Political Science and Public Administration along with a minor in Geography with a GPA of 3.72. -Undergrad School- has opened up numerous doors that have continued to reaffirm my career goals. In the Spring of 2016, I served as an intern for a city planning office. In this position, I provided research assistance to the office and attended city council meetings to report back to the principal planner. Additionally, I answered calls from residents and provided information on anything from zoning to natural disaster management. I completed a project for the office that compared the historical sites in the city to their present day condition, finding that many of them had been poorly preserved over the years. During the summer of 2016, I was one of eight students selected from my school to participate in an internship in Washington D.C. with one of our state’s Congress members. I found myself immersed in public policy and I loved every minute of my experience. During my internship at the D.C. office, I attended Senate sessions and Congressional hearings. Additionally, I completed policy memos for the Senator, ensuring he was well prepared for any meetings or events he attended. Upon my return home from Washington D.C., the local constituent office for the Senator contacted me to offer me an internship in their office. At the constituent office, I was primarily responsible for organizing the Senator’s schedule and answering questions and concerns of the Senator’s constituents. The Senator is highly involved in protecting the environment and hosts a conference for energy and environment leaders at the local convention center every year. While working for the Senator, I was able to help organize and manage the conference to ensure all went as planned. I have recently started my final internship in my undergraduate career at an office as a policy intern. In this internship, I will attend legislative sessions and provide research support for the department. Additionally, I am assisting in the modification of a program that helps those receiving unemployment benefits regain employment. These experiences that have made me an outstanding candidate for your public administration program. Obtaining a Master of Public Administration is the final step in ensuring that I can accomplish my aspirations.

Program/Institution: MPA - Public Administration Applying to: Northeastern, Suffolk, UMass Boston, Brown, Syracuse, UConn, and Brandeis. #1 choice is Brown because I live in RI so it would be super convenient. And to put it simply - it's Brown. If Brown doesn't happen, which I wouldn't be shocked, my next picks are UMass Boston and UConn. Interests: Education policy, unemployment insurance(weird interest, I know), health care reform Undergrad Institution: local school, phenomenal school but is not really well known. Undergraduate Major: Dual Major: Political Science & Public Administration, Minor: Geography Undergraduate GPA: 3.72 Quantitative Courses: Methodology in Political Science (got the highest score in the class) GRE: ): 155V, 150Q. My AW isn't in yet, but the last time I took the GRE I got 4.5 on the AW. Not where I wanted to be but a lot better than where I started (first time I took the GRE I got 148 on both Verbal and Quant. Age: 26 Years of Work Experience: I worked in banking for about 5 years prior to quitting and going back to school. I've interned for a Congress member in both DC and here in RI. Prior to that, I interned for a city planning office. Currently, I'm interning for a governmental agency dealing with unemployment insurance. Undergraduate Activities: Secretary of Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society), a member of Political Science Club, helped a professor with a research project for arts and humanities funding. Languages: Fluent in English, can speak very very basic Spanish. LORs: Very strong letters from the chair of my department, former dean of the college and current professor, and a professor who also runs the MPA program at the local university who I had for a couple of classes. Concerns: I'm nervous that my GRE scores aren't where they should be and that my undergraduate institution will hold me back. It really is a phenomenal school, but it doesn't have name recognition.