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Hi John, I am in a very similar situation, choosing between my MPA/ID offer with 0 aid (with 10k of external scholarship) and the MPP at Harris with 20k (+10k again). I considered many things, but after speking with several people (current students at both schools, alumni, other people in development) I've chosen to go on the expensive route. I think the rigour and uniqueness of the MPA/ID really swayed me towards this decision, I would have probably not chosen Harvard if it was for their MPP. I am happy to discuss this further with you if you want to DM me.

I was rejected from the MPP program last year, and I've been accepted for the MPA/ID this year! I am so mesmerized and amazed and in awe

Why do you think that Chicago is a step below Berkeley? I've been admitted to both programs and I feel like Chicago is better in most fronts - unless you want to work in state government of bay area ngos.

@Palolem WWS was my dream program - if I were you I'd be so excited to go there! I guess the reasons are two: 1) WWS sounds like the most competitive out of all Public policy programs (at least to me), so probably many people don't even try to apply to it. 2) It's application is also the most complex: not only they require a long statement (compare it to harris for instance, that was 300wds max!) but also they ask for a policy memo. Unless you have one already there from your undergrad, writing one takes a lot of time and might discourage some people. I think those are the main reasons - which underscore again how good WWS is and how lucky [and proud] you should feel to go there!

Programs Applied To: MPP at Harvard, UChicago and UC Berkeley; MPA at Princeton Schools Admitted To: Harris(15k$), GSPP(0$) Schools Rejected From: HKS, WWS. Undergraduate School: average Uni in France with a one year exchange in top Australian uni. GPA: 3.84 GPA, highest of my class (90 people). Undergraduate Major: Sociology [Note: I enrolled in some economics classes after graduation and got A+ in micro/macro] GRE 1: 164 (94%) Verbal, 168 (95%) Quant, 4.5 (80%) AWA Years Out of Undergrad: 1 and a half years International experience: 6 months Kenya, 2 and a half years France, 1 year Australia, 1 year Englang, 3 months Peru. Languages: perfectly fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian. Some knowledge of Mandarin. Work Experience: 1 year as social worker before college. 1 year in social integration in a leading national charity (unknown in the US though), internship with top organisation for international development. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Was personalised and described my process towards the schools. Probably not too creative but was well descriptive of my motivations. It had many links with things written in LORs. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): All of my recommendations were solid. One from a professor that known me well and is the director of a master program in political science. She talked about my intellectual ability and my positive presence in class. Two from different employers - one focusing on leadership and one on passion for poverty/adaptability in poor countries. Some thoughts: my applications were definitely strong, and got me in at harris and gspp, but I think I was too "unripe" for WWS and HKS. I probably needed more relevant work experience and a better crafted SOP.

I guess my profile has ups and downs. I have a lot of international experience, especially for my age (worked and studied in 5 countries), GPA 3.85 in sociology, GRE 168Q/164V/4.5, perfectly fluent in 4 languages, very proactive (self-taught STATA that I now use for work, self-taught econs and econometrics and got top grades in exams I did for university credit). I worked 1 year in London for a non-profit in social integration (not particularly high profile role) and then was intern with Innovations with Poverty Action. I am now managing M&E in a microfinance org in Africa but they don't know that...

Just received it. Rejected at HKS and WWS, which were my first choices, and accepted at Harris and GSPP, which are my secondary ones. Considering that I only have one and a half years of work experience, I don't know what to do now. Any thoughts?