skateboardgirl

Program/Institution: Berkeley Goldman (top choice), HKS, UChicago Harris, Georgetown McCourt Interests: Environmental/Energy policy Undergrad Institution: Top 15 liberal arts college Undergraduate Major: B.A. Science, Technology & Society (super liberal arts, multidisciplinary major - took a lot of environmental studies, sociology and computer science classes) Undergraduate GPA: 3.70, Last 60 credits around 3.85 Quantitative Courses: Intro Micro (A-) Intro Macro (B) Single-variable calc (B), 5 computer science classes (All As/A-s) GRE: 161 V, 161 Q, 4.5 AW Age: 22, turning 23 soon-ish Years of Work Experience: 1 but not very relevant. hard to find jobs in US on an international student visa (1 yr OPT) - interning for ACLU right now, part time job doing renewable energy outreach (but it's more like canvassing), had previous internships in environmental nonprofits Languages: Native English, intermediate French, beginner Indonesian LORs: 3 professors (probably pretty good recs) Additional Note: This year, I applied and was admitted to Michigan Ford, UCLA Luskin, Wisconsin LaFollette, GWU Trachtenberg and UW Evans this year but am not going to attend any Concerns: I'm turning down the schools I got into this year because I applied too hastily, didn't get funding (in the middle of a green card application so I won't be international next year), I love California so Berkeley is my dream. I have pretty good grades and decent test scores (I'll probably retake the GREs this summer), but I'm worried about my severe lack of experience. I'm going to be in Indonesia this summer, hopefully doing a policy-related internships. But my resume is basically all internships and no full time jobs (except in like customer service, which I don't even wanna include). But getting into Michigan and other schools made me hopeful. I would love any advice. Is it worth it to turn down Michigan to risk getting into any of the above schools? And would it be possible to turn down Michigan, but reapply next year? I would love some advice. Thanks so much

Hey y’all, I would really appreciate some advice on my decisions. Background: I’m an international student, and was not 100% sure pursuing an MPP/MPA is right for me at this time, but from talking to current students at various programs, I got really excited and applied to a few schools. I applied really late, only took the GREs in Dec so I only applied to schools with January deadlines. I live in Seattle, but don’t really like it here. I love California and probably should have applied to Berkeley (but missed the deadline). My question is: should I wait til next year and risk it to apply to Berkeley, Harvard, Gtown, UChicago or should I choose one of the schools I’m admitted to now? I also barely received any funding (hard when international) but I am in the middle of a green card application, so I’ll probably have my green card when I apply next year. Does that make it easier to get in at all? Does it make it easier to get funding? I know I shouldn’t but I do care about ‘prestige’ a bit, and my parents definitely do. I would like to go to Michigan, but if I have a chance at Berkeley, that’s the dream. HKS would be great too but I doubt I’ll be able to get in with my lack of experience. GTown and Chicago I would hope I could get in, and I would prefer those than any of the schools I’m In now. What would be your advice? Also could I reject Michigan, and reapply next year? Thanks so much. Program/Schools Applied To: MPP – Michigan Ford, GWU Trachtenberg, UCLA Luskin. MPA – U Washington Evans, U Wisconsin-Madison LaFollette Schools Admitted: All, no funding except GWU (50%) Undergraduate: Top 15 Liberal Arts College, 3.70 GPA, 3.84 last two years (I got a lot of B+s and Bs freshman year but after freshman year only As and A-s, not including my semester abroad) GRE: 161 Verbal/161 Quant/4.5 Analytical Writing Math/Econ Background: Single variable calc, intro micro econ, intro macro econ, 5 computer science classes Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 (graduated 2016) Years of Work Experience: no really relevant paid work experience (hard to get a job with my international visa in the nonprofit/public field). Currently interning at the ACLU (but in communications dept), had various internships at environmental nonprofits. Also currently doing outreach for a renewable energy program (but this involves more talking to people and less policy/analytics). Had a customer service job too. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc: Honestly, I wrote this a week before the deadline, and had a few friends edit it. I think it was pretty good though, talked about growing up in Southeast Asia, moving to America for school, my previous environmental internships, interest in my sociology classes, and how this all ties into my interest in public policy. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Didn’t read them but I think they were quite good. From 3 professors (1 was my advisor, 1 was my favorite prof, 1 was my geography professor who is Spanish and his English isn’t the best) - I did very well on all their classes. Other: I didn’t have much extracurricular activities besides being a general member of the environmental club at school and also the varsity women’s rugby team..