emorn4007

Hi- I was also admitted for LSE MPA. Considering it against Berkeley, Tufts, and Columbia. I've heard good things, but as a US citizen, I'm unsure about the networking and finding a job from the UK. I applied for scholarship money but am not expecting much (if any).

Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, etc.) : HKS (MPP), WWS (MPA), SIPA (MPA-DP), Fletcher (MALD), LSE (MPA), GSPP (MPP) Schools Applied To: HKS, WWS, SIPA, Fletcher, GSPP, LSE Schools Admitted To: SIPA, Fletcher, GSPP, LSE Schools Rejected From: WWS, HKS Undergraduate institution: Top public university Undergraduate GPA: 3.7 Undergraduate Major: International Development GRE Quantitative Score: 157 GRE Verbal Score: 160 GRE AW Score: 5.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3.5 Years of Work Experience: 3.5 Describe Relevant Work Experience: My work experience post-college has all been with a large management consulting firm in their public sector practice. I've held roles across international development and social impact, including a few long-term projects abroad. My internships during college were with a mix of non-profits and for elected officials. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I thought it was strong. I spent a lot of time on this and had multiple people look at it (including some involved in the admissions process and professors in similar programs). Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Excellent, I thought. I submitted three- one from a professor with whom I'm close, another from a client and advisor in Federal Government, and last from my direct supevisor at work. Other: I wasn't offered much funding at all, just $5k/year from Fletcher. I'm appealing for more from Fletcher and SIPA, but don't expect to get any aid from Berkeley nor LSE. Decision: I'm torn but have started to rule out Berkeley because I want a strong international development focus, and LSE because I'm unsure of the networking opportunities and not keen on having to job hunt from the UK. Still making up my mind, though. Any insights/opinions on this would be great!

Hello- would like to hear what you ended up deciding. I'm between LSE MPA and SIPA MPA-DP. Any thoughts would be appreciated .Thanks!

Hi- Any update here? I'm also trying to decide between these two programs. The MPA at LSE is attractive in part because of the possibility to do a dual degree and spend the second year at Columbia- but I really like the structure and cohort feel of Columbia's MPA-DP. Any other folks trying to make this decision?

Hello- I haven't gotten much help from the few admissions committees I've reached out about this, so I figured I'd ask here- I took the GRE three times, received a poor/mediocre score on the first round (157 V, 155 Q, 5.0 W), a better but still meh score the second time (158 V, 157 Q, 5.5 W), and then a better verbal but significantly worse quant score the third time (160 V, 152 Q, 5.5 W). I was thinking of taking the test a fourth time, but then relocated to East Africa for work, and it's difficult to find a place to sit for the exam here. I'm applying to a range of top public policy and international development programs, and I'm wondering if it would be to my detriment to submit all three scores, or if I should only submit the two most recent scores. On the one hand, I thought it might be worth showing that I tried the darn thing three times, but then again, I'm not so sure. Would this be something to address in any additional essays/supplemental materials, too? Other things about me: I have a 3.7 undergrad GPA and have taken additional coursework to supplement my poor quant background (I work for an accounting and consulting firm but didn't take much econ, etc. in college). I graduated from college in 2010 and have worked for a management consulting firm in public sector/development projects since. Anyway- I so appreciate any thoughts you might have about my predicament. Thank you in advance for your time!