policyapplicant

I sense that Berkeley is a much better fit for your academic and career interests. If you're in social justice spaces, the Berkeley name is as good as an Ivy.

I sense that Berkeley is a much better fit for your academic and career interests. If you're in social justice spaces, the Berkeley name is as good as an Ivy.

Thanks UPD! I hope so ☺️

You can do it @JiHoo!!

I got in everywhere I applied including WWS with a 157 Q. 

Harris does have a great certificate in municipal finance though! 

Updated with decisions!!!
Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP/MPA
Schools Applied To: Princeton WWS, Chicago Harris, NYU Wagner, CMU Heinz, USC Price, Berkeley GSPP
Schools Admitted To (funding in parentheses): All ??  Princeton WWS (full funding, stipend), Chicago Harris ($$), NYU Wagner (zero), CMU Heinz ($$), USC Price (full funding), Berkeley GSPP (zero)
Schools Rejected From:  None
Decision: Princeton WWS for the MPA 
Still Waiting:  None
Undergraduate institution:  Top 5 public
Undergraduate GPA:  3.6
Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):  I would guess that it was a bit higher like a 3.7, lots of credit for independent research
Undergraduate Major:
GRE Quantitative Score:  157
GRE Verbal Score:  164
GRE AW Score:  5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  5
Years of Work Experience:  5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Leadership position in a nonprofit organization
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Quite strong I think. Very specific about academic interests and career objectives in a fairly narrow field. I wrote about the faculty members and research centers I want to work with. 
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Excellent, current boss and two high ranking professors who know me personally
 
End-of-Application-Season-Reflection:
I'm stunned that I got into each school.
For a while, my top choice was my " semi-realistic" choice: Chicago Harris. I thought there was a good chance I would get in there, but I was doubtful that they would give me any money. When I was admitted with moderate funding in the Early Action round, I started feeling much better about the whole process. Princeton WWS was always my "top top" choice, but never thought about it seriously because I was sure I wouldn't get in. I focused my sights on Harris instead. So getting into WWS was a huge surprise. I feel really lucky. 
The reason I was pessimistic about WWS and my general chances for other schools is that I felt my GRE quant score was low (157) and because I lacked serious qualitative and econ-driven coursework. I was pretty explicit in my application saying that I felt I had terrific qualitative research and analysis training from undergrad but that it was really the quant side I was missing. I told the school that this was one of the core reasons I was applying to graduate school and to that school in particular. 
I think my 5 years of strong professional experience helped a lot. Also my strong recommendations from high ranking professors and my boss of 5 years. All of them know me very well personally and intellectually and speak from positions of real authority. 
I didn't apply to HKS because I assumed there was a good chance I wouldn't get in and that if I did, I wouldn't want to go there. Culturally it never felt right to me. I know many HKS grads. Some love it. But it's too large, showy and IR-oriented for me. The other "traditional" schools in this forum (SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, Georgetown) were all too international relations-oriented and large for me. You certainly have that at WWS, but there's a very strong domestic and econ contingent too. 
I have to say, I did visit Price and I was VERY impressed. The faculty is top notch and they really seem to care about students. If I hadn't gotten into WWS, Price would have given Harris a run for its money. I thought that Price was pretty underrepresented on this forum. For those interested in domestic and local policy, I would strongly recommend people look at the school seriously. I think it can be stronger career-wise than GSPP because the school is so well connected (read: embedded)  in industry and state and municipal government across California. Of course, it is much better for people who want to make a career in California -- but that's something I (as an East Coaster) was seriously considering. Maybe one day in the future. 
One piece of advice: Try not to get too obsessive about one particular school. You never know what's going to happen and $$ and other factors like school visits can change your thinking about schools quite quickly. I spent way too much time researching and obsessing about Harris: both before and after submitting my application. I guess I don't really regret it, but I certainly didn't need to spend all of that time, especially after I submitted my app. 
I'm just so happy about WWS. It will be a fantastic fit -- culturally, academically, professionally. 
Thanks to you all on this forum for such great guidance and collective support! 

Hey guys, added all the appropriate info to the google doc, but just wanted to put it out there that Columbia SIPA ended up increasing my scholarship offer by nearly half even though I didn't have funding offers from other schools.
For all my future SIPA-hopefuls reading this, it is 100% worth the time to fill out the request for additional funding! I honestly didn't think I had a leg to stand on, but they've been more generous this year (with me, and other folks I've talked to on this forum and at Admitted Students Day) than in the past.

Congrats and congrats on the SIPA funding! Hope even more comes your way!

Updated with decisions!!!
Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP/MPA
Schools Applied To: Princeton WWS, Chicago Harris, NYU Wagner, CMU Heinz, USC Price, Berkeley GSPP
Schools Admitted To (funding in parentheses): All ??  Princeton WWS (full funding, stipend), Chicago Harris ($$), NYU Wagner (zero), CMU Heinz ($$), USC Price (full funding), Berkeley GSPP (zero)
Schools Rejected From:  None
Decision: Princeton WWS for the MPA 
Still Waiting:  None
Undergraduate institution:  Top 5 public
Undergraduate GPA:  3.6
Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):  I would guess that it was a bit higher like a 3.7, lots of credit for independent research
Undergraduate Major:
GRE Quantitative Score:  157
GRE Verbal Score:  164
GRE AW Score:  5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  5
Years of Work Experience:  5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Leadership position in a nonprofit organization
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Quite strong I think. Very specific about academic interests and career objectives in a fairly narrow field. I wrote about the faculty members and research centers I want to work with. 
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Excellent, current boss and two high ranking professors who know me personally
 
End-of-Application-Season-Reflection:
I'm stunned that I got into each school.
For a while, my top choice was my " semi-realistic" choice: Chicago Harris. I thought there was a good chance I would get in there, but I was doubtful that they would give me any money. When I was admitted with moderate funding in the Early Action round, I started feeling much better about the whole process. Princeton WWS was always my "top top" choice, but never thought about it seriously because I was sure I wouldn't get in. I focused my sights on Harris instead. So getting into WWS was a huge surprise. I feel really lucky. 
The reason I was pessimistic about WWS and my general chances for other schools is that I felt my GRE quant score was low (157) and because I lacked serious qualitative and econ-driven coursework. I was pretty explicit in my application saying that I felt I had terrific qualitative research and analysis training from undergrad but that it was really the quant side I was missing. I told the school that this was one of the core reasons I was applying to graduate school and to that school in particular. 
I think my 5 years of strong professional experience helped a lot. Also my strong recommendations from high ranking professors and my boss of 5 years. All of them know me very well personally and intellectually and speak from positions of real authority. 
I didn't apply to HKS because I assumed there was a good chance I wouldn't get in and that if I did, I wouldn't want to go there. Culturally it never felt right to me. I know many HKS grads. Some love it. But it's too large, showy and IR-oriented for me. The other "traditional" schools in this forum (SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, Georgetown) were all too international relations-oriented and large for me. You certainly have that at WWS, but there's a very strong domestic and econ contingent too. 
I have to say, I did visit Price and I was VERY impressed. The faculty is top notch and they really seem to care about students. If I hadn't gotten into WWS, Price would have given Harris a run for its money. I thought that Price was pretty underrepresented on this forum. For those interested in domestic and local policy, I would strongly recommend people look at the school seriously. I think it can be stronger career-wise than GSPP because the school is so well connected (read: embedded)  in industry and state and municipal government across California. Of course, it is much better for people who want to make a career in California -- but that's something I (as an East Coaster) was seriously considering. Maybe one day in the future. 
One piece of advice: Try not to get too obsessive about one particular school. You never know what's going to happen and $$ and other factors like school visits can change your thinking about schools quite quickly. I spent way too much time researching and obsessing about Harris: both before and after submitting my application. I guess I don't really regret it, but I certainly didn't need to spend all of that time, especially after I submitted my app. 
I'm just so happy about WWS. It will be a fantastic fit -- culturally, academically, professionally. 
Thanks to you all on this forum for such great guidance and collective support! 

Updated with decisions!!!
Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP/MPA
Schools Applied To: Princeton WWS, Chicago Harris, NYU Wagner, CMU Heinz, USC Price, Berkeley GSPP
Schools Admitted To (funding in parentheses): All ??  Princeton WWS (full funding, stipend), Chicago Harris ($$), NYU Wagner (zero), CMU Heinz ($$), USC Price (full funding), Berkeley GSPP (zero)
Schools Rejected From:  None
Decision: Princeton WWS for the MPA 
Still Waiting:  None
Undergraduate institution:  Top 5 public
Undergraduate GPA:  3.6
Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):  I would guess that it was a bit higher like a 3.7, lots of credit for independent research
Undergraduate Major:
GRE Quantitative Score:  157
GRE Verbal Score:  164
GRE AW Score:  5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  5
Years of Work Experience:  5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Leadership position in a nonprofit organization
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Quite strong I think. Very specific about academic interests and career objectives in a fairly narrow field. I wrote about the faculty members and research centers I want to work with. 
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Excellent, current boss and two high ranking professors who know me personally
 
End-of-Application-Season-Reflection:
I'm stunned that I got into each school.
For a while, my top choice was my " semi-realistic" choice: Chicago Harris. I thought there was a good chance I would get in there, but I was doubtful that they would give me any money. When I was admitted with moderate funding in the Early Action round, I started feeling much better about the whole process. Princeton WWS was always my "top top" choice, but never thought about it seriously because I was sure I wouldn't get in. I focused my sights on Harris instead. So getting into WWS was a huge surprise. I feel really lucky. 
The reason I was pessimistic about WWS and my general chances for other schools is that I felt my GRE quant score was low (157) and because I lacked serious qualitative and econ-driven coursework. I was pretty explicit in my application saying that I felt I had terrific qualitative research and analysis training from undergrad but that it was really the quant side I was missing. I told the school that this was one of the core reasons I was applying to graduate school and to that school in particular. 
I think my 5 years of strong professional experience helped a lot. Also my strong recommendations from high ranking professors and my boss of 5 years. All of them know me very well personally and intellectually and speak from positions of real authority. 
I didn't apply to HKS because I assumed there was a good chance I wouldn't get in and that if I did, I wouldn't want to go there. Culturally it never felt right to me. I know many HKS grads. Some love it. But it's too large, showy and IR-oriented for me. The other "traditional" schools in this forum (SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, Georgetown) were all too international relations-oriented and large for me. You certainly have that at WWS, but there's a very strong domestic and econ contingent too. 
I have to say, I did visit Price and I was VERY impressed. The faculty is top notch and they really seem to care about students. If I hadn't gotten into WWS, Price would have given Harris a run for its money. I thought that Price was pretty underrepresented on this forum. For those interested in domestic and local policy, I would strongly recommend people look at the school seriously. I think it can be stronger career-wise than GSPP because the school is so well connected (read: embedded)  in industry and state and municipal government across California. Of course, it is much better for people who want to make a career in California -- but that's something I (as an East Coaster) was seriously considering. Maybe one day in the future. 
One piece of advice: Try not to get too obsessive about one particular school. You never know what's going to happen and $$ and other factors like school visits can change your thinking about schools quite quickly. I spent way too much time researching and obsessing about Harris: both before and after submitting my application. I guess I don't really regret it, but I certainly didn't need to spend all of that time, especially after I submitted my app. 
I'm just so happy about WWS. It will be a fantastic fit -- culturally, academically, professionally. 
Thanks to you all on this forum for such great guidance and collective support! 

Program Applied To: MPA/MPP
Schools Applied To: HKS, SIPA, Wagner, WWS
Schools Admitted To: SIPA ($), Wagner
Schools Rejected From: HKS, WWS
Undergraduate institution:  BU
Undergraduate GPA:  3.46
Undergraduate Major:  Psychology
GRE Quantitative Score:  159
GRE Verbal Score:  169
GRE AW Score:  5.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  4.5
Years of Work Experience:  4.5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 Years P/T neoropsych research on Autism and other disabilities as an undergraduate; summer internship in children's psychiatric ward and 9-month internship at a hospital school in London that supported kids with disabilities; 1.5 years in cancer research management post-grad; now 3 years working in fundraising, communications, and advocacy at a nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities (mental and intellectual/developmental)
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Definitely strong. I framed my reason for going back to school well:  that after working in research, direct care, and nonprofit administration for people with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, I realized that even the most groundbreaking research and effective treatments couldn't curtail the fallout of indifferent, inadequate policymaking. 
My goal is to create policy that better serves people with disabilities, who aside from needing access to affordable and effective healthcare (duh, amirite?) also need someone pulling for them in talks about transportation, supported employment, and- of great interest to me- political engagement.
I launched an initiative at my nonprofit to train people with disabilities and the staff that support them in civic participation/voting, and I really want to expand it citywide by partnering with local government and nonprofits, wherever I end up for school. My experience has been pretty varied, but it has all been in support of the same population.
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Very, very strong. My direct supervisor wrote a letter for me that was extremely specific to what I want to do in school (voter advocacy, supporting people with disabilities through policy). The CEO of my org wrote a letter that he actually had me read first that was absolutely glowing. And one of my lit. professors from BU wrote me what I have high confidence was a strong letter about my abilities as a student.
Decision: SIPA all the way!
I have family in Queens so I can live there for free; my current job in Boston has offered to allow me to work PT/remotewhich (along with the workstudy I got) will cover my cost of living and help me pay down some of my debt as I go. The $$$ SIPA offered me was a big surprise, but even so I've petitioned to get more so we'll see what happens. And my big brother offered to help me pay for school so I won't end up taking out more in loans than I'd make in my first year's salary after graduating. Basically all the stars have aligned to allow me to go to my dream school, and I'm very happy about it  

so pay for it with savings.

I'm going to be studying for a one yr qualification (the MPP) at WWS. I'm single and reasonably young and party positive. I thought given the short duration of my stay that a two room single in the OGC would be the best choice for reasons of convenience (eg not having to furnish the apartment) and meeting people/making friends. I'm an international student so I won't be shipping a lot of my belongings over either.  
But reading these threads and seeing how down people are on 'dorms' I'm having second thoughts! The other option would be house-sharing in Lakeside (ideally - or flatsharing in Lawrence) - which would be appealing providing I got on with my housemates! Which option would you recommend for someone who places a high premium on having fun/being socially active? Whilst I'm not hugely into cooking (so ambivalent about the meal plan) I'm also nervous about the lack of cooking facilities/weekend food service in the Grad College buildings. 
Advice much appreciated! 
 

I think these rankings are useful mainly for identifying programs to apply to that you wouldn't have otherwise thought of.  As an alum of the Maxwell School at Syracuse, I have no illusions that my MPA is somehow seen as more prestigious than a degree from HKS or Princeton - it's definitely not.  But it wouldn't have occurred to me to look into applying if it wasn't for the US News rankings.  
No employer will care about your school's public affairs program ranking in US News.  They're not going to look up the most recent ranking when deciding who to interview.  Many (particularly private) will care about the brand name of the university, particularly if it's an Ivy.  Other than that, it's really about the network, and the rankings can give you a sense of how well-established a program is.  More established programs are likely to have better networks. 
My advice is use this list to identify programs to research and apply to the ones that best fit your interests and preferences.

@Prester John Ah yeah, both great options but money matters. Yes, the CPL stipend is just as generous as WWS, which seems like it's way more than enough... either the US is way more expensive than I remember or there's an error. 

I found this forum so immensely helpful during my application process (including someone's keen eye noticing one school's unusual resume structure roughly 24 hours before the due date), so I hope something I share can help future applicants like others have helped me
Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.)  MSPPM, MPA, MSCAPP
Schools Applied To:  Carnegie Mellon Heinz (MSPPM-DA), UChicago Harris (MSCAPP), and Princeton WWS (MPA)
Schools Admitted To:  Harris ($), Heinz ($$), and WWS ($$$$)
Schools Rejected From:  None
Still Waiting:  None
Undergraduate institution:  Huge State School
Undergraduate GPA:  3.76
Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):  ??
Undergraduate Major:  History & French
GRE Quantitative Score:  168
GRE Verbal Score:  163
GRE AW Score:  4.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  5
Years of Work Experience:  5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: AmeriCorps, TFA, Fulbright ETA, and some summer fellowships; I have been a teacher for the last 5 years which is obviously considered public service although not particularly relevant to my interests as stated in my application; obviously my work experience led me to this even if I'm trying to go in a different direction
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  For Harris, I don't think it was great (with only 300 words, I felt like they barely knew anything about me), but I worked for basically a full month editing every day and getting feedback from family and friends on the one for Princeton. I literally wrote down the six things they said they were looking for in the application instructions and structured my SOP to answers those questions while weaving a narrative about how my career trajectory led me here. I was really proud of the result and obviously it paid off. My Heinz SOP was a pared down version of that one, so still pretty solid. It helps that I am essentially working part time this year (Fulbright ETAs are limited to 24 hours classroom time each week) so even though I decided pretty late to apply (around November 15th), I was able to put in many hours of work to perfect it.
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  I only saw two of them but they were both extremely kind and I think complimented my SOP well by helping show what I've managed to accomplish beyond teaching. I had one from my mentor from my first graduate program and two from mentors at the school where I taught.
Other: I spent a lot of time narrowing down my list of schools I wanted to apply to and I feel like it was exactly right. The only benefit of applying to more schools might have been to try to use them to negotiate funding, but I think it helped me to really focus in on the programs I was excited about and would actually want to attend. There weren't 10 programs I loved, there were only 3, and by focusing on those 3 I was able to perfect my statements and not feel guilty about the workload I was putting on my recommenders. Overall, happy with the result!

I didn't get in either but am fortunate to have some great options. Congrats to those who were accepted!!

Accepted with the "YES!" 
I'm so, so excited. Hoping everyone gets good news today! 

Accepted with the "YES!" 
I'm so, so excited. Hoping everyone gets good news today! 

Congrats to you! This is very exciting! Wahooooo!

It’s a very informal mail from their Director of admissions. And the first one came without her signature. Just got another with signature!?

Accepted with the "YES!" 
I'm so, so excited. Hoping everyone gets good news today! 

Accepted with the "YES!" 
I'm so, so excited. Hoping everyone gets good news today! 

@UrbanPolicy&Development and @anmanya, last year the first batch was the first week of March, then third week, so possibly next week for y'all?