TheaKronborg

I've added the MIT Technology & Policy Program (TPP) to this list because I thought funding information was pretty opaque. The program is fully funded and provides a stipend via your research assistantship between $31,500-$40,250 per year. While you are still responsible for landing your RA position, no one in the program goes without.

Longtime lurker -- hoping to help others out! And many thanks to everyone who's been sharing throughout the season. Program Applied To: Various (see below) Schools Applied To: MIT (TPP), Harvard HKS (MPP), Princeton WWS (MPA), Columbia SIPA (MPA), Carnegie Mellon Heinz (MSPPM), Cambridge Judge (MPhil Technology Policy), Berkeley Goldman (ERG and MPP), University College London (MSc EPEE), Duke Sanford (MPP) Schools Admitted To: MIT ($$$), HKS (0), SIPA (Early $$), Sanford ($$), Heinz ($$), UCL (?)Schools Waitlisted At: WWSSchools Rejected From: Berkeley, Cambridge Undergraduate institution: Top 5 Public University Undergraduate GPA: 3.69 Last 60 hours GPA: 3.75 Undergraduate Major: Public Policy (Focus in Energy) GRE Quantitative Score: 158 GRE Verbal Score: 164 GRE AW Score: 5.5 Years Out of Undergrad: 3 Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years boutique consulting, 1 year large consulting, 2 internships, 1 research assistantship, various other temporary positions. Considerable experience in the energy sector with public reports, presentations and work with diverse stakeholders. Extensive leadership/management experience and several student awards. Strength of SOP: Focused on my relevant work experience, customized undergraduate curriculum and specific areas of interest in long-term electricity system planning. I started writing in August and think they may have lost some zing around mid-November. Nonetheless, if the committees were looking for a specific focus and skillset, that’s what I sought to demonstrate. I think my personal history/diversity statements were probably the weakest part of my application – I should have started those first and given myself time to be more thoughtful. Strength of LOR's: Good. One professor who has been a mentor since freshman year of undergrad, two supervisors from my current and previous jobs. Gave them detailed information on each program and my research interests at each in September along with a couple of phone calls/meet ups each. I found references to be the scariest part of the process, even with people excited to support me. Other: I am thrilled and overwhelmed by these results. Cambridge was a hard rejection after a phenomenal interview, but I’m feeling extremely lucky to have the options at hand. I think my resume was my strongest suit. I’ve been pursuing a specific path in electricity policy for around 8 years and the diversity of organizations I’ve worked for/perspectives I’ve gained shows up clearly. I was worried about my quant score and focused on highlighting all of the economic project work I’ve done since undergrad. Tentative Choice: MIT TPP. I want to be in Boston and attend a program with a strong technical focus to supplement my policy undergrad. If I'd gotten money from HKS, this decision would be harder, but MIT is fully funded plus a stipend and there's no beating that. Nonetheless, I'll explore SIPA, Duke, and Sanford to make sure I'm not missing out.