bac

This feels like therapy. Here goes (and I'll edit as they keep coming in): Program Applied To: (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.) MPP; MPAff. Schools Applied To: Harvard (Kennedy, MPP); UC Berkeley (Goldman, MPP); USC (Price, MPP); UT-Austin (LBJ, MPAff); UCLA (Luskin, MPP); George Washington (Trachtenberg, MPP); The New School (Milano, MPP). Schools Admitted To: USC (with half-tuition); UT-Austin. Schools Rejected From: None yet. Still Waiting: Harvard (Kennedy, MPP); UC Berkeley (Goldman, MPP); UCLA (Luskin, MPP); George Washington (Trachtenberg, MPP); The New School (Milano, MPP). Undergraduate institution: The New School. Undergraduate GPA: 3.96 Undergraduate Major: Liberal Arts. GRE Quantitative Score: 148 GRE Verbal Score: 161 GRE AW Score: 4.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): None, I graduate in May. Years of Work Experience: 10 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Worked in state and federal politics and government in Australia from 2006-2013; worked in U.S. union movement 2015-2017. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong, I feel this and my LORs really anchored my applications. Good personal narrative regarding my difficult upbringing which I was able to link to the work I've done professionally and my future policy ambitions. I think being able to articulate how the school your applying to is the missing link in the chain between what you've done and what you want to do is the #1 goal of a SOP, and was my top priority. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Very strong. Current Australian member of the House of Representatives and former Attorney-General who I worked closely for as an aide for a few years; two professors who I got As with in graduate level classes when I returned to finish my undergrad. Other: I'm probably not a traditional applicant, which has its advantages and disadvantages. I did poorly when I first went to university back in Australia (Journalism, RMIT) in the mid-2000s, but had a successful career and have crushed my studies since going back to finish my undergrad - mostly doing grad level classes.

Yeah, I went in for those two as well. I have a feeling they're the two most competitive. I applied to six schools, and HKS and Goldman are my two dream options. I've been offered both LBJ and USC Price, which were my goal options, and I have GWU and Luskin in the mix too. I think my application is strong because of my GPA, work experience, personal narrative and recommendations, but I have a feeling my GRE results are going to be a bridge too far for both Harvard and UC Berkeley - particular my mediocre quant score. But we'll see!

Hola, I just got an acceptance from USC Price for the MPP program yesterday (with a half-ride), and while I had a higher GPA, I had lower quant and AW GRE scores. If the rest of your application is strong, you'll be as good a shot as anyone. Good luck!