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indecisivemf

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Posts posted by indecisivemf

  1. Currently admitted/ prospective or alumni of Evans, what has been your impression of Evans for MPA degree? The corses, career opportunities? 

    I am highly interested in policy making/analysis and I feel like Seattle is not an ideal place for that. So who reputed and prestigious is Evans name, would it help me in my job hunt? 

    Please let me know about your impression and experiences in Evans. I have to decided between GPS, Harris (15k fuding :( ) and Evans and it is increasingly getting stressful!

     

    Thank you

  2. 10 hours ago, HBLB said:

    I just went to UCSD's admitted student day for mpp. For think tank, I would most definitely choose UCSD. It has a better international reputation, and a superb asian and latin american focus. I do think that it probably has better DC connections for think tank jobs, if that is where you want to work. It probably doesnt matter as much for NGOs and I would try to find program specific data on each program to compare. I was very impressed with both the prospective students and the current students at admitted student day. Although the school itself is somewhat large (around 200 students), the mpp program is only around 65 studentsand thus you may get to know your fellow mpps very well. Especially when you consider that regional and degree specializations may only have around a dozen student in each one. The students overall, were very impressive and the majority had 2 or 3 years of relevant work experience. One of the strongest aspects of the program was the strength of your fellow mpp students academically and practically, at least from my limited mpp student day perspective. If you want the quantitative aspect of policy UCSD is tops, and they definitely ensure that you know numbers. Hope that helps!

    I have been following the ranking as well as ranking and I feel like the department in UCSD is not as well known as Evans. Evans seems not to be as reputed even though they have good faculty members and I wonder why. Also I dont know if I am interested in east asian and latin american focus. lets see

  3. What are your thoughts on the programs reputation, class cohort and alumni relationship between GPS (UC San Deigo) and Evans ( Univ of Washington) for MPP/MPA? Hoping to enter in non- proft/ thinktank

     

     

  4. 2 hours ago, justMPPgoofin said:

    I was net positive about Harris as a whole, and very positive on my particular program (CAPP)  

    Cons: Full group parts had the staff in full sales mode, which was annoying.  Ranjan Daniels, the head admissions guy, would like filibuster through questions he didn't like (debt ones, basically), which really bugged me.  The class is really large, especially for the MPP, which seems to make it harder to form relationships with professors.

    Pros:

    - The admissions staff you interacted with during the process clearly remembered you and your concerns, which was appreciated.

    - Professors clearly cared about teaching

    - Current students seemed to genuinely enjoy each other and the atmosphere of the program.  Honest about what is challenging and which challenges are rewarding or frustrating.

    - CAPP faculty panel was refreshingly honest and open.  Professors were extremely forward about what you get, trade offs you will make regarding cs knowledge or policy area expertise, etc.

    - I liked a lot of the other admitted students a lot.

    Hey, 

    So based on your impressions, have you confirmed your decision to go to harris?

  5. Hello, 

    Is anyone interested in non profit/thinktank are considering Evans? What are your thoughts on Evans? What made you decide to attend or not to attend Evans?

    I tried reaching out to Alumnis on Linkedin but I have not heard back :(. How is their alumni network? 

    I think it is very regional specific but I liked Seattle and Evans has given me solid funding.  Any alumnis, or prospectinve students what are your thoughts about it?

     

  6. Hello, 

    Is anyone interested in non profit/thinktank are considering Evans? What are your thoughts on Evans? What made you decide to attend or not to attend Evans?

    I think it is very regional specific but I liked Seattle and Evans has given me solid funding. 

    I tried reaching out to Alumnis on Linkedin but I have not heard back :(. How is their alumni network? 

  7. On 3/27/2019 at 4:37 PM, marksheppard said:

    @indecisivemf I kinda wonder how I did on my SOP, I mentioned my research interests, but it was also a bit of a personal statement as well. I hope it was well received but I'm not sure.

    MACRM would be ideal because I plan to do a PhD after, but I'm not sure if applying in the 2nd round was a good idea. 

    Good Luck!  I hope you hear good news soon

  8. 9 hours ago, ExponentialDecay said:

    Which program at Harris? From what I remember, the PhD-level classes are reserved for MACRM and that quant-heavy policy program. idk if MPPs can get into them, even if they are technically allowed to take them. 

    Regarding quantitative work, it's not only reserved for PhDs (especially the low-level stuff), but if you're definitely committed to it, I'd reconsider doing a policy degree at all. If you have a strong enough math and programming background as is, you can get a low-level policy quant job now (depending on the prestige of your undergrad, that will take more to less cold-calling, but it's totally feasible). Likewise, if you're fixated on getting another degree, I'd get a degree in stats, economics or DS. You can build a quantitative background at most policy schools right now, but the rigor is definitely geared towards humanities majors, which may work for you if you're very good at math or you're a humanities major, but if you're in between, I think you'll struggle to get a deep enough understanding to succeed in a quanty job. 

    I wouldn't take out 6 figures for a policy degree. That's an unnecessarily high debt load for almost any degree. 

    Thank you for your insights! And I Completely agree with you regarding the debt thing! 

  9. 3 minutes ago, marksheppard said:

    @indecisivemf yeah, for the MACRM program. 
    I'm not sure if I'm a competitive applicant.
    Undergrad GPA 3.6 -Legal Studies/Public Policy UC Berkeley
    Grad GPA 3.5 -Political Economics Georgetown
    GRE Q 160
    GRE V 160
    AWA 4
    Worked in public policy for like 6 years, 2 RA positions, and some other research.

    Thoughts?

    Hello, 

    I think you are an excellent candidate! Especially considering your work experience. My GRE was identical to yours and I worked on a research for 2 years as well for a professor

    I think what worked for me was that I worked really really hard on my SOP and my letter of recommendation were written by my economics professor and research advisor. Obviously I donot know what they wrote, but I am fairly confident that it was positive. So if i were you i would make sure that the essays are top notch ( i think there were 3?) and letter of recommendation is written by someone who knows you well

    Do you know when you will hear? Also, I had applied to MPP so that may be different? 

  10. On 3/26/2019 at 1:16 PM, 3dender said:

    Do you know where you want to work?  Evans is a great school, and from what I hear near the quality of Harris.  But its network is obviously strongest on the West Coast.  Harris has more going on in the East Coast.   That said, I don't think you'd find it overly challenging to get a job on the East Coast coming from Evans, it would just be easier from Harris.  Are you able to go to the open houses?  I went to Harris's and almost immediately hated the vibe of the school.  Seemed very pretentious.  And the coffee was shitty.

    Another consideration is that if you're planning on doing quant stuff at a think tank, almost all of the policy programs are going to provide the minimum of what you need to make that happen, and you'll be able to supplement whatever you need on top.  I'm at Sanford and you can do as much or as little quant as you want.  Also, for heavier quant stuff, employers are mostly looking for PhDs to handle it.  So you won't really be able to set yourself apart just by going to Harris.  If anything it's the network and name you'll be paying for, so you have to ask yourself how much that's worth to you.  Again, you will be able to get virtually anything with Evans that you get with Harris, it just may take a little more initiative.

    Regret is a personal decision.  I know people who are so indecisive that they regret literally every decision they ever make, and every decision they DON'T make on top.  It's awful.  I remember how anxious I was about choosing schools, and how nervous I was when I first got to Sanford.  The spreadsheet and everything.  In hindsight of course it was needless.  Just remind yourself that with two such excellent choices you can't really go wrong.  Best of luck!

    Hello 3dender, 

    Thank you so much for your reply! 

    I hate being in the position of making decisions but you make excellent points. I need to chill!

    It really put me in ease to think that in Evans I would still find opportunities that is available in Harris. Its just that I dont think Evans is as well known as Harris, even in gradforum discussion I dont hear much about Evans which made me very skeptical of it even  though Evans has excellent ranking. It is true that each degree is what you make of it! 

    I plan on going to admission day for Chicago. Cant make it Evans since it s on the same day.Lets see how I feel after that. I will make note of the coffee thing though ;) 

    Thank you!!!!

     

  11. 8 hours ago, ExponentialDecay said:

    Which program at Harris? From what I remember, the PhD-level classes are reserved for MACRM and that quant-heavy policy program. idk if MPPs can get into them, even if they are technically allowed to take them. 

    Regarding quantitative work, it's not only reserved for PhDs (especially the low-level stuff), but if you're definitely committed to it, I'd reconsider doing a policy degree at all. If you have a strong enough math and programming background as is, you can get a low-level policy quant job now (depending on the prestige of your undergrad, that will take more to less cold-calling, but it's totally feasible). Likewise, if you're fixated on getting another degree, I'd get a degree in stats, economics or DS. You can build a quantitative background at most policy schools right now, but the rigor is definitely geared towards humanities majors, which may work for you if you're very good at math or you're a humanities major, but if you're in between, I think you'll struggle to get a deep enough understanding to succeed in a quanty job. 

    I wouldn't take out 6 figures for a policy degree. That's an unnecessarily high debt load for almost any degree. 

    I got into MPP. I want to concentrate on developing quant skills to work in think tank so i may not need the intensity level of a PHD level but would like to develop marketable skills as well. I am an international student, struggled almost a year to look for research assistant position and I figured more intense classes and networking options might help. Besides I do like studying. 

    I agree with your point regarding economics. That was my undergraduate major and I love it@ !But most of the schools that I looked into had economics for PHD which I dont feel ready for. So Lets see how it works out

  12. Hello Everyone, 

    Accepted to: 

    Harris (MPP) Scholarship 15k :(

    Evans (MPA) some fellowship 

    UCSD GPS was not considering it until it gave me full scholarship

    Maxwell, Boston (MAEP), GW: no aid

    Leaning towards: Harris. for its reputation, courses and faculty members. I  want to work in the quant side of policy analysis which Harris is known for. But I will have to take loan to afford it and it is a VERY expensive school 

    Evans: I plan to concentrate on policy analysis for MPA so I can study courses I am interested in without breaking the bank 

    I have never been to chicago and liked Seattle. Hoping to work for a think tank!  

    What are your suggestions? As a first generation college student having to take all these decisions by myself is very overwhelming. I am always afraid that I will regret the decision of choosing one over the other. 

    Thank you! 

     

  13. Got accepted to Syracuse (MAIR), UCSD (MPP) and Evans (MPA). 

    Waiting: Harris (MPP), BU (Masters in Economic Policy), Syracuse (Econ)  and Elliott

    Highly interested in public policy analysis and applied approach to policy making.  I am an intl student ideally hoping to work for a think tank

    Any suggestions? Recommendations? I am excited to hear about your experiences and thought process. 

    Thank you! 

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