punpun

Thank you so much for that. You're really great at pointing things up, and you're very right. Right now, I'm just aiming at brand names and top academic experiences because that's what my parents wanted me to do. Perhaps getting a job could improve my knowledge and broaden my horizon. Again, thank you so much for helping me shape my future. I'm wishing all the good things to you!

Hey, GradSchoolGrad! Thank you so much for your information and the tremendous assistance you have given me on my thread! It really helped me to prepare what I want to do in the future, so thanks a lot! I do have a few questions to ask, though. Since my graduation date is December 2020 and most of the schools that I'm aiming for have passed the deadline for applications, I've decided to work first and apply by 2021. I've just been accepted as a risk management officer by a regional intergovernmental organization in my country and will begin in January 2021. Let's say, if I'm aiming for HKS, SIPA, Goldman, and Harris (MPP) by 2021, do I have a chance at one of these schools? In terms of resume, I actually had two working experiences in Japan, where I worked as a student intern in private companies. Should I include that if I want to take MPP, given that they really put the emphasis on public services? In terms of resume, since I have one year of experience studying abroad at NUS and Osaka University (one semester respectively), should I include both of these in my resume? I think it might be a good idea to include NUS since I took five economic subjects during my exchange (it was pure economics, though, and had nothing to do with mathematics/statistics, but I suppose, it might be a good idea to represent my quantitative scores). I'm not sure about Osaka University since I was affiliated to the School of Law and took only law subjects, but is it still a good idea to include it in my resume? What do you think? Particularly considering my GPA, GRE/TOEFL iBT scores, Q2/Q3 journal publications, previous work internships and prospective work experience, what should I do to improve my candidacy at one of these schools? How important are publications to them, especially from undergraduate students? And if I take the job offer to work as a risk management officer in a regional intergovernmental organization, will my candidacy be enhanced? I know there seem to be a lot of questions, but I would really appreciate it if you could help me! Thank you so much for that!!!

Thank you so much for all of your responses and great advices! I'm going to try to tell you my current circumstances so maybe you can help me figure things out! I have no intention of staying in the United States via OPT or any other means since I have secured an Indonesian scholarship that requires me to go back to my country as soon as I finish my Master's degree. Also, the reason why I want to pursue a degree from the United States is that I believe there are much better mental health services in the United States than any other country, or at least in contrast to my country. I have severe depression and I take medication every day to get my life together, and the only reason I've managed to get my current GRE and TOEFL iBT score is that I'm in a good shape from taking my medication. I need to have access to mental health services, and I believe that the United States is the place for that. I know that Europe is also great for its mental health services, but my medicines are a little less popular and not widely available. It's something that is of concern to me, and why I decided to choose the United States to continue my studies. While my current goal is to be a lecturer in my home country, I'm also open to public sector careers. I might have to do away with the JD program since it only teaches American legislation, which is not as applicable in Indonesia, but I'm still fixed on the MPP program. My reason for a career in the public sector: As a minority (fourth generation migrant) in Indonesia, I want to create a better bureaucratic system where minorities are not discriminated against in the public labor market system and can participate equally in its political system. My reason for a career as a lecturer: As a privileged individual, I want to take advantage of my privilege for a better cause by participating in open knowledge and open education resources. With these two means, I want to improve literacy in Indonesia, and I believe that my career as a lecturer at my university can achieve this goal. Which are your advices for me after hearing this? Would love to know! Thank you so much!

I'm new to this forum, so if this isn't the right page to post this thread, please tell me! Mostly, I'm looking for your help and advice, so anything will be appreciated! Type of student: Asian (Indonesian), female Undergraduate school: Top 3 National University in Indonesia. I studied abroad for one semester at the National University of Singapore and Osaka University, which is why I'm going to graduate a year late compared to my peers. Major: Public Administration (Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration); Thesis on Decentralization and COVID-19; I will graduate in late December GPA: 3.8/4.0 GRE: 338 (170 in Verbal, 168 in Quantitative) TOEFL iBT: 118/120 Language skills: Proficient in English, Chinese (Simplified, HSK 4), Japanese (N3), Beginner in Korean Quantitative courses: Introduction to Statistics (A), Economic System of Indonesia (A), Economic Development (AB), Public Sector Economics (AB) Publications: For one year, I worked as a research assistant in my academic department, and I published five papers in peer-reviewed journals (Q2 and Q3) with my name as the second to third author. I conveyed the ideas and authored all of these full papers under the supervision of my professor (who is the first author because I worked under her and she was the one that reviewed my works before the submission). My research focus has been consistent on governance/government, public policy, women's public service leadership, e-government and women's leadership, as well as innovations in the public sector. Work experience: I don't have any professional work experience, but I have a few internships in the public sector and in a research institution. My internships in the public sector vary from two to three months in the offices of the Supreme Court, the ASEAN Foundation, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of State Secretariat. I have only one internship experience at a research institution called the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Tentative school: HKS MPP/HLS JD Goal: I'm still confused about my future, which means I'm not sure which graduate school I'm supposed to take. I want to be a university lecturer, and I'm really interested in public policy and/or administrative law. I really want to apply to HKS MPP because it really matches my undergraduate studies and my subject of interest, but the school needs two to three full careers and strong quantitative courses (which is why I'm not sure because I lack in these two aspects). I'd like to continue my studies straight out of college because that's what my parents are asking me to do. On the other hand, I consider HLS JD because I'm interested in administrative law, but I'm not sure about my candidacy since I only have three law subjects in my academic transcript. I especially don't want to practice law (as in becoming a lawyer), so I'm also not sure if JD is the right path if I want to be a lecturer. My goal, at the end of the day, is to be either public policy or administrative law lecturer in my home country. That's why, since my aim is Harvard, based on my current profile, do you think I have a chance to go to Harvard? What is your advice for me? Should I be open to other schools in the US (I'm not so familiar with that but I'm very open to know)? Thank you so much!

Type of student: Asian (Indonesian), female Undergraduate school: Top 3 National University in Indonesia. I studied abroad for one semester at the National University of Singapore and Osaka University, which is why I'm going to graduate a year late compared to my peers. Major: Public Administration (Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration); Thesis on Decentralization and COVID-19 GPA: 3.8/4.0 GRE: 338 (170 in Verbal, 168 in Quantitative) TOEFL iBT: 118/120 Language skills: Proficient in English, Chinese (Simplified, HSK 4), Japanese (N3), Beginning in Korean Quantitative courses: Introduction to Statistics (A), Economic System of Indonesia (A), Economic Development (AB), Public Sector Economics (AB) Publications: For one year, I worked as a research assistant in my academic department, and I published five papers in peer-reviewed journals (Q2 and Q3) with my name as the second to third author. I conveyed the ideas and authored all of these full papers under the supervision of my professor (who is the first author because I worked under her and she was the one that reviewed my works before the submission). My research focus has been consistent on governance/government , public policy, women's public service leadership, e-government and women's leadership, as well as innovations in the public sector. Work experience: I don't have any professional work experience, but I have a few internships in the public sector and in a research institution. My internships in the public sector vary from two to three months in the offices of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, the ASEAN Foundation, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of State Secretariat. I have only one internship experience at a research institution called the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Tentative school: HKS MPP/HLS JD Goal: I'm still confused about my future, which means I'm not sure which graduate school I'm supposed to take. I want to be a university lecturer, and I'm really interested in public policy and administrative law. I really want to apply to HKS MPP because it really matches my undergraduate studies and my subject of interest, but the school needs two to three full careers. I'm not confident about that, and I've been really confused about whether or not to take a chance at HKS MPP. I'd like to continue my studies straight out of college because that's what my parents are asking me to do. I consider HLS JD because I'm interested in administrative law, but I'm not sure about my candidacy and I especially don't want to practice law (as in becoming a lawyer). I want to be either public policy or administrative law lecturer in my home country. Since my aim is Harvard, based on my current profile, do you think I have a chance to go to Harvard? What is your advice for me? Should I be open to other schools (I'm not so familiar with that but I'm definitely open to know). Thank you so much!