Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): Berkeley MPP, UChicago MSCAPP, Heinz MSPPM-DA, HKS MPP, Princeton MPA, Georgetown MPP, Duke MPPSchools Admitted To: Berkeley MPP (15k first year, 10k second year), UChicago MSCAPP (15k/year), Heinz MSPPM-DA(40k/year), HKS MPP(0), Georgetown MPP (27k/year), Duke MPP (37k/year +4k RAship)Schools Rejected From:Still Waiting: Princeton MPA (waitlisted)Undergraduate Institution: Top 25 private institutionUndergraduate GPA: 3.7Undergraduate Major: Political Science, Economics GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: 170/164/5Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3.5 at time of applicationYears of Work Experience: 1 fellowship + 2.5 years work experience + relevant internships throughout collegeDescribe Relevant Work Experience: academic research center
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think they were solid. Started in September and probably overdid it with the rounds of edits. I have one "template" SOP and was able to adapt it for most of the schools.Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Strong. Read two of them--one from my current manager and one from my old boss. Didn't have a chance to read my old professor's LOR, but I'm assuming it was solid.
I will probably end up attending Heinz unless I miraculously get off the Princeton waitlist or Chicago comes back w/ more money.
General advice: As others have said on this forum, start early! Reach out to ppl in your network who have gone through the MPP/MPA process. I was lucky to have a number of ppl at my org w/ MPPs and their perspectives rly helped inform the way I approached the process. Feel free to DM me if you have questions.