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Hey all, I'm applying to MPP/MPAff programs this Fall for FL22 enrollment. I'm wanting to get further into education policy formulation research (K-12 & post-secondary). Schools Applying To: UT Austin MPAff, UMich MPP, Duke MPP, Georgetown MPP, GWU MPP, UChicago MPP Undergraduate institution: Top regional state school, liberal arts Undergraduate GPA: 3.84 (Departmental Honors, Honors Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa) Undergraduate Majors: Political Science & International Relations GRE Quantitative Score: 164 (81st percentile) GRE Verbal Score: 163 (92nd percentile) GRE AW Score: 5.5 (98th percentile) Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 currently, 2 by FL22 enrollment Years of Work Experience: 4 currently, 5 by FL22 enrollment Describe Relevant Work Experience: 3 years in higher education administration during undergrad (not sure if 20hrs/wk during undergrad would count toward total work experience?), 1 year (2 years by enrollment) of full-time work in higher education administration (education-related) at R1 private university, summer internship at education policy nonprofit in DC, 5 month legislative internship at state House of Representatives with policy exposure, summer internship canvassing locally Quant: Calc I & II (As), Linear Regression/Time Series (A), Microeconomics (AP), Macroeconomics (AP), Matrix Algebra (A), methodology courses in SPSS (A), conducted 3 education policy-related research projects in SPSS (one presented at conference, none published), enrolled in Python & GIS courses this upcoming semester Strength of SOP: I am hoping to evaluate and research education policy formulation at both the K-12 and post-secondary level. Going to explain my passion for public policy by tying in my family's financial ruin as a result of public policy failure, having to support myself financially, and my experience as a first-generation college student. Additionally, I'm going to tie in my experiences in higher education administration, education policy research (not published, but have conducted over 12 education-related research projects quantitative & qualitative) and legislative policy exposure at the state-level and federal-level. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): 2 very strong (professor/department chair & former supervisor), 1 strong (professor/advisor) Languages: English (native), Spanish (minor) Questions/Concerns: Are these good school choices? Would anyone recommend applying to any other programs? What are my odds at receiving funding from these programs? Hard to gauge I know. I'm looking to get at least some level funding as I'm broke af, but would be willing to go into some debt for a school with a good reputation. What are some ways I could hone in my application to make it more competitive or stand out more? I was considering HKS but stopped since I don't really have many years out of undergrad and I'm unsure how that'll impact my application? Stopped considering UC Berkeley for this same reason. Planning on keeping my applications limited to 6? This a good call? Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you!