Made an account just to contribute to this thread, since the previous years' were so helpful to me.
Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP, MPA Schools Applied To: USC Price MPP, UT LBJ MPAff, Duke Sanford MPP, UMichigan Ford MPP, Princeton SPIA MPA Schools Admitted To: USC ($$$$), UT ($$$$ + stipend), Duke ($$$$), UMichigan ($$$$ + stipend) Schools Waitlisted At: Princeton Schools Rejected From: N/A Undergraduate Institution: Top 20 university in the US Undergraduate GPA: 3.8 Undergraduate Major: Sociology GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: 170 Q, 166 V, 5.0 AW Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2 Years of Work Experience: 2 years of full time work experience, several related internships throughout college Describe Relevant Work Experience: A fairly unique case management position in direct services Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I would say. One of my mentors has served on admissions committees and worked as a paid admissions consultant (albeit for law school) and he read through my written materials. I had a very consistent narrative about my personal and professional experience, as well as specific plans for a career in public service. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Didn't read them, but I imagine they were very strong. My academic recommendation came from a professor with whom I took 5 classes and worked as a TA/RA throughout college. My two professional recommendations were from senior-level supervisors who know me quite well. Other: Unless Princeton comes through, I'll be committing to Ford. Super excited to be graduating completely debt-free.
