Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPA
Schools Applied To: Texas
Schools Admitted To:
Schools Rejected From:
Still Waiting:
Undergraduate institution: Texas
Undergraduate GPA: 3.73
Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Not sure but something similar.
Undergraduate Major: Theatre & Dance (I know, I know), Business Minor
GRE Quantitative Score: 750 (159)
GRE Verbal Score: 650 (163)
GRE AW Score: 4.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2
Years of Work Experience: 2-ish total
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Spent last full year of undergrad working practically full-time with a nonprofit devoted to cancer research. Then took a job in professional theatre management for a while, now doing an Americorps VISTA year with a literacy nonprofit. The concentration I'm interested in is nonprofit management.
Languages: French (intermediate), Norwegian (basic), Spanish (basic)
Quant: No background, pretty much. Had a business minor but only had to take microeconomics and management information systems as it relates to quant. Tested out of math in college for my degree. Will have to enroll in stats & calc at a community college before fall 2012 if UT admits me. That said, I'm good at math, just out of practice.
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I feel like my SOP was a 4 out of 5. I talked (very clearly, I thought) about my nontraditional background and my experience in nonprofits up to this point. I also relayed my goals really clearly and connected it to why UT.
Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): 2 academic, 1 professional-ish. I had my college faculty advisor right one which I am sure is laudatory. Then I got one from the executive director of the nonprofit I worked for in college (that one should also be really good). The last one is from a college professor who taught me in a writing course but it's been a few years out so I hope she was able to make a good go of it. She and I always got along well so I think it will be fine.
Other: I am only applying to UT for a vast number of reasons. I'd considered Korbel a few times, and even UW, but what it ultimately came down to was how well the program fit what I needed/wanted out of a graduate education. And I'm okay with not getting in. If I have to apply again, it won't kill me. Of course, I hope I get in. Not sure what my chances are though really. Seems like a crap shoot to me, as I think some people might take one look at my undergrad major and balk outright.
