legs

Woohoo! Just got my acceptance packets in the mail here in NYC! I'm in for the MPP program, and there was a letter saying they're giving me a partial scholarship! Super excited -- there were 2 separate big packets, 1 from SPPD and one from the general Grad School. The "Welcome to USC" on the envelope was the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time.

Whew, just got my acceptance email this morning too! I was beginning to get a really bad feeling because so many people had heard that applied after I did! My email was the same as the above, and also mentioned that the open house dates for admitted students will be April 1st and April 8th. It also said they will be having events in other cities. Good luck to everyone, and hang in there!

To all you lucky people that have heard from GPPI, can I ask when you submitted your applications? Thanks!

Perfect, thanks! So absurd they don't list it. How was that workshop, by the way?

Is anyone else applying for an MPP at UCLA? Maybe I'm being blind, but I have scoured the UCLA MPP website, as well as the General Grad Application, and I can't find instructions for how long they want the Statement of Purpose to be. I found the website from last year, and it says 3 double-spaced pages, but I've afraid to go by last year's instructions. I tried to call but they're out of the office until January 3rd. If anyone has any help, it would be much appreciated.

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP and MPAffairs Schools Applied To: Berkeley GSPP, HKS, WWS, USC SPPD, Texas LBJ, UCLA, Michigan Ford, Georgetown Schools Admitted To: None yet Schools Rejected From: None yet Still Waiting: Very much so Undergraduate institution: Ivy Undergraduate GPA: 3.3 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Little lower Undergraduate Major: Econ & History GRE Quantitative Score: 720 GRE Verbal Score: 670 GRE AW Score: 4.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 4.5 Years of Work Experience: 4.5 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I work on Wall Street -- it's a very quantitative, analytical, and highly demanding job, but clearly not policy. I'm looking to make a career change, so we'll see how they view my experience. My volunteer work is public service related in the social/poverty related area I want to focus on. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think I describe why I want to change careers well and why I want to study policy. Probably a little light on the exact area within domestic social/poverty policy I want to focus on (still figuring that out). Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): No academic references, which could really hurt me, but the 3 I have know me well and are all very flattering, in that they describe me as a go-getter who has made a big impact. 2 are previous bosses from work, one is from the charity I volunteer with. We'll see...