dman1

I have a BA in philosophy and am finishing an MPP (master's in public policy) at the University of Chicago. I just got into Chicago's MS in statistics program. At the time I applied, I had a total of six math/stats courses courses on my transcript (Calc. II, multivariable calculus, intro to real analysis, mathematical statistics I, econometrics, and longitudinal data analysis). If you take the courses you listed above and do well on the GRE, you should be fine.

I was at the Open House and was similarly unimpressed with the career services presentation (every other aspect of the Open House was top notch). That said, you can watch the 2010 presentation (from a different woman who seems more knowledgable) online (http://harrisschool.uchicago.edu/students/new-students/onthemapp.asp). The 2010 presentation provides some useful stats that were missing from this year's presentation. For example, apparently Chicago had a 62% employement rate at graduation in 2009. This is similar to Georgetown (the other school I am currently considering), which had a 68% employement rate two months after graduation.

I heard back a few hours ago (around 12:00 pm EST)--got in, but without any funding. Best of luck to all!

You know, she didn't specify the time zone. Maybe she meant 7pm Hawaiian time, or Samoan time, or Martian time...

Yes, my email said the same thing. I haven't heard back either.

nope

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/milo-beckman-new-york-tee_n_779722.html I'm sure the same holds for the GRE AWA. If you write more, you get a higher score. I'm currently teaching a GMAT prep course and the sample 6 essay spends two full paragraphs making a point that could easily be expressed in one sentence. The key is to never just make a point. You have to make a point, give a CONCRETE example to illustrate the point, and then provide a short remark about the example. It is the height of stupidity to think that a person's analytical writing ability is reflected in the strength of a 5 paragraph essay written in 45 minutes in response to a question so vague as to be virtually meaningless. But alas... For the record, I took the GRE twice. The first time (5 years ago) I got a 720V and a 4.5AWA. I took it again last November and got a 690V and a 5.0 AWA.

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP/MPA Schools Applied To: GPPI, Heinz, UCLA, Duke Sanford, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford Schools Admitted To: GPPI Schools Rejected From: None yet Still Waiting: Heinz, UCLA, Duke, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford Undergraduate institution: Top 15 private university Undergraduate GPA: 3.83 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.9 Undergraduate Major: Philosophy GRE Quantitative Score: 780 GRE Verbal Score: 690 GRE AW Score: 5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5 Years of Work Experience: 2-3 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I spent most of the last five years in a philosophy Ph.D program (from which I eventually withdrew), so most of my work experience is in the classroom and most of it is not policy-related, though I have taught an ethics course and assisted a political philosophy course. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. I don't have a lot of great work experience so I tried to connect my background in political philosophy to my interest in public policy. I struggled with my SOP a lot, but in the end I realized that you can't invent a bunch of great work experiences you don't have, so it's better to just be honest and do the best with what you've got. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have no idea. My letter writers were all philosophy professors and none of them have any clout in the policy world. Other:

I submitted my application on 1/6/11 and heard back on 2/8/11.