jp47

Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Top 10 Liberal Arts Previous Degrees and GPA's: Public Policy Analysis, 3.7 GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 700/610/5 Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): 0 years, but internships all through undergrad Math/Econ Background: Intro macro and micro, intro stats Foreign Language Background: Fluent in Spanish, studied abroad in South America Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Education policy or non-profit management Long Term Professional Goals: Work in government or non-profit sector Schools Applied to & Results: Berkeley GSPP- rejected, UCLA- accepted, $1,000 scholarship, USC SPPD-accepted, half tuition Ultimate Decision & Why: USC SPPD-only about $5,000 more than UCLA per year and seems like the much better program. Any advice to Future Applicants? Don't underestimate yourself. I applied to only three schools kind of on a whim and at the last minute and thought I'd be rejected everywhere because of my limited quant background and the fact that I'm right out of undergrad. I almost didn't even put myself in the running for USC funding but ended up with 40 grand.

This is exactly what I'm wondering. I haven't heard from UCLA yet (in Socal) and since it's spring break my school's mail room won't be open until the 21st. UGH. I got a half tuition scholarship to USC and it seems to me like th program is better. I was hoping to go look at apartments around USC over spring break, but don't want to waste my time. Am I right in assuming that USC is better unless UCLA for some reason gives me like 10k?

Thanks for the advice! I called them and they didn't care at all. Silly me...

I only applied to three grad schools in for Public Policy (UC Berkeley, USC, and UCLA). Before hearing back from any of them I interviewed for and accepted a job with political organization (like PIRG, but not exactly) where I would make literally less than hourly minimum wage and be under constant stress. At the time, it seemed like a great way to challenge myself and develop new skills, but now the option of going to USC instead seems much less terrifying than being a grownup (I'm graduating in May). It is even less attractive since USC gave me 20 grand a year, which is almost my salary that I'd be making. Has anyone ever backed out on a job offer? I haven't signed a contract or anything, just verbally committed but I don't want to burn any bridges in the same field that I hope to work in (political management). How do I tell them that I want to back out? Or do you think it would be good to get a few years of work under my belt?

Program Applied To MPP Schools Applied To: UC Berkeley, USC SPPD, UCLA Schools Admitted To: SPPD (with half tuition scholarship!! blew my mind) Schools Rejected From: none yet Still Waiting: UCLA, UC Berkeley Undergraduate institution: Top 10 liberal arts Undergraduate GPA: 3.74 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.8 Undergraduate Major: Public Policy Analysis/Politics GRE Quantitative Score: 630 (52nd percentile) GRE Verbal Score: 700 (97% percentile) disproportionate, I know... GRE AW Score: 5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0 Years of Work Experience: Internship experience every semester of undergrad. Describe Relevant Work Experience: I've been working with an elected member of the LAUSD school board for the past 6 months and have experience in tutoring and fundraising. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): My SOP for Berkeley was a piece of s*** because I had to turn it in first and of course waited until the last minute. The other two were more polished and were looked over by a career advisor at my school's career development office. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): One was very good, specific and written by a professor who loves me. One was very good but written by a professor that does not have his shit together. Third was written by my internship supervisor who does not know me that well but hopefully was able to think of concrete examples of the work I did for the office. Other: I'm not very good at math (very rusty after having taken only one class since junior year of high school.) I'm hoping my low GRE score in math will be made up for by my solid A average in my econ and stats classes.