HumbleBee

Believe when I say the admissions people can see beyond one typo... Given how neurotic you are about this, you sound perfect for all the school's you've applied to.

PPP - private public partnerships as it relates to infrastructure. To work in development bank, you need to go to a school that has 1.) strong reputation (For example, if you wanted to work at the world bank in Jakarta, going to Harvard anecdotally puts you at the top of the CV pile) 2.) alumni network in that field/organization. The front door is for suckers. All the resumes that get submitted online basically goes into a giant black hole. To work for a development bank is all about networking, perhaps even moreso than the private sector. You dont necessarily need a phd, but for some strange reason, they seem to prefer one. Notwithstanding networking > phd.

Can only speak for HKS (may apply to other schools?) Private sector jobs in consulting are easiest to get. McKinsey basically interviews everyone who applies. BCG also a fair few. However, only 2-5 students actually score a role with these firms every year and they usually have come from either i-banking or consulting (with smaller firms). Banking - you have to network like hell to get an interview. Otherwise the only banks that will take you are the NGOs i.e. World bank, ABD Businesses - ??? No idea. Generally, you would be working in the government relations arm. Your background is your largest disadvantage (liberal arts and now paralegal). A grad degree wont necessarily make you anymore attractive to the private sector. Your key to success is focus and networking like crazy.

HKS and HBS dont talk to each other unless you identify as a joint applicant.

You sound like a world bank/asian development bank/european reconstruction bank (basically any development bank) guy To get these sorts of jobs, you generally have to focus on a particular area. For example "social equality/wealth distribution" is too broad because as you figured this is an outcome, a function of several preceding policies/areas like education, taxation and redistribution, access to infrastructure, etc No one wants to hire a generalist in the public policy field (except maybe the consulting firms initially). Given you finance background, you may want to focus on infrastructure finance/PPPs. That's what these development banks do a lot of and consulting firms as well. Finally I don't really want to burst your bubble about the public sector. "Success is mostly predicated on soft-skills and selling ideas rather than intellectual analysis and foresight" - what do you think politics is and what do you think success in the development space is predicated on? I came from a strategy consulting background and like you wanted to change to do good. I've pretty much concluded that at the end of the day, brilliant analysis counts for very little (that's why you get the analyst to do it). It's about convincing other people to your point of view at the end of the day, which may not even be the best way forward...

Anecdotally, the MPA/ID program is the hardest program to get into at HKS. It should be worth noting employers also know this so they usually have far better employment prospects...

It's not great at HKS either but the network is unbeatable. Part of the reason why careers service aren't great at all the public policy schools is the nature of public policy jobs/employers. It's so diverse. With MBAs it's usually just consulting or banking or a handful of MNCs. And they all come to you because they are sold on the value of a MBA. The value of a MPP/MPA is not on par with the perceived value of a MBA so employers don't come to you. That and the competition pool is much larger - say you're going for a position at the UN, you're up against lawyers, people from undergrad, Phds etc Bottom line, don't be lazy. If you're smart and motivated enough to apply for grad school (and get in), you're smart and motivated enough to network to get a job. I am sure SAIS has just a great a network. If all else fails, MBAs usually have an outstanding careers service so just use that.

I dont think you can pull that story off unless you have been doing something part time in education or had a life event that sparked an interest in education. You are coming off as kind of 'desperate'. Stick with the energy angle and make up some story about how you want to change the energy field through policy bla bla bla. No one cares about your essays or looks over your should to make sure you're doing what you're suppose to be doing when you get in. The whole essay/personal statement thing is bs...it's just a game so just play it

If you have the time and energy, just apply and see what happens. It's not like you are disadvantaged from reapplying later on. Europeans have a slight advantage in the MPP program as you're under represented. You do seem kind of young. 'Most' (all the ones I know) of the 23 years old (i.e. people straight from undergraduate) are American and already had jobs lined up before coming in i.e. State Department or Military people (note i'm not counting the foreign VIPs that get in at 23). Political Economics is broad enough to fall under either of those PACs. The PAC doesn't really matter at the end of the day. What does is if the HKS network (including MIT Sloan, HBS, all the harvard grad schools and the yard) can offer you the training you need Remember LoRs are more about content than who it is from. Sufficient is whatever everyone else got on GRE? (have no idea...didnt do the GRE and the format has since changed).

I don't think people who want to go into Public Service really care about return on investment. The people that come to KSG I would have thought are hear for the greater good; they want to learn how to do more good i.e. better in a bigger way. Otherwise why would they bother incurring such a large debt? Because the pay off is the intangible of affecting the world more profoundly. I give up my weekends doing pro-bono consulting because I want the charities who I work with to succeed - be they the Asylum Seeker Center, or the advocacy group for Women's rights. I started my own Charity in the Phillipines, because I wanted to give hope to those who have no opportunities. Personally for me it's about bettering the world for those around me - when sit I down and reflect on what I'm most proud of in life, what is significant, it's not the 140k debt from HKS, it's the lives I have changed. That I would be bold enough to say is why most us come to HKS. It is not a question of what's in it for me, but fundamentally a question of what can I do, and how can I do it better? And i think that's the point you miss about all this. If we wanted to make money, if it were about dollars and cents - then yes, we'd all go and get a MBA. Edit: For spelling.

I checked the MPA2 box but got MPP offer instead...

My Stats Origin: Under represented South East Asian Country (I will have a hard time getting scholarship) GPA: 1st Class Honours Masters in Commerce GMAT: 740 WE 4.5 years Strategy Consulting EC: Started own Social Enterprise in Asia, Pro-bono consulting for small-medium charities in Australia (both in my own time on top of working 60+ hours a week) Want an MPP to learn about the higher order policy and strategy associated with social sector - everything I've done is very grass roots and learning as I go.

I'm international. Sparks doesn't look like it has been updated even though it says the admit info is on there...

Just received my admit email from the land down under G'Day and Good Morning!