Dee Dee

Any first generation/low income students out there? I'm first generation and low income as well. My family is just extraordinarily proud I completed one degree and working on another. Frankly, once I got in my program I knew I'd made a bad decision but since I'm funded and it's only 36 hours, I'm going to finish it (though I'm pursuing law school after, which in hindsight I should've done first. Ah well). Do you feel like you face extra hurdles? Yes, in the sense that I have no immediate family to share the experience with. While they empathize, they don't completely understand and I don't blame them. Also, as a MPP Social Policy student, I've struggled with relatability to faculty and some students. I know that my views on certain policy issues is colored by my experience and upbringing, something that others don't always understand. But it is those experiences that drove me to Social Policy in the first place. I also feel like, I'm in a constant state of trial and error academically and since I don't have a model to work from, I am the model. Mostly, do you feel that it will be difficult for you to connect with other students in your cohort or even with faculty? It has been difficult, I'm one of a handful of Social Policy students and the courses for social policy from my department number in the low single digits. Essentially, with the exception of two course, all of my social policy courses are in other disciplines. So I have no real cohort to experience grad school with. However, I've taken solace in having an undergrad cohort that is now in grad school as well so it works.

Congratulations on all acceptances to date and those to come! Make the best of your experience in grad school -- it goes by relatively quickly!

Hi OP: I can only speak for the bolded, Georgia State. I graduated from there with my BA in African American Studies and was recently (read: found out yesterday) admitted to the MPP program here at GSU (as a new graduate, though I've held corporate jobs all through college). I had a profile similar to yours (GPA, GRE). What's important to note about GSU is that they STRONGLY consider your last 60 hours UGPA so if you're showing an upward trend that puts you in the 3.0 range (like I did) then your chances are more solid. Your leadership in running a business will be a very strong note (regardless to it being a family business). Of all the recommendations that you get, please be sure absolutely sure to get one from a professor who you've done research under. I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly helpful that will be. A strong statement of purpose that spotlights you as an individual will also take you a long way. Apply as early as you can. As for funding, you may not get it directly through the department but there are many opportunities around GSU's sprawling campus to get GRA funding. I hope this helps. Good luck!