HDPFDan

greendiplomat is pretty spot-on. I'll tell you what I did as an example. For the second part, I responded to a (real) news story about the explosion of cheap cell phones in India that have enabled people to use them to advance out of poverty, via services such as cheap texting. I discussed my own experience in domestic economic advancement, and how some of the workforce development organizations I've partnered with have used mass-text service to reach low-income populations in order to provide job training and employment opportuinities. I talked about the huge potential of webless social media and cell phones to reach the poor in the developing world, related it to my own work, and finished by saying how tech firms and startups should partner with development agencies and multilaterals because of this. The idea to was demonstrate my knowledge and passion for an interesting international issue/trend, and relate it to my experience, so as to make my entire application that much more cohesive. For the 3rd part, I owned up to my poor undergraduate GPA for my freshman and sophomore years. Took full responsibility but then also noted how much better I did in the last 2 years of school, which was partly a result of living through Hurricane Katrina (I went to college in New Orleans) and the role that played in my maturation and career. So I addressed a weakness directly, and again used it to hit on the theme of my application and make it one whole cohesive statement for my life/career track. Hope that helps. I definitely agonized over all 3 parts of the SOP for a long, long time, so you're not alone! Good luck.

I've also become quite the frequent reader of this site/forum. I checked off most of the options, though I do have to say I became more and more positive as I neared the end. When my application was all said and done, I felt quite good about my experience/qualifications, and chances of admission. But then that voice creeps up that says "Dude you are setting yourself up for a MASSIVE letdown, and then what?!"

Taking a weeklong vacation with my girlfriend in Miami starting 12/30. I've never been (and have never taken a warm-weather vacation in the winter, for that matter) so I'm hoping to restore my sanity with a week of relaxation on the beach after all this GRE/application stress.

Finished up my application last night. Only applied to one - I'm trying to stay in NYC to continue working part-time, I know I want this program more than any other and feel I have a better-than-decent shot at admission. I was actually planning to wait another year to apply, then decided to do it this year on a whim. Of course, now everything feels like it depends on getting it. Don't know how some of you apply to so many of these at the same time, just one caused me enough stress as it is! Good luck to all.

Thanks for the info. Of those two core classes, I am more interested in the MIA course. I am looking to move in a more international direction, as well as possibly moving into another industry from public policy research. So in terms of both academics and post-grad employment, the MIA is what I want (I don't want to have my options in the private sector limited by an MPA, among other concerns) I just feel like, with my background, applying for the MPA might give me better odds of admission, which is what I'm most obviously concerned with here and now. I may try to talk to someone in admissions this week to see what their thoughts are. I'm framing my personal statement partially in terms of wanting more international exposure, because my organization is moving in that direction and its the best way for me to learn and contribute (this is true and backed up by one of my LORS from a senior researcher here.) I suppose switching to an MIA from being admitted as an MPA is also doable.

Could you expand on this at all? I think most people in this forum are aware of the lower brand recognition when compared with the top programs often discussed here. I'm planning to apply as a backup to SIPA, and am wondering if it would be worthwhile to attend. What specifically made it a terrible program, aside from low recognition?

Yeah, I'm lucky that I have access to some admissions staff perspective, through a family member who directs a masters program. I was told my scores are competitive (while not super-outstanding) to apply to top programs. And congrats coonskee, those scores are awesome!

carpecc, I'm wondering if you can answer a related question. I do speak a good amount of Spanish and some Italian, and I've used the Spanish professionally, working for both a law firm practicing international IP law and for a public policy research institution in NYC, in which I've worked with Spanish-speaking partners and research participants. So I feel pretty good about having enough language experience to apply for the MIA, which I would prefer to do over the MPA. But I'm wondering if I have a better shot of admission going for an MPA at SIPA, because I haven't actually worked abroad. Though, again, I do have a year of international law practice, and one of my major research projects at my current institution was conducted in the UK. My statement of purpose is centered around my desire to research policy (the specific areas I've worked in for the past 3 years) in an international context, with both of the experiences I mentioned serving as a basis for understanding how to conduct research and business in an international context, and that I'd like to build on my research implementation and analysis skills with the global resources of the SIPA MIA. I guess I'm just wondering if the lack of actually working abroad is enough to keep me from getting into the MIA program, even with some language and international context. Is the MPA a better shot? Sorry for the long post, and thank you in advance for any insight.

Just got back, you now receive your actual score rather than range upon completion. V - 163 (93%) Q - 158 (79%) So I was a little disappointed in the quant score since I had been dominating my practice exams. But I just checked ETS' concordance table, and a 158 is equivalent to a 740 on the previous scale score. Normally I'd be ecstatic about that! It's just the 79% that has me concerned, I'm not sure what an adcomm is gonna focus on more. But overall I'm quite happy - I'm applying to International Relations masters programs, with SIPA as my top choice, and this score certainly shouldn't hurt me. Feels great to be done, good luck to all!