I’m from Denmark and I want to apply for a MPP/MPA at SIPA, HKS, WWS, CIPA, Wagner, Goldman, LSE, Oxford next year. I have some questions to you guys regarding the application (listed below)
My profile
Undergraduate institution: A Danish univsersity Undergraduate GPA: Top 10 % (top 5 % in Micro- and Macroeconomics) Undergraduate Major: Political Science and Government (broad program, cover courses like: International Relations, Micro- and Macroeconomics, Law, Statistics etc.) Study Abroad: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Summer School, Undergraduate), LSE (Summer School, Undergraduate), Sciences Po (Exchange Program one semester, ERASMUS, Graduate – GPA: 14,5/20 – equivalent to an A-) Work Experience: 1) Translator for a Law Firm abroad (1/2 year, fulltime) 2) Junior Consultant/Student Assistant for a big Scandinavian Consultancy (1 ½ year, part time beside my undergraduate studies) 3) Voluntary Student Assistant for a large Danish NGO (1 year, – 5 hours per week beside my undergraduate studies), 4) Founder & President of a student-driven NGO (30+ voluntary students, endorsements and support from Danish CEOs, Ministers etc.) (1 year part time, besides my undergraduate studies), 5) Intern at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Danish Embassy in Beijing, China) (1/2 year, fulltime) 6) Elected board member for the Academic Council at my University (1 year) GRE: to be taken Languages: Danish (native), English (fluent), German (very competent/fluent – I have lived and worked in Germany for a year ), French (beginner - language classes for ½ year), Chinese (beginner – language classes for 2 months) Publications: I have a few articles published on online magazines.
My questions:
This summer I finish my current internship and I want to spend a year working and gain more work experience. I’m thinking about applying for Student Positions at The Ministry of Finance (Denmark), The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark), TA position at my university (teaching Public Policy/Administration) or Internships in IOs like EU/UN. What would be the best with my profile and my goals in a US/UK perspective?
I don’t have a lot of fulltime work experience, simply because you can’t get a fulltime position in Denmark unless you have a Master-degree. Instead I have gained work experience beside my studies (which is common here in Denmark) and I’ll gain further work experience the next year. Do I still have a chance? I would appreciate if you would comment on my profile and chances.
Should I mention in my SOP that my lack of fulltime work experience is due to the Danish “system” or should I ask one of my professors to mention this in his Letter of Recommendation?
GRE scores: what should I aim for? Is it accepted that non-native applicants get a lower verbal/AWA-score?
I would really appreciate if anyone would comment on my questions.
