Acceptance rates

[nepravilniybuterbrod]

What are the most current acceptance rates for top programs? As of a few years ago, I heard HKS was 17-20% and Princeton 7-11%. Other schools were higher. 

[op1920]

The acceptance rate last year for Princeton's MPA program (equivalent to the 2-year MPP at other schools) was 13%. I think there's about a ~70% yield (i.e. of those admitted, the percentage who accept), therefore I think there was a total of about 770 applicants.

I think it's worth noting that even though there's a smaller number of applicants to Princeton than to some other schools, the quality of each applicant is probably higher. This is because (1) there's a required 4-page policy memo (an extra hoop to jump through) (2) because it's a less well-known program than say, HKS and (3) people may only apply if they think they have a "good" chance of getting in. I've heard that there are a fair number of people who apply to HKS just because it's Harvard (even though they may not be a good fit for the degree or have the required test scores/experience), so HKS'  acceptance rate could in part be a function of its popularity  (I'm sure this is the case at many schools, but I wouldn't be surprised if this were more so the case at Harvard)

Therefore, comparing one acceptance rate to another may not always reveal the full picture.

Edited February 23, 2018 by op1920

[wittgensteinsbladder]

3 hours ago, op1920 said:

The acceptance rate last year for Princeton's MPA program (equivalent to the 2-year MPP at other schools) was 13%. I think there's about a ~70% yield (i.e. of those admitted, the percentage who accept), therefore I think there was a total of about 770 applicants.

I think it's worth noting that even though there's a smaller number of applicants to Princeton than to some other schools, the quality of each applicant is probably higher. This is because (1) there's a required 4-page policy memo (an extra hoop to jump through) (2) because it's a less well-known program than say, HKS and (3) people may only apply if they think they have a "good" chance of getting in. I've heard that there are a fair number of people who apply to HKS just because it's Harvard (even though they may not be a good fit for the degree or have the required test scores/experience), so HKS'  acceptance rate could in part be a function of its popularity  (I'm sure this is the case at many schools, but I wouldn't be surprised if this were more so the case at Harvard)

Therefore, comparing one acceptance rate to another may not always reveal the full picture.

I agree on all your points except maybe #2. For me at least WWS was one of the first policy programs I was aware of in undergrad. So I'm curious what you're basing it being "a less well-known program" on?

[Tk2356]

@wittgensteinsbladder Non-policy types are much more likely to be aware of HKS's existence than that of WWS. 72,000 twitter followers versus 8,400 for WWS, for instance. It seems logical that this would invite a wider range of applicant.

[lackey]

Is HKS around 17%?

And should we expect more people to be applying to these public policy programs this year? All I know is that EA apps for UChicago Harris went up a lot. 161%.