Humanities to MPA in Int'l Dev seeking a reality check

[N0MudN0L0tus]

Hey there! I got far in a humanities PhD program before realizing that academia isn't for me. Fortunately I've been able to find work thanks to my teaching experience and foreign language skills. I love teaching but I'm wondering what else I can be doing for the world that might have a greater reach and impact. I'm considering applying for MPA programs with a focus on international development. As a humanities person, I don't quite feel like I have the quantitative background that a lot of the folks who go this route do. I had been active here at the GC with a different username when I was applying for PhD programs way back when. And now I'm back, like a phoenix, rising from the ashes. I would definitely appreciate fresh perspectives on my new grad plans, especially from folks who are pursuing or have pursued a similar degree. It's great to be back, GC! Here's hoping the second time's the charm... Not sure the grad school rat race is something I'd want to do three times! ??

A little more context: I went to an Ivy for undergrad, and another one for grad school (two of the HYP schools). I took the old GRE right before it changed, so I need to retake it. Converting my old scores to the new score range, I scored 168 on the verbal and in the low 150s on the quant section. Only the verbal mattered for my previous humanities studies. But I need to up my quant game to be competitive for the MPA programs. I speak seven languages, from the intermediate to native and near-native levels. This isn't necessarily an "am I competitive" post, but I figured some context could be useful.

Here are some of my main concerns overall (jumbled, but, I hope, coherent):

• I'm feeling a bit daunted by the prospect of re-taking the GRE, applying to several programs, and also applying for fellowship/scholarship funding, all by the end of this year.
• Also, applications are expensive ?, and I'm not sure the investment makes sense if I don't feel ready and prepared. I'm not in a position to just gamble my money away as it were.
• I wonder whether taking a year to acquire the econ and stats background these programs emphasize might make better sense than just taking a stab in the dark and hoping they'll accept me without this background. I feel like I do have promise and potential as an applicant, but I don't feel as confident as I would with a stronger quant background.
• I've been self-studying these subjects through free online resources like Khan Academy, edX, and MIT's OpenCourseWare. But I can't shake the impression that programs look down on self-studiers, preferring that people pay for expensive official courses instead. edX does sell affordable certificates that show that you've completed the coursework and passed a given online class, but I feel like somehow this isn't enough. At the moment, however, this approach works better for my finances than paying for classes.
• I do have work experience, but not exactly directly related to the MPA field. I have two part-time positions: one teaching foreign languages and the other doing online tutoring for a pretty high-end college prep company; the former doesn't pay very well, but the latter makes up for it. I could certainly reframe my work experience in a way that draws out its relevance to my new career direction, but I just don't feel competitive in a pool of applicants where lots of folks have NGO, policy, etc. experience. I did interpret at the UN, but it was just once, and as a volunteer. It was a cool experience though! I also interned at UNESCO in college while studying abroad in France, and had an internship in Costa Rica after graduation. In addition, I studied in China for a summer. I'm fortunate to have lots of really interesting experiences abroad, but I still feel like they don't quite stack up against the more formal work experience of the other applicants.
• The past few years of my life have been a protracted "transition" period. The time between leaving academia and, hopefully, starting an MPA in international development, has felt, sometimes, like an aimless limbo period. I did only just recently zero in on my specific MPA goals, but I've been dreaming about going back to school for at least the past year. Part of me wants to just apply and put an end to my ambiguous transitional phase... I'm 30 years old and don't want to stay in limbo for much longer.
• Another part of me feels like I should take one more year off, to strengthen my quantitative background. I could switch my focus from applying to MPA programs this cycle to applying instead for fellowships, like the Fulbright, among others, with an eye towards pursuing some one-year MA program, in the U.S. or abroad (hopefully with funding), which would help me get the econ and stats foundations that I need to be competitive for admission to MPA programs. I can dream, can't I? ?? Fortunately my undergrad institution is fantastic about guiding alumni through fellowship applications, and lets us apply with a direct affiliation to the university!
• Alternatively, I could see about acquiring more directly relevant work experience. But it feels like such a Catch-22: it's hard to get the work experience without the relevant academic background, but it's hard to get into MPA programs without the work experience! ? I feel like I'm stuck in a teaching rut, thanks to having pursued my BA and MA in the humanities. I don't for a second regret the intellectual stimulation my studies provided, nor the cultural capital and openness to the world that they have given me, but practically speaking, it wasn't the wisest professional decision.
• I also feel like the extra time would help me to score considerably higher on the quant section of the GRE. I'm not sure how drastic of an improvement I can make in just the next three more months, but with more time, I have hope that I can rise to a more competitive score range. I thought I was done with standardized tests when I pursued my previous grad studies. It's sad to feel like one exam can make or break your chances of pursuing your dreams. And yet, here I am again, prepping for the GRE...
• Also the extra time would allow me to continue saving money which I will certainly need eventually if my goal of securing external funding doesn't quite go as planned.
• I'm afraid that a possible reason why I may be putting off applying is that I'm scared of being rejected from my dream programs. But I also feel like maybe I do honestly need the time, not only to be more prepared and competitive, but more importantly to put my life and goals into perspective.
• And yet, I can't help but be haunted by the thought that this "one more year" could be part of a series of continued deferrals that might keep me from ever taking the leap and actually undertaking my MPA studies.
• Also, while I've maintained ties to folks from academia, I feel like it'll be a stretch to put together recommenders for my MPA applications. I also don't feel like my current professional network would be all that helpful as far as my MPA goals are concerned. I do have folks both within and outside of academia who could say good things but I just wonder whether I might be better off making new and more relevant connections.
• My DREAM would be to get into Princeton's fully-funded MPA program! Or to go to another strong program in the U.S. or abroad (the LSE, Sciences Po) with significant funding, whether from a fellowship and/or from the programs themselves.

Sorry for the rambling, friends. So should I suck it up and just get some MPA applications out there this season? Or play the waiting game for one more year so that I'm a stronger applicant next year? I would greatly appreciate any and all advice. Thank you for your generosity and guidance!