What type of masters program should I aim for? (MPP, MPA, IDEK???)

[MPPHopeful101]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently a sophomore at Georgetown studying Government, and I recently started looking into grad school. I have been thinking about getting an MPA or an MPP, so I started looking into grad school, and now I'm kinda freaking out. I have so many questions, so if any of you are willing to answer at least one of them, that would be super helpful. 

1. I was looking at Harvard's MPP program and they want applicants to demonstrate strength in economics, stats, or math, which makes sense considering their curriculum. I've taken one calc class, and I'm going to take a political data analysis class, but I'm assuming I'm gonna need more than that quant wise if I want to be a competitive applicant. I'm leaning toward taking some econ classes, so how many do y'all think I'll need to take? I didn't take AP econ in high school, so I'd have to start at the intro level. I'm kinda freaking out because I didn't realize how quant based so many of these programs are. 

2. I don't even know if I should be looking into MPA/MPP programs. For the past few years, I've been interested in international affairs. After I receive my BA, I hope to get an entry level position as a legislative assistant and then go on to get my MA. Eventually, I want to concentrate on advising foreign policy, so would I be better suited to get an MSFS from Gtown, an MA in Security Studies from Gtown, or an MA in Global Affairs from Yal, etc, etc? I know I have plenty of time to figure everything out, but I didn't realize these programs wanted such quant concentrated coursework and the Gov curriculum at GU isn't very concentrated on the quant side of things, so I hadn't planned on taking a bunch of econ classes. 

3. For anyone out there who went to Georgetown, would switching to SFS benefit me more? For those that are unaware, the SFS is like the crown jewel or Georgetown, and Gov is in the College. I could transfer into the SFS and change my major, but I'd need to do it pretty soon. I just don't like the SFS's core curriculum (COUGH COUGH - the foreign language proficiency requirement because I'm slightly hard of hearing, so while I can read and write in my foreign language, understanding it verbally is hard as sh*t for me at times).

Apologies for the long-winded message. I'm just slightly freaking out because, like I said, I wasn't aware at the "highly recommended" coursework for some of these programs, and I also have no idea which programs I should even be applying to. 

Oh, and I know these programs are insanely difficult to get into, and I would be pretty awestruck if I were to be admitted into any of them. I figured since I'm spending all this money on a GU degree, I might as well shoot my shot for the best of the best. With than being said, I'm really trying to make that shot the best it can be, so it would be beyond wonderful if someone could help me figure out what classes I should be taking. 

Edited November 28, 2019 by MPPHopeful101
grammar

[kayemeh]

1. If you're seriously considering Harvard, you need some decent work/internship experiences. Your current location in DC is great for getting these kinds of internships. I'd target the State Department's program if you're interested in that foreign policy type experience. Take Microeconomics; must policy programs require at least some coursework in that before applying to their programs. Statistics will be very helpful, as I know through a friend attending Kennedy that your first year is very stats heavy. Also start saving your course syllabi - Harvard requires a quant resume separate from your normal resume listing out all quantitative courses you've taken or quantitate skills you've used in internships/work experience/other coursework that could lean towards quant. 

2. I say MPP as its a generalist degree or MSFS from SFS...but not sure if you want to be a double Hoya or if you want to leave the Hilltop. You're at Georgetown already, so take a look at the McCourt School's MPP. Their admin is in Old North but I think some of the support staff moved to CarBarn. 

[GradSchoolGrad]

MPPHopeful101, 

It is great that you are thinking about your life after graduation and tying it to your course work. I want to highlight that it is next to impossible to go to Harvard HKS for an MPP straight from undergrad unless you are a sponsored applicant - i.e. government, foreign government, or NGO sponsored individual (my sister was one of them - sponsored by the Navy). Most people have approx at least 2 years work experience. As the world is getting more data driven, I do recommend you begin taking quant and econ (math heavy) courses in general. 

If you are considering being in the international relations / government field, there are many grad school routes. One interesting option is to do a 1 year grad degree in the UK (Oxford has a steller MPP program) or a masters Degree in Oxford or Cambridge. I also knew a lot of people who went to London School of Economics. These programs are cheaper (1 year vs. 2) and gives you much more flexibility to design towards your specific interests. It is still good to go in with quant skills, but you don't need to go as hard on it compared to if you were paring for HKS 5 to 6 years down the road. 

I would recommend strongly against McCourt unless you want to focus on a data heavy job afterwards. Honestly, its global reputation simply isn't there, the programming falls short of its competition, and it is kind of behind in tapping into the future of policy - as much as it tries. Being a grad from Georgetown Undergrad, you can do much better. 

MSFS is a good option, but that is super competitive (being the best program of its type). 

Hope this helps!

[went_away]

You're graduating into the best job market of the last 20+ years AND coming out of an incredibly powerful university. What a privilage. Don't waste this historic moment hunkered down in grad school. Do some good internships, get some quality job experience under your belt, and save your money. 

[GradSchoolGrad]

I totally second what went_away says!

Take advantage of the strong hiring market and get an amazing job experience after graduation. Then decide if you want to do grad school or not later. Even within grad school, the disparity between those who got great jobs and those that got terrible jobs (or none) was strong correlated with work experience (or lack there of).

 

On 1/7/2020 at 7:46 PM, went_away said:

You're graduating into the best job market of the last 20+ years AND coming out of an incredibly powerful university. What a privilage. Don't waste this historic moment hunkered down in grad school. Do some good internships, get some quality job experience under your belt, and save your money.