MPP-Master International Relations

[suhasnans]

Hi everybody,

I planning to apply for a Master in public policy or a master in international relations for next year and I am not really sure if I am a good candidate or not.

My target school are: HKS, SAIS, SIPA, and FLETCHER.

Maybe you can help me with some tips and next moves to strengthen my application.

The key points of my application are:

I am a 25 years old French.

>> Academic XP:

- Bsc in transport management from a middle ranked UK university (GPA 2.7 :( bad)

- Bachelor + Master degree in International business from a middle ranked French Grande Ecole (GPA 3.5)

- Exchange student in Spain, US, and Chile

>> Work XP

- I found a company in Chile in 2008 which is normally successful (1 year)

- I am currently working in Africa for an international organization handling a managing position (1 year)

- I have done 2 internships during school in the logistics field (6months)

- other positions as a business development analyst in Chile (6 months)

>> Volunteer XP

- I have been volunteer during three year for an international NGO

- I have volunteered online for UNDP, and NGO in Uganda

- I found two non-profit online initiatives about global issues

>> Test

I am planning to take GMAT and TOEFL, so we will see about this

What do you think?

How could I strengthen my application?

Do you think I am targeting the wrong schools because my application may be too weak?

[fadeindreams]

You may consider taking the GRE instead of the GMAT so that you can apply to other schools as well. While I believe that the four schools you have listed will accept the GMAT in lieu of the GRE, many others will not. Unless you are considering applying for a dual program MBA/MPP then I'm not really sure of the benefit of taking the GMAT, though it may be rational and I may just be missing the point.

I had the same school aims as you prior to researching programs in depth. I mean, truly, the same four schools. I ended up only applying to one out of those four, to which I was denied admission (SIPA), while applying to three other programs that through research really stood out as a better fit for my interests and career goals. I am beyond excited about going to Michigan, a school I didn't even consider fully until the eleventh hour and one that I very nearly did not apply to!

I have given up judging people based on stats and a snapshot of their profile. Admissions logic for policy programs is hard to pin down.

Good luck!