2021 Results

[EC1225]

2 hours ago, GradSchoolGrad said:

Search McCourt MPP, and you'll see the forum I which I have highlighted McCourt at length.

How about McCourt MIDP?

[GradSchoolGrad]

6 minutes ago, EC1225 said:

How about McCourt MIDP?

MIDP is a rather unique program. What do you want to know? 

The short of it is that it still under there McCourt School, so you have many of the issues/stregnths in MPP. However, it is a separate program run by a Dr. Wiebe, and he is proud of making a small cohort (12 to 20ish) of people to train in IDEV program evaluation. 

[evergreengirl]

Hi! Waitlisted at Duke today. Does anyone know the odds of getting in through an unranked waitlist? And if there's anything I can do to improve my chances? 

[d2ear]

Just curious, I'm seeing fewer people posting their admission results than in previous years. Do you guys think this year's admission cycle is more or less competitive?

Edited March 10, 2021 by d2ear

[2020applicant...]

58 minutes ago, d2ear said:

Just curious, I'm seeing fewer people posting their admission results than in previous years. Do you guys think this year's admission cycle is more or less competitive?

I think that one factor could also be that schools are sending out results and final funding numbers a little bit later this year (at least from what I can gather).

[jukebox123]

more applicants doesn't necessarily mean more competition (since some people are probably applying without any real preparation - especially since the GRE was waived at most schools), but it seems that the admissions departments are definitely overwhelmed from the higher volume, resulting in later notifications

[EscapingBrexit]

Are we supposed to get stuff in the post/mail from our schools? Like after you receive an offer online? 

Edited March 10, 2021 by EscapingBrexit

[mzl28]

anyone applying to stanford MIP?

[Argentina]

4 hours ago, mzl28 said:

anyone applying to stanford MIP?

Me!

[Somi2021]

Anyone applied to bush school of government(MPSA)? Any news?

[johnathan]

2 hours ago, Somi2021 said:

Anyone applied to bush school of government(MPSA)? Any news?

I did and got this email last Thursday. 

"We have been delayed in our final MPSA admissions decisions for some of you. We have a NASPAA accreditation visit next week that has hindered our meeting times and we are still finishing the last interviews. While some decisions will be emailed shortly, others will come around March 15. Please continue to be patient with us; we are working as quickly as we can and are balancing multiple programs."

 

[Somi2021]

46 minutes ago, johnathan said:

I did and got this email last Thursday. 

"We have been delayed in our final MPSA admissions decisions for some of you. We have a NASPAA accreditation visit next week that has hindered our meeting times and we are still finishing the last interviews. While some decisions will be emailed shortly, others will come around March 15. Please continue to be patient with us; we are working as quickly as we can and are balancing multiple programs."

 

Thanks for reply.

I deferred to fall 2021 so I do have admission but waiting for scholarship!

They didn’t send me that email.

so nervous ? 

[mjmcflurry]

Anyone heard from GWU Trachtenberg yet? Waiting on them and SIPA ?

[MPA2021]

2 minutes ago, mjmcflurry said:

Anyone heard from GWU Trachtenberg yet? Waiting on them and SIPA ?

Also waiting on GWU Trachtenberg and SIPA! I thought GWU would release decisions last week. This is a lot later than past years. 

[mjmcflurry]

Just now, MPA2021 said:

Also waiting on GWU Trachtenberg and SIPA! I thought GWU would release decisions last week. This is a lot later than past years. 

Much later! I did receive an update from them in February saying I'd get a decision "in four to six weeks" and it's now week five, so, they must be swamped.

[maham]

20 minutes ago, mjmcflurry said:

Much later! I did receive an update from them in February saying I'd get a decision "in four to six weeks" and it's now week five, so, they must be swamped.

Ditto. They're the last one I'm waiting on, but I'm not holding my breath because their funding seems pretty scarce based on previous posts. Plus the cost of living in D.C. is not cheap. Who knows though -- they could surprise us! 

[undergoat88]

4 minutes ago, maham said:

Ditto. They're the last one I'm waiting on, but I'm not holding my breath because their funding seems pretty scarce based on previous posts. Plus the cost of living in D.C. is not cheap. Who knows though -- they could surprise us! 

I am also waiting on GW....the last one on my list! Hope tomorrow is the big day

[Alex75008]

On 3/10/2021 at 7:04 PM, evergreengirl said:

Hi! Waitlisted at Duke today. Does anyone know the odds of getting in through an unranked waitlist? And if there's anything I can do to improve my chances? 

Hi! Same question

[sal41]

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.):  MPP/MSPP/MSSP
Schools Applied To:  UChicago Harris, Georgetown McCourt, NYU Wagner (MSPP), Penn SP2 (MSSP), Duke Sanford, Michigan Ford, HKS
Schools Admitted To:  UChicago Harris ($), Georgetown McCourt ($$), NYU Wagner ($), Penn SP2 ($), Duke Sanford ($$$), Michigan Ford ($)
Schools Rejected From:  
Still Waiting: HKS
Undergraduate Institution: Top 10 public university
Undergraduate GPA:   3.93
Undergraduate Major: Public policy
GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores:  160/159/5.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  3.5
Years of Work Experience:  3.5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Leadership/policy role with small state-level nonprofit focused on education 
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  About a 7/10, I grounded it in my experiences in the workforce and the types of social policy issues I now want to take action on, but it was pretty broad -- I spoke of my interest in social policies that impact children and families broadly and the types of skills I hope to gain from a graduate program.
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  9/10, one was from my current CEO who I directly report to, one was from my senior year capstone advisor, and one was another former professor who I am still in contact with and knows me both personally and academically. I asked them to specifically speak to my leadership skills + previously expressed interest and work on social policy issues.
Other: I am torn between the more traditional two-year MPP programs compared to NYU and Penn's newer one-year programs. I like the idea of being in graduate school for two years, but I'm weighing that against the additional costs + loss of another year in the workforce. The range in aid offers that I've received is also giving me pause -- right now, Georgetown and Duke are substantially more affordable than my other options. Any advice is welcome!

[EC1225]

1 hour ago, sal41 said:

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.):  MPP/MSPP/MSSP
Schools Applied To:  UChicago Harris, Georgetown McCourt, NYU Wagner (MSPP), Penn SP2 (MSSP), Duke Sanford, Michigan Ford, HKS
Schools Admitted To:  UChicago Harris ($), Georgetown McCourt ($$), NYU Wagner ($), Penn SP2 ($), Duke Sanford ($$$), Michigan Ford ($)
Schools Rejected From:  
Still Waiting: HKS
Undergraduate Institution: Top 10 public university
Undergraduate GPA:   3.93
Undergraduate Major: Public policy
GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores:  160/159/5.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  3.5
Years of Work Experience:  3.5
Describe Relevant Work Experience: Leadership/policy role with small state-level nonprofit focused on education 
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  About a 7/10, I grounded it in my experiences in the workforce and the types of social policy issues I now want to take action on, but it was pretty broad -- I spoke of my interest in social policies that impact children and families broadly and the types of skills I hope to gain from a graduate program.
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  9/10, one was from my current CEO who I directly report to, one was from my senior year capstone advisor, and one was another former professor who I am still in contact with and knows me both personally and academically. I asked them to specifically speak to my leadership skills + previously expressed interest and work on social policy issues.
Other: I am torn between the more traditional two-year MPP programs compared to NYU and Penn's newer one-year programs. I like the idea of being in graduate school for two years, but I'm weighing that against the additional costs + loss of another year in the workforce. The range in aid offers that I've received is also giving me pause -- right now, Georgetown and Duke are substantially more affordable than my other options. Any advice is welcome!

Dealing with similar things! Although all the programs I’ve been accepted to are two-year, some are a LOT more credits and I probably wouldn’t be able how work while doing it like some of the others. They’re also more expensive! Do you think the benefits outweigh risks with higher credit load degrees? 

[Argentina]

Anyone applying to MIDP at Duke? Any news?

[lilrhody]

On 2/5/2021 at 10:19 AM, lilrhody said:

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.):  MPA/MPP/MSPPM
Schools Applied To:  Chicago Harris, UCSD GPS, USC Price, Cal Goldman, Syracuse Maxwell, CMU Heinz, Sciences Po, Texas LBJ
Schools Admitted To:  Harris (no funding), UCSD GPS (no word on funding yet)
Schools Rejected From:   
Still Waiting: 
Undergraduate Institution: Top 10 US News
Undergraduate GPA:   3.56
Undergraduate Major: Economics, Political Science, International Studies
GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores:  157/156/5.0
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2
Years of Work Experience:  2
Describe Relevant Work Experience:  2-year Americorps
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  I think pretty solid. I had a pretty good narrative and I am more or less a unique candidate.
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  Very solid. 2 high-profile academics from undergrad and the executive director of my 2-year americorps stint.

Other: I have another Master's degree in education, not sure if that will help with my admissions, especially since it is not a highly regarded school.

Updating because it won't let me edit my post.

Schools Admitted To:  Harris, UCSD GPS (no word on funding yet), USC Price (no word on funding), Syracuse Maxwell (no word on funding), CMU Heinz ($$$), Texas LBJ ($)
Schools Rejected From:   Sciences Po, Cal Goldman

How would I go about requesting a review of my financial aid? Do I just email admissions?

[Nickel95]

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPA/MPP/MSSP
Schools Applied To:  Ohio State, University of Pennsylvania, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Oxford, Toronto
Schools Admitted To:  OSU MPA-DC, UPenn MPP
Schools Rejected From:  
Still Waiting:  Georgetown (Waitlisted), UPenn MSSP (Interview next week), GWU, HKS, Oxford, Toronto 
Undergraduate Institution:  Ohio University 
Undergraduate GPA:   3.74
Undergraduate Major:  Journalism and Political Science (Graduated with 2 Bachelor’s Degrees)
GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores:  146/154/4.5
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): It will be 3 in May
Years of Work Experience:  3 
Describe Relevant Work Experience:  Professional- Legislative Aide for a state Senator, Legislative Fellow for a state Senate Minority Caucus. Undergraduate- Student Senate Vice President, Senator, and Vice Commissioner; Women's Panhellenic Association Vice President
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  I’m honestly not sure…I focused on my work on a current policy issue that represented my interest in studying the intersection of criminal justice, income inequality, and reproductive equity 
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc):  I believe they were strong- two of my undergraduate professors and a state Senator 
Other:

[MPPNYC]

Okay, adding this pretty late in the game, because I could use some thoughts from the hive-mind:

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP/MPA
Schools Applied To:  Harvard Kennedy, UChicago Harris, UMichigan Ford, Georgetown McCourt, GW Trachtenberg, American SPA, Syracuse Maxwell, UVA Batten
Schools Admitted To:  UMichigan Ford (Nuthin’), Syracuse Maxwell ($$$), Georgetown McCourt ($), American SPA (No word on funding yet)
Schools Rejected From:  N/A, so far
Schools Waitlisted From: UChicago Harris, UVA Batten
Still Waiting: Harvard Kennedy, GWU Trachtenberg  
Undergraduate Institution: DC-area university
Undergraduate GPA:   3.3
Undergraduate Major:  Political Science & Economics Double Major
GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores:  156 Q/164 V/5.5 AW
Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable):  12
Years of Work Experience: 8 
Describe Relevant Work Experience:  Previously earned a JD and have been working for the last 6 years working in the financial services industry in NYC;  ~2 years in private practice at small firms prior to that. Some quant experience from my work experience, but not necessarily significant. Significant non-profit volunteer experience over the past 8 years, mostly in fundraising/development as well as some state lobbying. Currently a commissioner of a small county commission (on a volunteer basis )(sadly, was appointed after the HKS app went out)
Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc):  I think I did a great job of addressing why I want to go back to school after so many years out of academia and having already obtained a JD, as well as highlighting a specific policy area that I am interested in, why, and why they should care about it too.  But who knows. 
Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Good, but I did not read them before they were submitted, so who knows!

--

Would love some insight from the group on what’s going on in my head right now! 

For starters, doing my darndest to get off the waitlist at Harris; I will probably drop everything and just go if I do. HKS probably takes priority over Harris, even, but I am not especially expecting to be admitted there, especially given the competitive year. I will be shocked! 

So, putting Harris & Kennedy aside, I am probably between UM’s MPP and Syracuse’s MPA. According to USNews (FWIW), Syracuse is #1 in Public Affairs Schools, #8 in Public Policy Analysis, and #7 in Local Government and #2 in Public Finance.  Michigan is #1 in Public Policy Analysis, #8 in Public Affairs Schools, #28 in Public Financing, and not ranked for local government. I did not get any funding at UM and received ~75% of funding of the 1 year MPA program at Syracuse (+a graduate fellowship and stipend). UM appears to have the more serious national reputation, particularly as it comes to their quantitative program (which is my reason for going back to school).  Syracuse appears to offer plenty of quantitative coursework, but I may have to go out of my way a bit to get the same sort of quantitative focus given the structure of their MPA program and the limitations of 1 year. 

I am hoping to get into policy research/implementation related to rural economies, probably with smaller policy research groups or state government agencies. Michigan does have some scholars who work on that, just perusing their website, but it is heavily tailored to Michigan.  Syracuse appears to be a little broader, but as a NYer, their NY focus does not necessarily bother me. Plus, I already have the graduate assistant position which which I can hopefully get involved in their research. If I went to UM, I would also have to resign from a local government position I am currently volunteering for, which isn’t a huge deal, other than it affects the community that I eventually want to be working with, so maybe isn’t the best look (small town life, ya know?). I can probably make it work with Syracuse, since it is a much shorter drive.  

I feel like the stronger national prestige factor of UM and the closer focus on quantitative coursework might be worth pursuing for beefing up my resume and math chops, but Syracuse has plenty of benefits too (and ranked highly too, for whatever that’s worth). Thoughts? What would you choose? Anything additional that I am not considering? 

Edited March 12, 2021 by MPPNYC
Addition

[maham]

Does anyone have any idea when GWU is going to release results??