Requesting opinions on admissibility

[Larzipan Speedwreck]

All, First post on the board. Appreciate this as a resource as I conduct my grad school search. I’m seeking your input on my admissibility tovarious programs that are frequently discussed on the board. I recognize that you’re not the admissions committee(s); however, perhaps you can lend me some perspective on my MPP prospects. First, some background:

• Undergrad: Graduated from the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies with a degree in International Studies (2006)
• Work experience: Since 2004 (started 1.5 years before I graduated), I’ve worked at a policy consulting firm, working my way up to one of the lead analysts. My job is fantastic, takes me all around the world, and permits me to engage in substantive international policy issues. However, the job is no longer the challenge it once was, I feel a deep desire to learn again, and I would also liketo upgrade my skill set and resume with an MPP. I believe this counts as strong work experience in an area directly related to an MPP. Also, all of the colleagues that I work with have Masters or PhDs.
• LOR: Very strong LOR from professors that I continue to keep in touch with as mentors (one of which thanked me for my research assistance in abook recently published by Stanford – not trying to be a jerk by mentioning this, just trying to provide some perspective on the quality of the reference), as well as LORs from the Chairman of my firm, senior leadership of high profile trade lobbies in DC, and, if needed, policy specialists I work with in various federal agencies. Also, many of the letters of reference would come from Gtown and JHU grads.
• GPA: Horrific. I had my fair share of struggles in undergrad (mostly medical), but the bottom line is that my cumulative GPA is 2.65. For perspective, the last four quarters came in at 3.645, so I can show some significant improvement relative to earlier years. Also, some of my best grades toward the end came from graduate-level courses.
• GRE: Unknown. Going to take it later this year.

In terms of schools, I am targeting MPP programs at GPPI, GWU, American, Sanford, GPPI, JHU, UMD, and any other decent MPP program. I'm focusing on staying in the DC area.

So, can you all please provide me with some perspective? Am I hosed based on GPA, or will my nearly 6 years of policy-specific work experience, plus very strong LORs carry the day? From my perspective, I would hope that admissions committees would take the “proof is in the pudding” approach seeing as I have multiple years of working at a level where many MPP grads would start after they graduate. However, I do get thrown by many of the “You need a minimum 3.0 undergrad GPA”-type statements one frequently sees on admission FAQs.

Many thanks in advance for your input. Please let me know if there are any other details I can furnish to paint a more complete picture.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Larzipan Speedwreck

[narius]

All, First post on the board. Appreciate this as a resource as I conduct my grad school search. I’m seeking your input on my admissibility tovarious programs that are frequently discussed on the board. I recognize that you’re not the admissions committee(s); however, perhaps you can lend me some perspective on my MPP prospects. First, some background:

• Undergrad: Graduated from the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies with a degree in International Studies (2006)
• Work experience: Since 2004 (started 1.5 years before I graduated), I’ve worked at a policy consulting firm, working my way up to one of the lead analysts. My job is fantastic, takes me all around the world, and permits me to engage in substantive international policy issues. However, the job is no longer the challenge it once was, I feel a deep desire to learn again, and I would also liketo upgrade my skill set and resume with an MPP. I believe this counts as strong work experience in an area directly related to an MPP. Also, all of the colleagues that I work with have Masters or PhDs.
• LOR: Very strong LOR from professors that I continue to keep in touch with as mentors (one of which thanked me for my research assistance in abook recently published by Stanford – not trying to be a jerk by mentioning this, just trying to provide some perspective on the quality of the reference), as well as LORs from the Chairman of my firm, senior leadership of high profile trade lobbies in DC, and, if needed, policy specialists I work with in various federal agencies. Also, many of the letters of reference would come from Gtown and JHU grads.
• GPA: Horrific. I had my fair share of struggles in undergrad (mostly medical), but the bottom line is that my cumulative GPA is 2.65. For perspective, the last four quarters came in at 3.645, so I can show some significant improvement relative to earlier years. Also, some of my best grades toward the end came from graduate-level courses.
• GRE: Unknown. Going to take it later this year.

In terms of schools, I am targeting MPP programs at GPPI, GWU, American, Sanford, GPPI, JHU, UMD, and any other decent MPP program. I'm focusing on staying in the DC area.

So, can you all please provide me with some perspective? Am I hosed based on GPA, or will my nearly 6 years of policy-specific work experience, plus very strong LORs carry the day? From my perspective, I would hope that admissions committees would take the “proof is in the pudding” approach seeing as I have multiple years of working at a level where many MPP grads would start after they graduate. However, I do get thrown by many of the “You need a minimum 3.0 undergrad GPA”-type statements one frequently sees on admission FAQs.

Many thanks in advance for your input. Please let me know if there are any other details I can furnish to paint a more complete picture.

Assuming you do well on your GREs - like at least the 1300/5.0 area - I think you are not absolutely disqualified from those programs. That said, I wouldn't absolutely count on getting into any of them. If I were you, I'd drop Sanford (not in the DC area), and add a couple of regional safety schools with quality programs like GMU, UMBC, and maybe VCU (in Richmond). While those three schools don't have the same name pull (although GMU has the most of the three) as a GWU or a Georgetown, they're all supposed to be relatively high quality with decent career pipelines. It might be a reach and a little out of the area, but the College of William and Mary also has a new but very well respected, and DC-oriented, MPP program as well. And the W&M name is very strong on the East Coast.

This isn't to say that you WON'T get into your choice schools, but don't kill yourself if you don't and make contingency plans.

[sackerma26]

I know someone who got into UMD's MPP program who had a similar, if not worse GPA than yours and the UMD is ranked 9 in US News World Report. He was only a year out of college however, the fact that he was an alum of Maryland already definetly helped I'm sure. Needless to say, your stats sound somewhat better than his so I think you have a good chance.

[Larzipan Speedwreck]

Thank you both for your input. It is much appreciated.

[Octavia]

Assuming you do well on your GREs - like at least the 1300/5.0 area - I think you are not absolutely disqualified from those programs. That said, I wouldn't absolutely count on getting into any of them. If I were you, I'd drop Sanford (not in the DC area), and add a couple of regional safety schools with quality programs like GMU, UMBC, and maybe VCU (in Richmond). While those three schools don't have the same name pull (although GMU has the most of the three) as a GWU or a Georgetown, they're all supposed to be relatively high quality with decent career pipelines. It might be a reach and a little out of the area, but the College of William and Mary also has a new but very well respected, and DC-oriented, MPP program as well. And the W&M name is very strong on the East Coast.

This isn't to say that you WON'T get into your choice schools, but don't kill yourself if you don't and make contingency plans.

I absolutely agree. You can make up for the low GPA with high GRE scores. Your work experience is very relevant and you seem to have very strong LORs. At the same time, given the competition, you might still not get into top programs. Therefore, I would consider safety net school in the DC area.

[matcha]

Don't forget your statement of purpose! You can explain away a lot of things in those pages as well as describe your amazing experience level.