Princeton SPIA MPA/MPP Fall 2022

[policyprofile]

Congratulations to those that got into SPIA! Sending good vibes to everyone else -- I hope you get into other great programs :) 

I honestly didn't think I would get into SPIA and so I'm just now putting the full weight behind this question: if you got into the SPIA MPA and otherwise applied to MPPs, do you think they're equivalent degrees?

I'm interested in (domestic) policy analysis, not public sector work, which is why I had focused on MPPs. I applied to SPIA's MPA because I have ~6 years of work experience in the private sector, which wouldn't qualify for their mid-career MPP.

[raveletliszt]

Hello, I got a rejection mail from SPIA two weeks ago, but today they sent me an e-mail saying that my application was very strong and suggesting that I should increase my GRE Quant score and apply for an MPA degree after I got two-three years of full-time experience (I am currently a senior student.)

Is it a generic e-mail or is it a great sign that I have a chance to get in with a couple of years of experience? I've received a full-tuition fellowship from SAIS and this e-mail definitely confused my mind... 

[policyprofile]

On 3/29/2022 at 11:24 AM, raveletliszt said:

Hello, I got a rejection mail from SPIA two weeks ago, but today they sent me an e-mail saying that my application was very strong and suggesting that I should increase my GRE Quant score and apply for an MPA degree after I got two-three years of full-time experience (I am currently a senior student.)

Is it a generic e-mail or is it a great sign that I have a chance to get in with a couple of years of experience? I've received a full-tuition fellowship from SAIS and this e-mail definitely confused my mind... 

I can't say for certain if it was a generic email but it doesn't sound like it since it mentions specifics around your GRE Quant score and years of experience. <15% of their MPAs have under two years of professional experience (from their Viewbook) and I believe they accept few, if any, directly out of undergrad. You can also see their Quant score breakdown in the viewbook: https://spia.princeton.edu/graduate-admissions/graduate-viewbook

Since you received full tuition from SAIS, if you're very interested in their program, it sounds like you have a solid option. I personally am grateful for my years of work experience between undergrad and applying to grad school, though, so you may find value in waiting a view years (especially if you were heavily invested in attending SPIA). It seems like you can't go wrong -- it just depends on your values! 

[Westpolicy]

SPIA also mentions work experience on their blog posts including— https://spia.princeton.edu/blogs/tips-strengthen-your-application