MPP/MPA 2011 Applicants

[tj19]

Program Applied To MPA, MPP, M.S. (Disaster Science)

Schools Applied To: American, George Mason, UMBC, UDelaware (M.S. in Disaster Science), UT-Dallas, Georgia State

Schools Admitted To: American

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: All but American

Undergraduate institution: Top 10 Southern Regional University -- Private

Undergraduate GPA: 2.8

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 2.8

Undergraduate Major: Public Administration, with minors in Statistics and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)

GRE Quantitative Score: 620

GRE Verbal Score: 600

GRE AW Score: 4.5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0

Years of Work Experience: 0 Full-Time, 4 Part-Time

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Volunteer Firefighter, Paid EMT/Paramedic. Internship with county Emergency Management department.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty good, but not great. I think my resume was stronger. My resume showed that I have a lot of specific related experience in the emergency management/disaster response/firefighter field. My SOP built on the resume and discussed my interest in the policy/program analysis side of those fields. I think my GIS minor also shows my interest in that area.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I think. One (probably the weakest one) from my advisor -- she's not that great of a professor, but she has a vested interest in her advisees getting admitted. One from a Statistics professor who I'm TAing for. Strongest one is probably from a GIS professor that I have done several independent projects for, and he also recommended me for some small (but paying!) GIS projects for some of the university's departments, so he must think I do a pretty good job.

Other: Surprised to get into AU with my grades -- it was a last minute "what the hell" application. I was putting more hope into Mason and UMBC since I want to be in the DC area. Probably should have applied to College Park but their concentrations didn't do anything for me. My advisor all but insisted I apply to UT-Dallas. Georgia State is specifically because of their emergency management concentration, run by one of the real stars in the EM world. Same for UDel's Disaster Science M.S.

[CC139]

Georgia State is specifically because of their emergency management concentration, run by one of the real stars in the EM world. Same for UDel's Disaster Science M.S.

Hey TJ19, I am an international applicant applying to MPAs, I am a paramedic too and I was looking into concentrations in emergency/disaster management such as the one offered at GSU. How is the program in the US? Do you happen to know how is the prospective job-hunt for its students?

Also, if you're looking into Disaster Management programs and are willing to move abroad, check the Master in Emergency & Disaster Management offered in Tel Aviv University. The program is entirely in English http://www1.tau.ac.il/emergex/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=44

[tj19]

MBec,

Thanks the Tel Aviv program looks really interesting. I'm looking more for domestic programs. I also think that the University of Sussex in the UK has a well regarded program. The U.S. programs in EM are all over the map. Some are M.S., some are concentrations in MPA or MPP programs. Some are just certificates, etc. So there's a lot to choose from. I really do want to be in the DC area so I'm close to FEMA, Homeland Security, the U.S. Fire Administration, etc. but the GSU program really sounds interesting, and Dr. Waugh is highly regarded. We'll see, good luck to you!

[curiouslyidling]

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): IR - Security Studies

Schools Applied To: Georgetown (SSP), George Washington (MA Security and Intelligence Studies), GSPIA (MPIA Security and Intelligence Studies), Denver (MA International Security), IWP (MA Strategic Intelligence Studies)

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: All

Undergraduate institution: Top 20 Public University

Undergraduate GPA: 3.61/3.9 major

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): n/a

Undergraduate Major: Criminal Justice w/ Philosophy Minor

GRE Quantitative Score: 710

GRE Verbal Score: 690

GRE AW Score: 4.5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2

Years of Work Experience: none, really - 1/2 if you count my internship

Describe Relevant Work Experience: completed internship my senior year of college with intelligence unit of a federal agency. very relevant to my future goals.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I honestly have no idea. My husband thinks they are great, I go back and forth between thinking they are great and thinking they are absolute crap.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Should be very strong. One is from my mentor during my internship, and she is a great reference. The other two were professors who really like me, and whose classes I actively sought out during undergrad. They were all excited to write a LOR for me, so hopefully that excitement came across in their letters.

Other: Lots of leadership experience and academic honors during undergrad. Very strong sense of purpose. Hopefully that's enough.

[Ahab]

Received my first news of the year; no FLAS scholarship at GSPIA.

Bummer way to kick off the season.

[calum]

Program Applied To MPP/MPA, MIA, Globalization and International Development

Schools Applied To: Carleton (NPSIA), Ottawa, Ryerson, Concordia (6 programs in total at 4 schools)

Specialization: Social Policy and International Development.

Still Waiting: All

Undergraduate institution: Top 2 "Comprehensive" University in Canada

Undergraduate GPA: 3.3/4.0

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.62/4.0

Undergraduate Major: Journalism

Econ Courses: 3.7/4.0

GRE: Not applicable (applying to Canadian schools)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3

Years of Work Experience: 4 full-time

Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years in community outreach for a non-profit, 1 year media/publishing, summer internship on a national statistics project, 1 year part-time development/fundraising.

Foreign Language: French

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Exhausting and annoying as all the programs had different lengths, formats and questions. I wrote mainly about my professional background, emphasizing experience and career goals.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Academic - from the dean of my department who taught me for 3 out of 4 years in my undergrad. Professional - from an employer and former politican.

Other: Am very nervous that my academic background will not be considered thorough enough preparation, especially for the MPP programs run out of Poli Sci departments.

[blorgmorg]

Received my first news of the year; no FLAS scholarship at GSPIA.

Bummer way to kick off the season.

Did you apply to the MPA/MPP program there or to another program? I applied to the MAID program at GSPIA and am anxious to hear back! Thanks, and sorry about the lack of funding. Sometimes no news feels better than bad news. :/

[Ahab]

Did you apply to the MPA/MPP program there or to another program? I applied to the MAID program at GSPIA and am anxious to hear back! Thanks, and sorry about the lack of funding. Sometimes no news feels better than bad news. :/

I applied to the MPIA program. The email I received said that they'd release decisions sometime around the middle of March. That seems to be a popular refrain this year.

[shutthefrontdoor]

Has anyone heard from LBJ or the University of Denver's Korbel school?

Thanks!

[cmh07g]

I haven't heard anything from DU yet. I looked back at the admissions results from last year and a few came at the end of Jan. but most came around Feb. 12-20th.

Has anyone heard from LBJ or the University of Denver's Korbel school?

Thanks!

[palabared]

I received an acceptance email on Feb 4th to the Maxwell IR program. They emailed me about 1.5 weeks ago asking for an unofficial transcript since for some reason my official one I sent never arrived. I was told my 2 letters of rec that they had received so far would suffice and to just scan them a copy of my unoficial trany.

They said they would send out financial information in March. I definitely wasn't expecting to hear from them a week or so after completing the application!

Edit: Yea i have yet to hear from DU either.

Oh man! Has anyone else NOT heard from Syracuse? My final letter of rec was sent on Jan. 5th. I realize they have rolling admissions but I'm still a bit nervous now. Congrats to those who got in already! I hate this waiting...

Edited February 7, 2011 by palabared

[gratas]

Has anyone heard from LSE for the MPA program yet? I remember seeing some responses in early January from last year, but nothing so far...App was complete as of 12/22

[giselle11]

My app was complete in mid November. I got a conditional offer for MPA Public and Economic Policy on Jan 12.

Has anyone heard from LSE for the MPA program yet? I remember seeing some responses in early January from last year, but nothing so far...App was complete as of 12/22

[Taylor]

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): IR, MPA, International Trade and Investment Policy (GWU), MSFS

Schools Applied To: GWU, Georgetown, SAIS, Syracuse Maxwell, U Maryland

Schools Admitted To: Syracuse (MPA/MA-IR)

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: Everyone else

Undergraduate institution: Top 20 Public University

Undergraduate GPA: 3.88

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable):

Undergraduate Major: English

GRE Quantitative Score: 790.

GRE Verbal Score: 770

GRE AW Score:

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5.0

Years of Work Experience: 3.5

Describe Relevant Work Experience: I worked for a manufacturer-cum-importer in quality assurance and supplier management in China despite my lack of an engineering or manufacturing background. Afterwards, I worked with partners to try to establish a trade company for energy efficient lighting, then as vice president of an LED indoor lighting factory for about nine months. During this time, I was in contact with many Chinese officials. My final job was with a US state economic development center in Shangahi, where I helped manage the logistics of a visit by the state-level secretary of state and trade mission.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): For most of them, I wish I'd had more space to write. Since I have limited public sector experience, I emphasized my Chinese ability and my study and work abroad. All of my schools are professionally-oriented rather than academic track, so I stated my intention to go into the US Foreign Service and pointed to examples of professors, curriculum, or programs that will help me reach that goal. I packed as much as I could into the space given, but I am ashamed to admit that I found a typo in them a week after sending.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): A well-known linguistics professor who has written rec's for me before, my former supervisor at the US company, and the head of the economic development office. The last one concerns me just because the relationship wasn't that strong, but it is my most recent work, as well as my only public sector position.

Other: I compromised and went with a full ride for undergrad, so I really want a strong experience as a graduate student. However, I would be lying if I said that funding won't make a difference.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Taylor

[braindead]

Hi Guys,

Today I received a mail regarding my application from the Associate Director - MIB Program, Fletcher School. Reading the mail has put me in a confusion and I would like to have a 2nd opinion. Essentially, it was a personalized e-mail and she had commended my work experience. She also mentioned that she enjoyed reading my application and considered me a strong candidate. The mail further went onto to give some general details about the school and where I can find more information.

What should I make of this? Is it commonplace to receive such mails before the official results are out? Has anyone else received a similar mail?

Thanks,

[palabared]

that's a really ambiguous email. I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess at least it isn't negative, so I would think positively about it!

Hi Guys,

Today I received a mail regarding my application from the Associate Director - MIB Program, Fletcher School. Reading the mail has put me in a confusion and I would like to have a 2nd opinion. Essentially, it was a personalized e-mail and she had commended my work experience. She also mentioned that she enjoyed reading my application and considered me a strong candidate. The mail further went onto to give some general details about the school and where I can find more information.

What should I make of this? Is it commonplace to receive such mails before the official results are out? Has anyone else received a similar mail?

Thanks,

[jjay]

I received a similar email and was just as confused! I asked a few friends what they thought and I got mixed opinions. Some thought I shouldnt read into it and others thought it can only be a good sign.

Either we both just happen to be strong candidates or they really do that for everyone. (seems so unlikely though??)

Hi Guys,

Today I received a mail regarding my application from the Associate Director - MIB Program, Fletcher School. Reading the mail has put me in a confusion and I would like to have a 2nd opinion. Essentially, it was a personalized e-mail and she had commended my work experience. She also mentioned that she enjoyed reading my application and considered me a strong candidate. The mail further went onto to give some general details about the school and where I can find more information.

What should I make of this? Is it commonplace to receive such mails before the official results are out? Has anyone else received a similar mail?

Thanks,

[braindead]

Hmm,

I think its a safe bet to not think too much about it coz after this if we don't get selected it will be a major letdown.

I received a similar email and was just as confused! I asked a few friends what they thought and I got mixed opinions. Some thought I shouldnt read into it and others thought it can only be a good sign.

Either we both just happen to be strong candidates or they really do that for everyone. (seems so unlikely though??)

Edited February 11, 2011 by braindead

[D-Lux]

It seems to me like she's hinting that you will be accepted. I'm guessing she's trying to establish a relationship with you pre-official acceptance so that you'll be inclined to enroll in her program once it's official.

Why would the associate director of the program send you that kind of email if they weren't interested? If you were going to be straight up denied admission, you would be getting a thin envelope in the mail in April and dodgy, non-committal emails from them in the meantime.

*edit* I guess it's possible they sent one to all the applicants, but that just means that at worst, the email could be neutral.

Hi Guys,

Today I received a mail regarding my application from the Associate Director - MIB Program, Fletcher School. Reading the mail has put me in a confusion and I would like to have a 2nd opinion. Essentially, it was a personalized e-mail and she had commended my work experience. She also mentioned that she enjoyed reading my application and considered me a strong candidate. The mail further went onto to give some general details about the school and where I can find more information.

What should I make of this? Is it commonplace to receive such mails before the official results are out? Has anyone else received a similar mail?

Thanks,

Edited February 12, 2011 by D-Lux

[jjay]

Yes, I agree. Better to not get your hopes too high. Maybe I'm just too naive, but it would seem so mean for them to send something like this and the deny admission. Who knows!

Hmm,

I think its a safe bet to not think too much about it coz after this if we don't get selected it will be a major letdown.

[shutthefrontdoor]

Has anyone heard back from the University of Denver's Korbel School? Or University of Texas-Austin's LBJ school?

Thanks!

[cmh07g]

Sorry nothing from DU which is weird because I thought priority apps would be notified today....

Has anyone heard back from the University of Denver's Korbel School? Or University of Texas-Austin's LBJ school?

Thanks!

[tdpoulos]

Has anyone heard back from the U of Minnesotas Humphrey Institute MPP program? They said they would get back to me in late February but I saw that people were accepted as early as Feb. 9th last year...

[2shieh]

Here we go!

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPA/MEM/other environmental policy and management programs

Schools Applied To: Yale MEM, UPenn MES, Columbia MS Sustainability Management, UMich MS Sustainable Systems, Indiana U MPP/MES, University of Washington MPA, UCSB MEM

Schools Admitted To: UMich!

Schools Rejected From: none yet!

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: UC Irvine

Undergraduate GPA: 3.54

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): umm 3.7ish?

Undergraduate Major: International Studies, minor in Accounting

GRE Quantitative Score: 730

GRE Verbal Score: 550

GRE AW Score: 4 gross.

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3 (by Fall 2011)

Years of Work Experience: 2.5

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Current volunteer/intern for a natural restoration area. We're restoring 40 acres of Native American land and removing invasive plants and planting plants that are native to California. I've also been a registered volunteer with an international NGO since high school. More recently, I've been representing the NGO by hosting and organizing events on recycling and sustainability. Professionally, however, I work at an global computer company in their operations department (traffic/fulfillment/sales/product management/accounting liaison)... so not really relevant, although it did make me realize how much unnecessary waste corporations create!

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Even though I'm from the SF Bay Area, I never considered myself a treehugger, let alone an environmentalist. It wasn't until I took a trip to China and Taiwan that I realized how many awesome things you can do by using sustainable systems. I talked about my transformation, and discussed my added vigor and enthusiasm once I realized what it was that I wanted to do. Writing the SOP was probably the most difficult and tedious process I've had to go through over the past 2 years... so it took a lot longer than I had expected. Don't forget to mention how the resources/faculty/curriculum can help you!! I had to rewrite this part for each school that I applied to, but it really made me realize which schools were best for me in the long run.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I had one academic, and two from my volunteer and internship experiences. I compiled a recommender's reference packet with my current resume, a copy of my SOP, unofficial transcript, and writing sample. It seems a little tedious to compile all of these documents, but when your recommender is writing your letter, they will thank you for having these resources. Even if you know your recommender well, I suggest creating this packet anyway. My academic LOR was submitted to a 3rd party folio website, so I did not see how strong of a letter was written; same goes for the LOR written by my supervisor/team leader for my volunteer experience. I did get to read the letter my supervisor from my internship wrote, and it was... bland. And didn't really show how I would grow or benefit from the grad program. He also didn't mention how I helped them on their project. I know I should have talked to him more about the content of his letter, but by the time he sent me a copy, he had already submitted the letter to all the schools I applied to. Lesson learned: maintain constant dialog with your recommender.

Other: I visited Indiana U while I was visiting family in the midwest and was still on the fence on whether or not I wanted to apply to the school. After seeing the campus and hearing what the faculty and staff had to offer, I was sold and decided to apply to the program. Campus visits are kinda eh.. to me, but I found this one particularly helpful especially since I was not familiar with the school or the region.

[Diesel2011]

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPA, MDP

Schools Applied To: WWS (MPA), SIPA (MPA-DP), LSE (MPA), Fletcher (MALD), GWU (MA), Georgetown (MSFS), Emory (MDP), Korbel (MDP)

Schools Admitted To: LSE (MPA), Korbel

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: Top 20 US Private

Undergraduate GPA: 3.93

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.96

Undergraduate Major: Political Science and Religious Studies

GRE Quantitative Score: 740

GRE Verbal Score: 680

GRE AW Score: 5.0

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3

Years of Work Experience: 3

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Worked as a program manager for an International NGO in Darfur for 2 years.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think very strong. I wrote a new SOP/essays for each program - spent A LOT of time on the process. Asked friends to review them.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Probably pretty good. Two were from supervisors with my NGO, and three were former professors/research advisers.