MPP/MPA 2011 Applicants

[gratas]

Congrats on your acceptances so far? Just wondering, when was your app for LSE complete? Still waiting for hear from them...

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.

[dman1]

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

Schools Applied To: GPPI, Heinz, UCLA, Duke Sanford, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford

Schools Admitted To: GPPI

Schools Rejected From: None yet

Still Waiting: Heinz, UCLA, Duke, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford

Undergraduate institution: Top 15 private university

Undergraduate GPA: 3.83

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.9

Undergraduate Major: Philosophy

GRE Quantitative Score: 780

GRE Verbal Score: 690

GRE AW Score: 5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5

Years of Work Experience: 2-3

Describe Relevant Work Experience: I spent most of the last five years in a philosophy Ph.D program (from which I eventually withdrew), so most of my work experience is in the classroom and most of it is not policy-related, though I have taught an ethics course and assisted a political philosophy course.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. I don't have a lot of great work experience so I tried to connect my background in political philosophy to my interest in public policy. I struggled with my SOP a lot, but in the end I realized that you can't invent a bunch of great work experiences you don't have, so it's better to just be honest and do the best with what you've got.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have no idea. My letter writers were all philosophy professors and none of them have any clout in the policy world.

Other:

[Diesel2011]

I finished up my application to LSE in mid-December, and I got my response about two weeks ago.

Congrats on your acceptances so far? Just wondering, when was your app for LSE complete? Still waiting for hear from them...

[kaka]

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

Schools Applied To: Berkeley (GSPP), USC (SPPD), UCLA, University of Washington (Evans), and University of Oregon (PPPM)

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: Small private university

Undergraduate GPA: 3.78

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.85

Undergraduate Major: Political Science (minor in History)

GRE Quantitative Score: 730 (77%)

GRE Verbal Score: 640 (92%)

GRE AW Score: 6 (99%)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 3.5

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Interned at American Red Cross and Mental Health Association of San Francisco after coming out of college. Spent a year and a half working for a small medical billing company and most recently spent a year working at a non-profit organization called the Foundation for Health Coverage Education as a research associate.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Work in progress. Focusing mainly on how my various work experiences have provided valuable exposure to various aspects of the healthcare system and how that would benefit me in a health policy career.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Two academic references from professors who will write pretty strong references and one professional from my most recent boss.

Other: I am focusing mainly on applying to schools on the West Coast since I live in the Bay Area and for health reasons I am somewhat limited and have to stay in state. With my average GRE scores and relative little work experience I know Berkeley is probably a long shot, but that's my number one choice. I wouldn't mind going down to either USC or UCLA, but I'm wondering if I am applying to enough schools.

None of the programs will reject you....congrats in advance

[kaka]

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

Schools Applied To: GPPI, Heinz, UCLA, Duke Sanford, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford

Schools Admitted To: GPPI

Schools Rejected From: None yet

Still Waiting: Heinz, UCLA, Duke, Harris, SIPA, NYU Wagner, UM Ford

Undergraduate institution: Top 15 private university

Undergraduate GPA: 3.83

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.9

Undergraduate Major: Philosophy

GRE Quantitative Score: 780

GRE Verbal Score: 690

GRE AW Score: 5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5

Years of Work Experience: 2-3

Describe Relevant Work Experience: I spent most of the last five years in a philosophy Ph.D program (from which I eventually withdrew), so most of my work experience is in the classroom and most of it is not policy-related, though I have taught an ethics course and assisted a political philosophy course.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. I don't have a lot of great work experience so I tried to connect my background in political philosophy to my interest in public policy. I struggled with my SOP a lot, but in the end I realized that you can't invent a bunch of great work experiences you don't have, so it's better to just be honest and do the best with what you've got.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have no idea. My letter writers were all philosophy professors and none of them have any clout in the policy world.

Other:

Don't you have any econ class? if you do, I wonder why you should not get at least 4 of the programs

[kaka]

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.

You should be too strong to be rejected by any of your programs

[oogabooga]

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

Schools Applied To: HKS (MPP), UW-Evans (MPA), Berkeley - GSPP (MPP), UCLA - SPA (MPP), USC - SPPD (MPA), IU-SPEA (MPA), Michigan-Ford (MPP)

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting: All

Undergraduate institution: A good Pac-10 school

Undergraduate GPA: 3.78

Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.8

Undergraduate Major: Civil Engineering

GRE Quantitative Score: 790

GRE Verbal Score: 750

GRE AW Score: 6.0

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 4.5

Years of Work Experience: ~4

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Worked as a civil engineer (hoping to focus on transportation/environmental policy issues, so it's reasonably relevant), completed the Peace Corps (worked on environmental issues), now working at a university in policy stuff as sort of a landing spot between PC and grad school

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Tried to tie in my somewhat diverse academic and work background and focus it all into the public policy applications that I'm most interested in studying, and why those things pushed me to be interested in policy/admin. I hardly mentioned my current work though (to be honest, it's not that important to me or why I'm pursuing an MPP/A) and wonder if that will raise questions among reviewers.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Hopefully good (whose aren't?) -- former prof involved in transportation policy, Peace Corps supervisor familiar with my work both at my assigned site and in the main office, student activities advisor. Tried to get them to each focus on a different aspect that should portray an overall picture when read together.

[stompor]

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...

No, I've been waiting to hear from them for about a week. I'm comfortable since no one else seems to have heard from them. Yet, it's a bit odd they aren't meeting their own deadline.

[kaka]

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

Schools Applied To: Brown, CMU, Harvard, Pitt, Birmingham, Univ Coll London (these are for sure, also potentially Columbia, GWU, NYU, RIT)

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From:

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: Medium private university, known for social sciences in graduate programs

Undergraduate GPA: 3.91

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

Undergraduate Major: Economics, Policy Studies

GRE Quantitative Score: 800

GRE Verbal Score: 680

GRE AW Score: 5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0

Years of Work Experience: Essentially 2

Describe Relevant Work Experience: Worked for 2 summers and 1 year at local government think tank; have also done a fair amount of undergrad research (1 publication)

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Sort of a strange format of anecdotes/snapshots of research/the things that motivated me towards urban policy...I polished it for the Marshall so it should be pretty solid.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Two from professors I've done research with/TAed for, one from my boss at said think tank, one from a staff member who knows me very well through ECs and leadership

Other: I applied for the Marshall scholarship to study in the UK--that's why UCL and Birmingham are on there (and I love the schools). It's a long shot for me so I'm looking back in the U.S...I really like Providence and Pittsburgh as case studies in Urban Policy so I guess they're top for that, but then there's Harvard, which is just...Harvard. Not sure about the strength of my application since my undergrad isn't a top-tier school, so I guess we'll see! Feel free to suggest any other match schools--I'm a bit clueless about this whole thing!

Are you sure you have been accepted by the MPP at HKS? are their decisions out? they told me decisions will be available in March. I wonder how you have yours in February

[CC139]

Are you sure you have been accepted by the MPP at HKS? are their decisions out? they told me decisions will be available in March. I wonder how you have yours in February

Per UrbanWonk's post: "Schools Applied To: Brown, CMU, Harvard, Pitt, Birmingham, Univ Coll London (these are for sure, also potentially Columbia, GWU, NYU, RIT)

Schools Admitted To: " So I believe he is still waiting on all those programs.

[UrbanWonk]

UrbanWonk is a she, and yes, I am still waiting. Sorry if either bit was unclear. :-D

You were told specifically March, though? i know it was March last year but since the submission deadline was so much earlier, i was hoping the decision might follow suit...especially as the fin aid deadline is a week from today!

[CC139]

Haha sorry for that!

[fso2k11]

On the HKS front, I called today and was informed that they will send out admissions by "the first week in April." Which essentially punted the question. I also know that this year's total applicant pool is the largest they've ever had (I don't know if thats the case across individual programs, though.)

UrbanWonk is a she, and yes, I am still waiting. Sorry if either bit was unclear. :-D

You were told specifically March, though? i know it was March last year but since the submission deadline was so much earlier, i was hoping the decision might follow suit...especially as the fin aid deadline is a week from today!

[SubjectNotebook]

On the HKS front, I called today and was informed that they will send out admissions by "the first week in April." Which essentially punted the question. I also know that this year's total applicant pool is the largest they've ever had (I don't know if thats the case across individual programs, though.)

Hi - That's weird - I called this week and they said 31st, which is also what the website says. Wait and watch I guess...

[canesfan2011]

Program Applied To MPP/MPA (and 2 media/public affairs)

Schools Applied To: HKS, GPPI, GW (MPA), GW (MMPA), UMD (MPP), AU (PolCom)

Schools Admitted To: GPPI, GW, GW, UMD

Schools Rejected From: none (yet)

Still Waiting: HKS, AU

Undergraduate institution: Top 50 US, Private

Undergraduate GPA: projected 3.9 (3.87 currently)

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

Undergraduate Major: Comm Studies/Poli Sci (minor economics)

GRE Quantitative Score: 620

GRE Verbal Score: 680

GRE AW Score: 5.5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 0

Years of Work Experience: 3 (internships, some full time some part time)

Describe Relevant Work Experience: internships: house, senate, white house, us senate campaign

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): About my experiences teaching at risk middle schoolers competitive debate and how it helped me realize the deficiencies in the education system. I just went back and re-read and it's not my best work, but I guess generally it's fine. I wish I could go back and rewrite it. 6.5/10.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): 10/10. Two professors, one employer. All promised me "superior" recs.

[415mrr617]

Program Applied To MPP

Schools Applied To: HKS, GSPP, UCLA, Stanford IPS

Schools Admitted To:

Schools Rejected From: none (yet)

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: Top 30 US, Private

Undergraduate GPA: 3.4

Graduate GPA: projected 3.8

Undergraduate Major: Marketing

GRE Quantitative Score: 660

GRE Verbal Score: 680

GRE AW Score: 4.5

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 10

Years of Work Experience: 9

Describe Relevant Work Experience: First four years of career: worked for advertising firms, second four years of career: worked as an energy efficiency program manager/senior analyst at a large utility in California, eventually shifting to regulatory relations role. Also, I'm finishing up my MPA now (yes, I know it's weird that I'm applying to MPP programs - but I didn't get the quantitative rigor I wanted out of my MPA)

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I worked hard to encompass my transition to the public sector in my SOP - particularly the thread from marketing research to interest in energy issues to public management to policy analysis 8.5/10.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I can't say for sure but probably pretty solid. A mix of academic and coworker references. One might be a little generic.

[cmh07g]

How many other priority aps to Korbel (DU) have not heard back yet? I had trouble with admissions getting all of my letters of rec on time but they are all listed on the web site as being within the priority app deadline...

[esha]

Program Applied To MPA ,MEPP

Schools Applied To: NYU Wagner,University of washington(Evans),Cornell,UMD (MEPP- ENGINERRING AND PUBLIC POLIC),TAMU,WISCONSIN MADISION,FSU AND UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Schools Admitted To: WISCONSIN MADISION----no clue on funding

Schools Rejected From: none (yet)

Still Waiting:

Undergraduate institution: Panjab University( top 10 universities in INDIA)

Graduate GPA: projected Dont have GPA system (Hons.Degree)

Undergraduate Major: Information Technology(Engineering)

GRE Quantitative Score: 780

GRE Verbal Score: 590

GRE AW Score: 3 (Setback the reason i din apply to better schools)

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2.5

Years of Work Experience: 2

Describe Relevant Work Experience: worked with a student organisation in college in education sector ,Helped setup a school for undepreviledged children through CSR initiatives.

Currently working in an IT consulting frim as an alalyst in sales and marketing strategies with TATA consultancy Services.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I worked majorly on my past experience in education sector my strong science background which is directly realtional to my interest in science and technology policies and environmental polices .I have also recieved a govt of india Department of science and technology scolarship which highlights my work in projects based on non conventional sources of energy .

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I can't say for sure 2 are academic professors and 1 is a manager at my work place.

Looking forward to some acceptances.

otherwise anyone else applied to wisconsin madison.....

[Cooltx75]

Program Applied To: MPA

Schools Applied To: LSE, Sciences Po

Schools Admitted To: n/a

Schools Rejected From: LSE

Still Waiting: Sciences Po

Undergraduate institution: University of Delaware

Underaduate GPA: 3.3 (3.8 major)

Undergraduate Major: Political Science

GRE Quantitative Score: n/a

GRE Verbal Score: n/a

GRE AW Score: n/a

Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 3

Years of Work Experience: 2

Describe Relevant Work Experience: internships at a law firm and political campaign. Working in a local business since Oct 2010.

Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Well I think it was the best essay I ever wrote about myself. Was 10x better than what I came up with for undergrad admissions. Focused on my background, my year and a half of living in Paris, my immigrant experience to the US, why I am interested in public policy etc.

Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have one academic recommendation that is stellar from a distinguished public policy professor with tons of experience in DC. The second one is OK I suppose, no way to know. Professional recommendations are great too (Sciences Po requires 2, LSE didn't)

I got my LSE rejection email to my first and second choices today. I suppose I wasn't all that surprised, it was a long shot to begin with considering my GPA and lack of GRE which they encourage even thought it isn't mandatory. I know that there are far better applicants than me who deserve to be accepted to such an elite school. It still stings though. Very quick turn around, submitted January 28 and today is February 18 making that 3 weeks.

I always thought I had a better shot to get into Sciences Po and it is where I actually want to go. I didn't apply to any US schools as backup because I didn't take the GRE in time, so only 2 schools which is very risky I know that. I know intellectually that I have a decent shot at Sciences Po (the acceptance rate is higher than LSE MPA) but being rejected by LSE so quickly, at least on an emotional level I feel deflated and pessimistic about Sciences Po now. I know it will pass in a few days....in any case, I suspect I will get a decision sometime in March.

Edited February 18, 2011 by Cooltx75

[mpptobe2011]

Michigan has started notifying? How did you hear?

Also, congratulations!

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:

[skeedy]

Michigan has started notifying? How did you hear?

Also, congratulations!

It looks like 2shieh was accepted to U Mich's MS Sustainable Systems program... So we are still waiting for the MPA/MPP decisions!

(and yes - congrats!)

[2shieh]

Michigan has started notifying? How did you hear?

Also, congratulations!

hey researchworks!

thanks! i found out via email on monday and got an envelope in the mail the same day. good luck to you!

[mpptobe2011]

Helpful, thanks 2shiel and Skeedy.

hey researchworks!

thanks! i found out via email on monday and got an envelope in the mail the same day. good luck to you!

[poisondoux]

I see that the Maryland decisions for MPP are out. I haven't heard back from them. Do they send acceptances in batches or is the game over for me as far as Maryland is concerned?!

[skeedy]

Helpful, thanks 2shiel and Skeedy.

No problemo. You are waiting on U Mich MPP as well? The results board history says ~ March 15, but there aren't THAT many postings, so I'm still left constantly refreshing the website...