harvard ksg

[kna123]

I'm thinking about applying for the MPP program but I don't really know much about public policy programs. By the time I will matriculate, I will have 5 years of full-time journalism experience working as a reporter at national media outlets (I covered social policy issues having to do with the economy, poverty, etc) -- but i'm trying to switch into nonprofit management and policy work. I have a 3.5 GPA from a top 10 private college. I scored a 700 on the quant section of the GRE. strong and diverse letters of rec. I volunteer in my community for two groups and have won research grants abroad and for my writing.

Thanks!

[prolixity]

I'm thinking about applying for the MPP program but I don't really know much about public policy programs. By the time I will matriculate, I will have 5 years of full-time journalism experience working as a reporter at national media outlets (I covered social policy issues having to do with the economy, poverty, etc) -- but i'm trying to switch into nonprofit management and policy work. I have a 3.5 GPA from a top 10 private college. I scored a 700 on the quant section of the GRE. strong and diverse letters of rec. I volunteer in my community for two groups and have won research grants abroad and for my writing.

Thanks!

cool story bro.

What is it you're trying to communicate here besides the fact that you've got a couple of nice qualifications?

[JBrodsky]

cool story bro.

What is it you're trying to communicate here besides the fact that you've got a couple of nice qualifications?

That's a bit of a harsh reply, I think. Doesn't seem like he/she is a troll.

Assuming I'm correct there, I'd say you have decent chance. Normally 700 isn't amazing for quant, as you probably know, but it happens to be exactly what I got, and it worked for me. Your work experience and the rest all sound alright provided that you can paint a focused and consistent picture of what you've done and what you want to do and the connections in between.

[greendiplomat]

That's a bit of a harsh reply, I think. Doesn't seem like he/she is a troll.

Assuming I'm correct there, I'd say you have decent chance. Normally 700 isn't amazing for quant, as you probably know, but it happens to be exactly what I got, and it worked for me. Your work experience and the rest all sound alright provided that you can paint a focused and consistent picture of what you've done and what you want to do and the connections in between.

I guess it's the lack of explicit question that put him/her off, but I do agree that there's a huge number of harsh responses as of late. I think it's just that time of year (i.e. when admissions results are coming up, making people antsy).

In response to the original post, I think that you're definitely a strong candidate, though how strong depends on things that you didn't post. What's your quantitative background like (i.e. What did you study as an undergrad, and if not econ-related, what math/stats/econ classes did you take and how did you do in them)? If you're unfamiliar with public policy programs, how did you communicate in your personal statement that you're a good fit for HKS and vice versa?

Edited February 15, 2011 by greendiplomat