Brown University (Taubman) MPP

[STM]

Hello:

I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me how good or bad the MPP program at Brown is? I know its relatively new and they don't post many admission stats, but perhaps one of you is currently studying there or has studied there before? any information would be very valuable because I love the university but don't know much about the program and am therefore finding it hard to write the 'perfect' entrance essay for them!

btw here is my profile:

Undergrad result: High 2:1 (British system)

GRE: 1480 AWA: 5.5

WE: 1.5 Years at provincial government level

The other unis i'm thinking of are Michigan and UCLA.

Thanks

[traveler06]

I'd love to know more about the Brown MPP as well. I was just admitted today, and all I know is what I've researched on the website. It's fairly new, so there doesn't seem to be that much information out there.

[policy_applicant]

I'd love to know more about the Brown MPP as well. I was just admitted today, and all I know is what I've researched on the website. It's fairly new, so there doesn't seem to be that much information out there.

Congrats! I don't know much about Brown's MPP program, but you should put your acceptance on the results page. I believe you'll be only the third MPP acceptance on there.

[traveler06]

Congrats! I don't know much about Brown's MPP program, but you should put your acceptance on the results page. I believe you'll be only the third MPP acceptance on there.

Thanks!

... It took me way too long to figure out where the results page was. Don't know this website too well.

[policy_applicant]

... It took me way too long to figure out where the results page was. Don't know this website too well.

I know I'm going to become unhealthily addicted to it once people start posting acceptances to schools I've applied to. The only thing keeping me sane at this point is that the only results are from schools I didn't send applications to.

[cloudless_climes]

Hi everybody...so I'm a current student at the Taubman center at Brown.

If I can answer any questions you may have about the program, I'd be happy to do so.

As far as admissions statistics, I'm not sure what they are. I can tell you that we're a relatively young program with a small class size (there are about 30 or so first year MPPs and MPAs).

STM, your stats look good to me. Don't worry about writing the perfect entrance essay. Although I'm not on the Ad-Com, I can tell you that the people in the program come from a diverse set of backgrounds with a wide variety of experiences and experience levels.

Any questions, just ask =] hopefully i'll meet some of you next year!

[traveler06]

Hi everybody...so I'm a current student at the Taubman center at Brown.

If I can answer any questions you may have about the program, I'd be happy to do so.

As far as admissions statistics, I'm not sure what they are. I can tell you that we're a relatively young program with a small class size (there are about 30 or so first year MPPs and MPAs).

STM, your stats look good to me. Don't worry about writing the perfect entrance essay. Although I'm not on the Ad-Com, I can tell you that the people in the program come from a diverse set of backgrounds with a wide variety of experiences and experience levels.

Any questions, just ask =] hopefully i'll meet some of you next year!

It's great to hear from a current Taubman student! I've loved everything I've read about the program - especially the small class size. I'm coming to visit at the end of the month and am looking forward to learning more.

How is the interaction with the faculty? Do you have a lot of chance to do research? Also, what is your sense of career opportunities and being able to pursue internships?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[cloudless_climes]

It's great to hear from a current Taubman student! I've loved everything I've read about the program - especially the small class size. I'm coming to visit at the end of the month and am looking forward to learning more.

How is the interaction with the faculty? Do you have a lot of chance to do research? Also, what is your sense of career opportunities and being able to pursue internships?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Traveler, it's excellent that you're coming to visit! Are you coming for Admitted Students Day or just a personal visit?

Interaction with the faculty is great! Professors in Public Policy and other departments (political science, sociology, education...) are all VERY open to students and very accessible. Since you'll be spending most of the time in the Taubman Center building, interaction is pretty much all of the time. Research opportunities abound if you contact professors. (Since faculty are very prompt with email responses, you shouldn't have a problem finding someone to do research with, although I can't be sure about compensation...)

Coming to the Taubman Center will open you up to the Brown network for career and internship opportunities in addition to some very 'elite' job searches. Specifically in Providence, from what I've heard, organizations are psyched about Brown students working for them. As can be said with any ivy league, the name will carry you far. As for Taubman, we've got a wonderful career counselor who is always willing to help; she's helped set me in contact with former students and professors alike. So far students are pursuing internships as close as downtown Providence and as far away as Europe and Asia etc...

Hope that helps!

=]

[traveler06]

Traveler, it's excellent that you're coming to visit! Are you coming for Admitted Students Day or just a personal visit?

Interaction with the faculty is great! Professors in Public Policy and other departments (political science, sociology, education...) are all VERY open to students and very accessible. Since you'll be spending most of the time in the Taubman Center building, interaction is pretty much all of the time. Research opportunities abound if you contact professors. (Since faculty are very prompt with email responses, you shouldn't have a problem finding someone to do research with, although I can't be sure about compensation...)

Coming to the Taubman Center will open you up to the Brown network for career and internship opportunities in addition to some very 'elite' job searches. Specifically in Providence, from what I've heard, organizations are psyched about Brown students working for them. As can be said with any ivy league, the name will carry you far. As for Taubman, we've got a wonderful career counselor who is always willing to help; she's helped set me in contact with former students and professors alike. So far students are pursuing internships as close as downtown Providence and as far away as Europe and Asia etc...

Hope that helps!

=]

Thanks for the information, Cloudless! I am coming up for the admitted students day on the 28th. Definitely looking forward to it.

[massive]

wow. This set of responses is totally different than those on AutoAdmit where I posted a very similar question.

[traveler06]

wow. This set of responses is totally different than those on AutoAdmit where I posted a very similar question.

What is being said there? I've never heard of that site.

[policy_applicant]

wow. This set of responses is totally different than those on AutoAdmit where I posted a very similar question.

Autoadmit is 3/4 trolls. The advice around these parts is much better.

[massive]

Here's the thread from autoadmit: http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thr ... forum_id=3

[swr22]

I did an MPA at Brown, so happy to advise if people want to ask questions. In general, though, I would very much recommend it.

[East_of_Eden]

I too have been accepted to Taubman (Brown). While the program is in its incipient stage, those of us who are considering accepting their offer of admission need to realize that a university such as Brown doesn't just start a public policy program for the heck of it. A school of Brown's caliber has no desire to simply offer a mediocre program in one of the fastest growing fields. No young program is going to race to the top of the rankings, especially rankings solely based on peer-assessment (US News). KSG, WWS, GPPI among other programs are, and probably always will be, at the top. After visiting and meeting with people at KSG and GPPI, I made a conscious choice not to apply. This was not b/c I didn't have the stats. I believe my application is competitive with most. I got a warm, hospitable vibe at Brown -- a vibe absent at KSG and GPPI. Of course, it all comes down to one's preference(s). Some want greater networking options, some want the strongest name possible, some want a big city. For me, I want a strong name, a place I feel comfortable, great academic opportunities and people who I believe care a lot. Oh yeah, and funding. To me, Brown has what I'm looking for. Ultimately, I may not choose to go there, but it won't be because of its US News ranking or the inane comments from those idiots on that autoadmit strand. If anything, the fact that a Taubman student took the time to post helpful replies should be somewhat indicative that the program seems to care.

[DefinitelyMaybe]

I too have been accepted to Taubman (Brown). While the program is in its incipient stage, those of us who are considering accepting their offer of admission need to realize that a university such as Brown doesn't just start a public policy program for the heck of it. A school of Brown's caliber has no desire to simply offer a mediocre program in one of the fastest growing fields. No young program is going to race to the top of the rankings, especially rankings solely based on peer-assessment (US News). KSG, WWS, GPPI among other programs are, and probably always will be, at the top. After visiting and meeting with people at KSG and GPPI, I made a conscious choice not to apply. This was not b/c I didn't have the stats. I believe my application is competitive with most. I got a warm, hospitable vibe at Brown -- a vibe absent at KSG and GPPI. Of course, it all comes down to one's preference(s). Some want greater networking options, some want the strongest name possible, some want a big city. For me, I want a strong name, a place I feel comfortable, great academic opportunities and people who I believe care a lot. Oh yeah, and funding. To me, Brown has what I'm looking for. Ultimately, I may not choose to go there, but it won't be because of its US News ranking or the inane comments from those idiots on that autoadmit strand. If anything, the fact that a Taubman student took the time to post helpful replies should be somewhat indicative that the program seems to care.

East of Eden, great post. I know a few people who attended Brown for undergrad and one who lived in the Providence area for a short time and they all highly recommended that I apply. Their endorsement of the school and city meant a lot to me, as they are persons of color and I am as well.

When I was researching schools to apply to, I was extremely turned off by KSG and UC Berkeley. I found them both to be extremely unhelpful, they never had real faculty answering the phones (I don't always want to speak to graduate students), when I did get someone on the phone they didn't know the answers to my questions. It was a huge turnoff. So I chose not to even bother. Grad school is all about the departments and how you get along with them and if they were this disinterested and unorganized on the phone, I wasn't too keen on sending them my money and application materials.

Brown was the opposite. I was able to speak to the Department Chair on two or three occasions, he and other staff were helpful, answered questions, etc. I felt good about applying there. I have to be honest: It IS discouraging to see that people are being admitted to Taubman because I sent my materials in in mid-November and have not received a decision yet. It gives me the impression that they are either REALLY on the fence about my application and I'm wait listed without my knowledge or my rejection letter is headed towards my doorstep. lol

But the fact that Brown is a new program and isn't on the "end all be all US News Rankings" :roll: didn't matter one bit to me. Whether I am admitted or not, I would still encourage people to consider applying there.

[causey]

Did any of those admitted to Brown's MPP get any offer of financial aid? Thank you.

[East_of_Eden]

To DefinitelyMaybe: You ought to think about contacting them regarding your application. I obviously don't know your stats and experience, but since they have been notifying applicants regarding acceptances, now is as good a time as any to let them know you're still earnestly interested.

To any/everyone: I just discovered that I didn't earn a grad. fellowship to Taubman, which may mean that I can't go. I'm still looking into university grants and other ways to finance my education there outside of just loans. I'd love to go to Providence, but the prospect of being 100+k in debt at graduation isn't sitting too well w/me, especially when I already have a 25k/year fellowship to Cornell. Good luck all!

[traveler06]

Did any of those admitted to Brown's MPP get any offer of financial aid? Thank you.

I was admitted and offered a scholarship. Looking at what the tuition costs, the scholarship is a bit less than half tuition.

[traveler06]

PS... Is anyone going to Providence for Brown's admitted students day this weekend?

[causey]

I would love to go for the admitted students day at Brown...but I haven't received a decision yet. "Traveler" do you know if there is any another "admitted students day" besides February 28th?

[traveler06]

I would love to go for the admitted students day at Brown...but I haven't received a decision yet. "Traveler" do you know if there is any another "admitted students day" besides February 28th?

Causey, I'm not sure. This is the only one I've heard about. I've not actually received anything in the mail. They called me and then the rest has been email communication.

[cloudless_climes]

I would love to go for the admitted students day at Brown...but I haven't received a decision yet. "Traveler" do you know if there is any another "admitted students day" besides February 28th?

Brown was the opposite. I was able to speak to the Department Chair on two or three occasions, he and other staff were helpful, answered questions, etc. I felt good about applying there. I have to be honest: It IS discouraging to see that people are being admitted to Taubman because I sent my materials in in mid-November and have not received a decision yet. It gives me the impression that they are either REALLY on the fence about my application and I'm wait listed without my knowledge or my rejection letter is headed towards my doorstep. lol

But the fact that Brown is a new program and isn't on the "end all be all US News Rankings" :roll: didn't matter one bit to me. Whether I am admitted or not, I would still encourage people to consider applying there.

Hi, I would definitely call and check on the status of your applications. However, I wouldn't panic either.

While I'm not entirely certain about admitted students days beyond this next one, I do know that the Taubman Center staff and students are always willing to arrange some informal visits. (They did this for me when I lived overseas last year and couldn't make it to the official day. I got to sit in on a class and talk to students and faculty alike.)

To Everybody:

Part of my decision in coming to Brown was the open friendliness of the faculty and students. Everybody seemed warm and welcoming, and I have found this to be true as I pursue my MPP here. Like others, I was turned off by the reticent, withdrawn, "you're just another number to us" attitudes at some very highly ranked universities.

I sincerely hope that if admitted to Taubman, you will come visit us, and ultimately decide to pursue your studies here in Providence.

[East_of_Eden]

To Cloudless_Climes: How are you financing your education at Brown? Were you the recipient of a scholarship or grant? If so, how did you go about procuring one? Or, are you taking out loans through the university, etc.? BTW, you represent the program very well through your posts!

[DefinitelyMaybe]

Cloudless, thank you for your reply! I'm glad to see that the friendliness that Brown exhibits over the phone carries over into the classroom and everyday interaction with the faculty. I also like when Brown MPP students post here because I know the program is small and I'm sure you all have better things to do.

I called last week and the person I spoke to said my application was "still in review". I think I'm gonna just chill out for now unless it gets ridiculously late; I don't wanna annoy them.