What are good MPA/MPP programs for an activist?

[Bicamp]

Hello!

Essentially, I already have the perfect job for me, and I think graduate study would qualify me for better pay, academic credibility and job placement. My position has a lot to do with public policy, but not a lot to do with economics and quantitative analysis like most MPA/MPP programs focus on and look for in applicants.

I head public policy initiatives for a reproductive justice organization (focused on maternal health and LGBTQ rights). So, I lobby, draft legislation, monitor policy, lead local public policy campaigns, aid in local election campaigns, write curricula and analysis, plan events, present at conferences, guest-lecture at universities, and a bit of research.

I'm looking for a MPA/MPP that would prefer someone who wants to be more of an activist-scholar. Looking for a school that finds my work experience relevant, and has a program that would help me further my career.

From what I've read and heard, the following schools that match my qualifications and aspirations are:

• Case Western
  
• Georgia State University
  
• Columbia
  
• Michigan
  
• Duke
  
• Georgetown
  

What have others heard?

Thank you in advance.

[neverever]

Have you thought about doing an MPH?

Your background sounds similar to people I know who went to JHU/Bloomberg, and now that they're graduated, they're doing jobs that very much build on those experiences/skills (but for higher pay and the opportunity to work on projects with a wider reach).

On the upside, some of the ppl I know who went to Hopkins did have strong quant backgrounds (MDs, etc), but many *didn't.* A lot of people were doing the MPH as a dual degree with their JD, and others were strong in policy, like you, but had only taken a couple intro econ/intro stats classes in UG and weren't all that interested or strong w/r/t quant. It didn't seem to affect their admission or ability to complete the program.

Another plus of the MPH is that it's only one year, so tuition won't be as steep as for an unfunded 2-yr MPP/MPA. An upside of going to Bloomberg specifically is that based in Baltimore, so the cost of living is low *but* you'd be living close enough to DC to commute in and definitely to get to interviews, conferences, etc, there.

However, there are some cons: nobody seems to get money for their MPH unless they're already enrolled in Hopkins Med or some other program that specifically offers a tuition waiver. Also, they do require a few semesters of stats and other quant classes. Since the program is only a year long, it starts in the summer and ends late the following spring, so you won't be able to intern for credit unless you do it during the semester (nobody I knew was able to work or intern while in there).

Fwiw, the people I know who went through Bloomberg (this is a group of about 6 who I know personally), all are currently working in health-related policy, most for the federal govt.

Otherwise, I'm also interested in domestic issues, more in terms of advocacy and not so much in terms of working for the govt, and Ford at U of M seems especially friendly (it's shaking out to be my #1 pick). *However,* I'm very early in my research, so I could be completely wrongheaded right now. For what it's worth, the reasons I'm liking Ford so far are: relatively generous in terms of funding, located in a low cost-of-living area, located near Detroit (urban poverty is my primary area of interest), the stuff they're doing at the National Poverty Center looks fascinating, not *impossible* to get into but a solid school and part of a solid university. The big cons for me at the moment are: terrible winters (live in LA now and wish it were more tropical), isolated from other major cities (I've only lived in major cities, so again, this might be a personal issue that other people wouldn't have).

Also, how come you have Georgetown on your list, out of all the DC schools? I'm interested because I'm still trying to figure out which DC schools to apply to, and they all are running together for me.

[method]

As an incoming student at Ford, I'll see if I can speak to a few points. The first is that Ford is hands-down a practitioner's program. Case in point, there is no thesis but rather two mandatory integrated policy exercises and one optional applied policy seminar where you work on a live problem.

Your policy background will be super attractive as an applicant. Don't worry about non-use of quantitative skills, Ford will train you in everything you need as calc I, stats, and applied microecon are all part of the mandatory curriculum as are one of quant eval or applied econometrics. And the really, really cool thing about our quant classes is that they are fun and APPLIED. Imagine getting to take calc I through a policy lens. Imagine using school finance data in your applied micro classes. Imagine your calc and stats professors being two of the highest rated professors in your program for humor and approachability. If ever there was a program to teach powerful quantitative methods to those without that kind of background, in a policy context, this is it.

You mentioned election campaigns, well one of our lecturers, Gerald Hills, is a career campaign strategist who adjuncts at night and teaches a class on it. One of the alums on our board, Jeff Barnes, became the policy director and campaign manager for the gubernatorial run of now-Governor Rick Snyder (I believe that was Jeff's first post-Ford job as well.) Michigan recently redistricted creating a brand new 11th district, and the democratic candidate has campaign internships right now. Doesn't do you any good, but just another example of campaign work available.

We have several policymaking classes (obviously haha) that focus on different levels of government. We have policymakers in residence including a career foreign service officer, an ex public policy vice president from General Motors, and a few more I believe, that you can knock on the door of almost anytime. There's also a great push for superb policy writing, so we have a policy writing camp and .5 credit classes taught by writing instructors that will show you how to craft great memos.

For hands-on stuff, the first internship opportunity you'll get mailed about post-acceptance is for summer work internships in the Detroit Mayor's office. We routinely place in the Governor's office as well. There are a few opportunities for in-school internships, although it'd be difficult to pull off in year 1 due to scheduling, but Citizens Research Council of Michigan pays interns to do non-partisan policy research on proposed state legislation and issues those papers to decision makers in the state.

Regarding funding, I can tell you that if you have a diverse socioeconomic background and some type of elite academic credential (GPA, GRE, etc.) you will be in significant running for a Rackham Merit Fellowship which is full-tuition plus. Lots of RA/TA positions. Professors basically say for RA posts, come to the speaker/lecture series, show an interest in the centers and research, and then ask. "We always have work," according to one professor who I won't name.

If you have a conference idea, pitch it to Trey Williams, one of our lead directors, and he'll probably tell you to run with it. Also, the school fully embraces its proximity to Detroit as an incredible place to serve the public good, so there's probably a gold mine of potential work there.

Last, Michigan is more than a "solid university." It has 90 programs ranked in the top 10 of their respective fields. The Ford School is tied with Kennedy at #1 in social policy, and ranked #3 in policy analysis according to USN. U of M is the world's 14th best university according to QS World Report (sandwiched between Princeton and Cornell), and by those metrics is the top public university in the country, landing ahead of Berkeley.

All in all, yeah, Ford is a great place to do a MPA/MPP for someone who's ready to work!

Edited June 2, 2012 by method

[mintygreen]

I'd love to bump this thread, if possible. I think Bicamp's question is a great one, and his/her career sounds very much like what I hope to do with my MPP. I found method's insight into Ford quite helpful, as it's one of the programs I've been admitted to and am strongly considering. The other frontrunners are the University of Maryland and Brandeis University (Heller School)--mainly because of compatability with my specific interests and generous funding offers. (I've also gotten into Georgetown, UCLA, and Penn, and while I'm not considering those as much, I'd be interested in hearing people's perspectives on them.) Any thoughts would be welcome!

[XYZMan]

Look at MIT DUSP's Master of City planning program and the faculty affiliated with the Housing, Community, and Economic Development group.

[JESC 2012]

 Hi,

 

 I just stumbled across this post. I am very interested in learning how you got into the field of public policy. What was your undergrad major, how has your experience been thus far?   I really am interested in going into public policy so any advice would help and you seem to be doing a lot of the things I'd like to do.  I heard great things about Duke and UMich. To me they seemed to stress quantitative skills, but the people I spoke to say that helped them in terms of their career.  Also I know idealist.org host several graduate fairs   throughout the year for MPP/MPA programs. It really helped me in my selection of programs especially when I was unable to visit the schools. Have you considered UC(Harris)? I spoke to an admissions counselor and she really stressed work experience and in a city like Chicago I am sure you will have no problem being a scholar-activist here. =) 

Edited June 8, 2013 by JESC 2012