Is my plan feasible?/Programs in NYC

[pikapikachu]

I've decided to apply for a MPA for Fall 2014. I realize now is a ridiculously early time to consider applying, but I haven't really had anything else to do (unemployed.) To give a little background: Undergraduate degree in business at a decent state school, 3.8 GPA, multiple great internships and study abroad. I went into Teach For America right out of undergrad, but for various reasons had to quit 6 months in (Jan 2012.) I worked odd jobs here and there, but most significantly at a community center administering a summer work program for high school students (Apr - Sep 2012). Since then I've had no luck finding a job. 

 

I plan on moving to NYC in 2014 with my SO, and I want to get into a good MPA program to coincide with that move. I've looked into Columbia SIPA, NYU Wagner, and CUNY Baruch, but out of the three only the last one seems like a guaranteed-in. Ideally I think Wagner would be a great fit, but I'm worried about my chances of getting in. 

 

I plan on taking the GRE before the end of the year, and am fairly certain I can get a decent score based on my previous record, but what else should I do in the meantime to improve my chances? I've been out of the job market for so long and have been so discouraged that I'm not sure sitting around for nearly a year sending out resumes is the best bet. Should I take classes at my local CC, volunteer, travel, what?

 

Is Wagner/SIPA even a possibility for someone with a spotty work record but stellar academics like me? Is CUNY even worth the investment? Any advice would be appreciated.

[ridofme]

This is not a ridiculously early time to consider applying. Most applications are due in December/January, and there's a lot of prep you'll have to do before then. I actually think you're right on schedule.

 

If I were you, I would put all of my effort into studying for the GRE and finding a volunteer position/internship/job. I would suggest taking the GRE in early fall at the latest, so that you'll have time to re-take it if your scores aren't as high as you'd like them to be. The weakest part of your application, as you seem to realize, is going to be your work experience. Even if you find something that starts in May, you'll only have about 6 months experience at the time of application. Do you have a policy area of interest? Going abroad would only make sense if you are interested in international issues, which I'm guessing you're not, based on your work history and the programs to which you're applying (I assume you're doing the MPA at SIPA?). Also, hopefully you have a pretty solid reason that you left TFA (e.g. family/health emergency). You'll need to find a way to spin that.

 

You also want to think about who will write your rec letters - most programs require three. Now could be a good time to reach out to old undergrad profs and let them know you're thinking of applying to grad school. Maybe they can even give you some advice on different programs.

 

Finally - I know you did business undergrad, but did you take any econ/stat/calc classes? If not, taking one or two classes at a community college could help bolster your application.

 

Good luck!

[hesadork]

I'd ditto ridofme as to how you can make your app more competitive.  That said, I do hope you realize that several of these schools allow people to start in the spring rather than the fall, so you may not need to wait quite so long to get started.

 

On NYC schools:  I'd recommend that you consider adding Rutgers-Newark and the New School-Milano to your list.  Admission to either is less competitive than to Wagner or SIPA and both are good programs (great programs depending on the sub-field) that should at least be on your radar.

 

Depending on your career goals, Baruch should absolutely be in the mix.  It is a very solid program, particularly if you're interested in working for NYC gov't or for a local nonprofit.  And the price cannot be beat. 

 

On that note, is cost a consideration?  Personally I would not pay rack rate for this degree at SIPA, Wagner or Milano...the ROI just isn't there and the debt will be crippling.  

Edited April 29, 2013 by ADLNYC

[soaps]

I've decided to apply for a MPA for Fall 2014. I realize now is a ridiculously early time to consider applying, but I haven't really had anything else to do (unemployed.) To give a little background: Undergraduate degree in business at a decent state school, 3.8 GPA, multiple great internships and study abroad. I went into Teach For America right out of undergrad, but for various reasons had to quit 6 months in (Jan 2012.) I worked odd jobs here and there, but most significantly at a community center administering a summer work program for high school students (Apr - Sep 2012). Since then I've had no luck finding a job. 

 

I plan on moving to NYC in 2014 with my SO, and I want to get into a good MPA program to coincide with that move. I've looked into Columbia SIPA, NYU Wagner, and CUNY Baruch, but out of the three only the last one seems like a guaranteed-in. Ideally I think Wagner would be a great fit, but I'm worried about my chances of getting in. 

 

I plan on taking the GRE before the end of the year, and am fairly certain I can get a decent score based on my previous record, but what else should I do in the meantime to improve my chances? I've been out of the job market for so long and have been so discouraged that I'm not sure sitting around for nearly a year sending out resumes is the best bet. Should I take classes at my local CC, volunteer, travel, what?

 

Is Wagner/SIPA even a possibility for someone with a spotty work record but stellar academics like me? Is CUNY even worth the investment? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

If you're having trouble finding a job, you can expect to continue having the same (or more) trouble in NYC. It's a tough market for people in our field. I'd send your resume out to employers there to test the waters. Maybe even use a friend's address in the city just to gauge your marketability. If you need to take classes, maybe look at one of the CUNY colleges (even out-of-state tuition is rather low) and consider finding a part-time job or volunteer work. I think that's a good way to fill gaps in the resume, but this is a hugely expensive proposition in NYC. Look at some cheaper neighborhoods/boroughs as well.

 

As for the ROI, any public policy/IR degree should be an improvement on (and not a substitute for) work experience. You may find that, even with a graduate degree, you're starting from square one. That applies to any public policy/IR program in this economy, I think.

Edited April 29, 2013 by soaps

[flyingjellyfish]

As mentioned by others, now is not early if you're planning to apply for entry in Fall 2014.  This is the time to get started!  Or do you mean you'll be applying in Fall 2014 for entry Fall 2015...?  I started writing some comments but realized that I was echoing the folks above (good points!).  Here are some other thoughts...

 

Make sure to take the GRE in late summer/early fall so it's out of the way before application time/you can retake it if necessary.

 

I recommend taking econ and/or stats at community college.  This summer and fall would be good times so you have your grades by the time you're submitting your applications.  

 

In terms of work experience, on the bright side the economy has been crap for so many people over the past few years so your situation is not unusual.  It really is all about how you tell your story.  Filling in the gaps with classes and constructive odd jobs can be a positive.  And volunteer!!  Great way to get some experience and do some good in your community as well... I'm a bit of a volunteer nut though

 

SIPA and NYU Wagner are great programs, but (in my recent experience and anecdotally) they don't tend to award much aid.  You may find yourself in my shoes- getting in but being unable to afford them.  So I recommend also considering fellowship and funding opportunities now as well.

 

Best of luck with the move and applications!

[harrista]

Without knowing what policy areas you're interested in, it might be a good opportunity to learn a language if it's going to be relevant to your intended field of study and if it's something that you can link to your past work experience in education.  If you do the European Framework for Reference of Languages exam, you get an official diploma from the government agency attesting to your level of fluency (eg DELF/DALF for French, DELE for Spanish) which could be something to fill in a time gap on your resume.  You might also be able to use it in your SOP or in volunteer work that is relevant to what you want to study - just thinking off the top of my head, if you're interested in say aged care policy, there's always a need for community visitors who speak languages other than English who can visit people in nursing homes and you could weave those experiences into a compelling narrative as to why you want to study at X school.  Anyway, this is all based on not knowing anything about what you're interested in so it's just a thought!  Speaking a second/third/nth language is never going to be a disadvantage so at worst you'll gain a lifelong skill, at best you'll be able to parlay it into getting into the grad program you want.  Good luck!

[looking_to_sea]

I am also applying in 2014 and planning to enter without much work experience myself, and (unfortunately) in the exact same situation re: employment. I know it may be difficult, but I have found that undertaking a good amount of volunteer experience (and perhaps some sellable certifications like say, registering as a notary or what have you) will not only help with short-term employment prospects, but is something else to fill your CV up and help make the case of your devotion. In addition, I would recommend starting to study for the GRE. You (well, the two of us) have only a few months before the fall application season is here and once it is, it will fly by (last cycle did, anyway...must have been all the fun of filling out those apps ). Taking classes at your CC is another thing I recommend. I'm trying to get that sorted on my end as well...perhaps some econ classes or a calc and/or linear? Language skills should not be overlooked either.

 

Honestly, a good thing would be to also do some research on interesting/relevant faculty at each of these schools and see who's research interests coincide with yours or whom you would be excited to work with. I did this last cycle, and though I didn't email them, they recieved specific mention in my SOP. My efforts were successful, and it even turned out that one of the people I mentioned were on the admissions committee. That had to have been good! (fwiw, I was accepted to the program I applied to but had to turn it down due to personal reasons).

 

Don't give up hope. Good luck!