Shortlisting programs between MEM /MDP/MS.. need help

[adithedevil23]

Hi all ,

 

I have been lurking around these forums for a while now but this is my first post so pardon me if I do anything out of order.

 

A bit of background about myself.

 

Undergrad Major: Mechanical Engineering from a top private unviersity in India

Grad Major: Biological Sciences again from the same uni

GPA: 7 / 10 its a different system

GRE : 325 ( Q-163, V-162, AWA- 4)

Toefl - 112

Work Experience: Currently working at a public policy think-tank working on energy policy since 2013

Prior to that worked on a research project on wind energy at ETH Zurich for 6 months and then for 6 months at a sustainable development non-profit on renewable energy storage.

Also have prior internships at companies in power equiment manufacturing and one paper presentation.

 

Now I am targetting very interdisciplinary programs at in the US which I will list below

 

UT Austin: Energy and Earth Resources

Yale : Masters in Environmental Management

UCSB: Masters in Environmental Management

Duke : Masters in Environmental Management

UC Berkeley: Masters in Development Practice

Georgetown - Global Human Development

Penn State - Energy and Mineral Engineering

 

SO any inputs anyone has on these would be very helpful for me as I am entering the final stretch as far as applications are concerned. Any pointers I should keep in mind ?

 

I have interacted with program cordinators at Yale and Berkeley and I got a sense of the kind of candidate they are looking for and I think I fit into that. But Georgetown seems to prefer people with exclusively work abroad experiences even though the program is a good fit.

 

Any inputs on the Penn state masters , UCSB UT Austin programs would be good.

 

Thanks and cheers

[dds82]

What are you interested in doing in terms of your career and how would these programs help you with that?

 

It will be hard for people to comment on any of these programs and their possible fit for you without understanding why you're interested in them.

[adithedevil23]

Thanks for the response, sorry for the mistake.

 

As for my career goals are concerned I want to diversify from core engineering and technical areas to more non-technical areas like public policy and management and all these programs fit that broad remit. I am targeting a program which will allow me to add expertise in these two specific areas with the aim of being able to be equally adept at being a development practitioner as well as consultant in the future. Basically I want specific training but which allows me the flexibility of my future job profiles.

 

Additionally all of these programs have strong specializations in energy and the environment which is my primary interest area and  which I want to further develop through a graduate program.

 

 

[MPPgal]

Just an advice as a current UT Austin student interested in energy stuff, the EER program is really flexible, way too much so (there are no core classes), most people recommend doing it in conjunction with public policy, global public policy (you can focus on development for example) or business to give you more direction.

[adithedevil23]

Just an advice as a current UT Austin student interested in energy stuff, the EER program is really flexible, way too much so (there are no core classes), most people recommend doing it in conjunction with public policy, global public policy (you can focus on development for example) or business to give you more direction.

 

Hi MPPgal, actually it is the flexibility of the program which attracted me to it. But it seems your saying that its a weakness instead of strength.

I was told that I could add a dual degree after enrolling as its a much simpler process so I have given that a bit of thought.

 

Also as someone interested in energy what do you feel are my chances on the programs that I have shortlisted? Do you suggest any other programs I might have missed out on?

 

Thanks for the inputs.

[MPPgal]

Yes that is true, if you like something that flexible then go for it and it is true it is easy enough to do that, one thing though, it is easier to get financial aid if you apply to double degrees from the start. As someone interested in energy I think Georgetown is not a very strong option but SAIS and indiana are, just my two cents on that.

[dds82]

Unless you're looking to work outside of India as a development practioner, I would recommend against obtaining a 'development studies' degree in any of its forms. These degrees are useful to an extent for people from NA who are trying to work for INGOs or other international organizations, mainly for the networking aspects. But I would think it odd for someone from a country such as India to obtain one in order to go back and work in their home country.

 

You already have a strong profile to work in the field of energy and the environment in India. As such, it seems your best option would be to get a degree to 'future-proof' yourself against possible competition. By this I mean you should look at the degree programs you can attend from top tier schools in the field internationally. In terms of environmental management, those would likely be the MEM programs from Yale or Duke. In terms of energy/environmental policy issues, those would likely be Stanford IPS, Columbia SIPA and to a lesser extent, UT Austin. My thoughts are based both on the quality of the curriculum as well as the 'signalling potential' of the degree. Yale is probably your best bet, with Stanford in second, although this will mostly depend on which field you're most interested in (environmenal management or public policy).

 

You have a very good shot of being admitted into any of these programs, but it will likely come down to your essays and references. Make sure to craft a strong essay based on why you would want to attend the specific school and what you intend to do once you've obtained the degree. Flexibility between being a development practitioner and consultant is fine for an internet forum, but you'll need to be much more specific in your personal statements - I'm saying this as someone who was admitted to all of the programs I mentioned, and with a background in environmental management and energy issues (in both developed and developing countries).

[adithedevil23]

Unless you're looking to work outside of India as a development practioner, I would recommend against obtaining a 'development studies' degree in any of its forms. These degrees are useful to an extent for people from NA who are trying to work for INGOs or other international organizations, mainly for the networking aspects. But I would think it odd for someone from a country such as India to obtain one in order to go back and work in their home country.

 

You already have a strong profile to work in the field of energy and the environment in India. As such, it seems your best option would be to get a degree to 'future-proof' yourself against possible competition. By this I mean you should look at the degree programs you can attend from top tier schools in the field internationally. In terms of environmental management, those would likely be the MEM programs from Yale or Duke. In terms of energy/environmental policy issues, those would likely be Stanford IPS, Columbia SIPA and to a lesser extent, UT Austin. My thoughts are based both on the quality of the curriculum as well as the 'signalling potential' of the degree. Yale is probably your best bet, with Stanford in second, although this will mostly depend on which field you're most interested in (environmenal management or public policy).

 

You have a very good shot of being admitted into any of these programs, but it will likely come down to your essays and references. Make sure to craft a strong essay based on why you would want to attend the specific school and what you intend to do once you've obtained the degree. Flexibility between being a development practitioner and consultant is fine for an internet forum, but you'll need to be much more specific in your personal statements - I'm saying this as someone who was admitted to all of the programs I mentioned, and with a background in environmental management and energy issues (in both developed and developing countries).

 

Thanks for the amazing insight, it has helped me clear up the confusion in my head. I thought it through about what you said about being very clear in your professional goals and I am more inclined to the energy and environmental management side rather than the pure public policy side mainly because I don't really have that economics background. So I do plan to apply to all the  top programs in environmental management at Yale, Duke and Bren along with UT Austin. As Regards to Stanford, I actually found their Atmosphere/Energy program to be quite flexible and would allow me to add another degree since its only a one year program.

 

As far as my application goes I think that my LOR's and my SOP are the strengths of it. I will get very good and relevant LOR's from my professor and other professional mentors.

 

Which brings me to the fact that what other future-proof programs do you suggest I apply to and I ask only because you really seem hit all the nails on their heads as far as my application is concerned. Maybe Michigan SNRE and SIPA would be possible ones but any others?

 

Once again thanks for the insights they are truly invaluable.

[adithedevil23]

bump.....